Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

April 20, 2011

But Will He Conquer My "Death"?
Glynnis Whitwer

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

Devotion:
It was Easter, but I didn't want to celebrate. My head knew the truth of new life, but my heart felt like I was living in a valley of death.

Every Easter we had sung songs about Jesus conquering death and rejoiced at His resurrection. Normally it was a glorious celebration, but not that year.

An outsider might have scoffed. I wasn't dealing with real death, thankfully. Instead, an avalanche of daily deaths was burying me. My heart was breaking over the end of a ministry at church I loved.

We thanked God for our adopted daughters, but their severe needs forever ended my family the way it was. And because of those needs, I was having to close doors of opportunity that brought me great joy. One "death" after another faced me.

As I stood that Easter Sunday, arms raised in pleading more than praise, with tears streaming down my face, I begged God, "I know You raised Jesus from the dead. But will You conquer my death? Will You redeem what feels like death here and now?"

The power of my emotions poured out in waves of grief.

Before then, I had not admitted to myself that what I faced felt like death. But there it was. Putting a name to it helped. The song ended, I dried my tears, and the service continued. No lightning bolt flashed, but my heart felt a little lighter.

In the coming weeks I allowed myself to feel the grief of loss. When sadness swept over my heart, I returned to my same questions: God, I know You can, but will You conquer my death?

I prayed for new life to come into my areas of "death."

Interestingly, a month later I went to a conference where God opened floodgates of inspiration and ideas. I left more excited about the future than I'd been in years. One day that summer, I realized God had eased my heart over the loss of the ministry I had loved.

In late summer, God handed me an incredible gift of another ministry job that I could manage in my crazy schedule. In early fall we found a therapist who could help our family with one of our daughters. Within months of my pleading prayer, it became obvious God was resurrecting what seemed dead.

While my circumstances weren't changed in every situation, my heart was comforted. My hope was resurrected.

Jesus showed me He is the Conqueror of all death: here in this world and forever. God answered my question and prayer with a resounding "Yes!" Yes, He can and will conquer my death. I don't have to wait for eternal life to experience my own resurrection of the heart. And neither do you.

Dear Lord, I praise You today for Your power over all death — both physical and emotional — here on earth and for eternity. Thank You for caring about the loss in my life, and bringing Your resurrection power into my everyday problems. I give You my grief and pain, and ask for Your healing touch to bring new life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
P31 Woman magazine for a monthly dose of God's peace, purpose and perspective from Proverbs 31 Ministries, Senior Editor Glynnis Whitwer.

Visit Glynnis' blog today for a list of encouraging verses.

Worship: Nearing the Heart of God by Brian T. Anderson & Glynnis Whitwer

Bittersweet:Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way by Shauna Niequist

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. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!

Application Steps:
Read 2 Corinthians 4:10-18. If you feel overwhelmed by troubles, make a list of everything that is bothering you. Then, hold each concern up to the truth in these verses. Say aloud, "this is achieving eternal glory."

Are you facing the death of something you love in your life? If so, take time to acknowledge it, and allow yourself to grieve.

Is it difficult to acknowledge the depth of loss? If so, why is that?

Reflections:
Romans 6:4 (see below) speaks of the promise of "new life." What does that mean for a follower of Jesus?

Power Verses:
1 Corinthians 15:54, "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'" (NIV, 2011)

Romans 6:4-5, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his." (NIV, 2011)

© 2011 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.

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

[Judy Harder]

 April 21, 2011   

I Was Her
Lysa TerKeurst

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" John 8:12 (NIV)

Devotion:
I saw her coming across the arena. Deliberately. Intentionally. Her eyes fixed on the stage... on me... on what I must have represented in that moment — a woman who might understand.

Through the crowd. Up the stairs. Across the stage. She stood next to me pressing her shoulder against mine as I was speaking to 6500 women.

And there she was staring out at thousands, but pressing into one. Needing more than words.

Later she explained she needed God and thought if she stood close enough to me, she just might be able to feel Him.

I didn't have time to carefully plan what to do. I've never had this happen before. I've never seen this happen. It wasn't even on my scope of possibility. But there she was. And there I was. Two women who simply, desperately need Jesus.

And because I am so hyper aware of my own desperation for Jesus every moment of every day, I simply wrapped my arm around her and kept on speaking.

It was a wrinkle in time. Something that wasn't supposed to be and yet was. And I think I now know why.

I needed to remember that ravenous longing I once had to press against somebody who knew Jesus. I was her. Looking at other people's faith wondering how to get that. That depth. That closeness. That unswerving conviction.

I truly thought if only a person with that faith would let me close enough, I'd discover their secret. I'd learn their routines. I'd mimic their obedience. I'd follow them to the ends of the earth until I got it right. Then, then, then, I'd feel close to Jesus. I'd understand the Bible. I'd pray powerful prayers. And all would finally make sense.

However, there is a big difference between being close to people who love Jesus and being close to Jesus Himself.

I can certainly learn from people. "He who walks with the wise, grows wise." (Proverbs 13:20a, NIV)

But if I want closeness with Jesus, I won't find that in following anyone but Jesus Himself. He is the One who must be pursued. There have been a thousand whispers from my heart, "Show me, Jesus. Show me how to follow You, be close to You, press into You, be more like You...show me. Show me today. Show me in this minute. Show me, please Jesus, show me."

A thousand whispers. And there will surely be thousands more that pour from my lips. For Jesus wants us to walk with Him. He says, "Follow me." Over 20 times in the Gospels, "Follow me. Follow me."

And those who dare to whisper yes and then walk in His ways, find the One for whom they are longing. "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:12-13, NIV)

Yes, there she was. And there I was. Two women who simply, desperately need Jesus.

Dear Lord, I desperately need You. I want to know You for myself. Show me. Help me to follow You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
If this devotion resonated with you, don't miss Craig Groeschel's new book, Weird... Because Normal Isn't Working. Click here for more information.

Need a friend to help you experience God in your everyday life? Click here to find out more about Lysa TerKeurst's new 6 week teaching DVD "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God." And click here to consider the Participant's Guide that goes with it.

Lysa will be speaking in more than 40 cities this year. Click here to see her schedule. She would be honored to meet you.

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 want closeness with Jesus, you won't find that in following anyone but Jesus Himself. He is the One who must be pursued. Read the book of John in the New Testament to learn more about the life and heartbeat of Jesus Himself. Read where He walked, how He walked and what He said. It will change your life. Pray to find that closeness for which you've been looking.

Reflections:
There is a big difference between being close to people who love Jesus and being close to Jesus Himself. How does this look to me? Am I following Jesus or am I following others more?

Power Verses:
John 4:41, "And because of his words many more became believers." (NIV)

John 6:35, "Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'"(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]

April 22, 2011

The Sweet Smell of PineSol™
T. Suzanne Eller

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

Devotion:
I admit it. I'm the world's worst when it comes to preserving photos. I have boxes of photos stacked in various cubbyholes. I tried to organize the pictures once. I divided them and placed them in large envelopes. My next step was to put them in albums. They are still in the envelopes — stacked in a box.

My children Melissa, Ryan, and Leslie are now in their 20's and newly married. The chances of me ever getting these precious memories organized are slim to none, but I'm realizing something powerful. Memories aren't limited to pictures.

Remember when, Mom? is a common phrase in my house now. We have become the hub, a privilege once reserved for my husband's parents. At holidays and special weekends, they drive up and unload luggage and pile into the guest rooms. We laugh and reminisce a lot around the table. Remember when we went on treasure hunts in the pasture? Remember when you jumped on the bed and popped Ryan up in the air so high it scared you? Remember that yellow Slip-n-Slide™?

I do remember. But I also remember a young mom with three little ones who worried that her house wasn't spotless when an unexpected guest showed up. I remember the angst of trying to do everything and the fatigue when my day ended before my chores did.

I also remember days that I threw caution to the wind and jumped on the bed, even though it might make others frown. I grabbed a shovel and gave the kids plastic buckets and we looked for old bottles and trinkets at the abandoned homestead nearby. We mixed dishwashing liquid and water and I laughed out loud as the kids flew like greased lightening across the yellow slippery slide.

Some of those memories were captured in that pre-digital age, but most were not. However, they are etched on the heart of my young adult children.

What they don't reminisce about is the sweet, sweet smell of PineSol™. Whether my house was perfect or how it compared to others' is not even on their radar.

Why did I worry so?

Is it good to have order and structure? Sure. But don't allow the pressure to be the perfect mom keep you from the simplicity of playing with your children. The unmade bed will still be there when you are through, but I promise that a child will grow quickly.

Take a moment today and look past the clutter and the to-do list and be a child again. It might not be a picture-perfect moment, but it will be a memory.

Dear Lord, time passes so fast. Slow me down. Let me enjoy the smallest pleasures. Let me play with my child instead of only knocking down a to-do list. Let me laugh with my teen instead of fussing at him. Thank You for sweet memories, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

Visit Suzie's blog for a giveaway and a fun quiz. Also, visit Suzie's Facebook community Moms Together.

The Mom I want to be: Rising above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future by T. Suzanne Eller

The Power of a Purpose Driven Mom message on CD by Renee Swope

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

Application Steps:
Are you better suited to a schedule? Mark a day for play. Protect it. Give it the importance it is due. It doesn't have to be an event. Just play, if even for a few minutes.

Jump on the bed. It's crazy, but do it anyway. Break the cycle. Don't worry about what others will say or what else you could be doing. Enjoy yourself.

Reflections:
Is it hard for me to let go of perfection or walk away from productivity to play with my kids? Why?

When was the last time I did something fun to make memories with those I love?

Power Verses:
2 Samuel 6:14-15, "David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets." (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]

April 25, 2011

Little Decisions Make a Big Difference
Glynnis Whitwer

"Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise ..." Ephesians 5:15 (NIV)

Devotion:
Do you ever get tired of making decisions? I do. Every day, decisions line up for my attention. I decide what I'm going to do, how I'll spend my money, and what I'm going to say. Conversely, I make decisions about what I am NOT going to do, spend or say.

One of the biggest challenges I face right now has to do with what I eat. You see, I'm on Weight Watchers. For the past 19 years, I've battled to be at a healthy weight. Coincidentally, my oldest child is 19. I'm certainly not blaming him... but, I'm just saying...

The first week on the program I recorded a respectable loss of 1.5 pounds. The second week on the program, I lost nothing. I was shocked. It seemed I had exercised and sacrificed more that week than ever. But the scale told the truth.

The kind lady at the reception desk tried to help me think it through. "Maybe you aren't eating enough," she said. No, that wasn't the problem. "Are you drinking enough water?" she asked. Yes. That wasn't the problem either.

Then it hit me. The problem wasn't what I was eating when I sat down for a meal, it was all the bites that led up to that meal. It was the French fry before dinner, and the bite of casserole as I put away the leftovers after dinner. It was the nibble of my son's double cheeseburger, and the extra scoop of dip with my carrots.

It wasn't the big decisions that kept me from seeing progress; it was all the little decisions.

Unfortunately, I had minimized in my mind the potential damage of all those little bites. Yet they added up to derail me from my goal of losing weight that week. The next week I took control of those BLTs (bites, licks, tastes and sips) and had a nice loss.

As I've pondered this reality, I've applied it to other areas of my life. I easily minimize the damage of daily unwise decisions. They aren't sin issues, so I can dismiss them as unimportant. However, when added up, they have a big impact on achieving some of my personal goals.

For example, when I make a decision to not read my Bible for one day, there's no noticeable impact. But when I neglect this important part of my spiritual growth repeatedly, I find myself lacking in godly wisdom and discernment.

If you find yourself on a plateau in a certain area of your life, perhaps this truth can apply to you as well. You may be making all the right big decisions, but the little ones are having a cumulative negative impact on you.

Not only that, but I believe God desires to do amazing things through us, and is continually testing us to see if we can handle bigger responsibilities. The truth is those little decisions that seem minor, and inconsequential, really do matter. They matter to me as I pursue personal goals, and they matter to God.

You see, it's in the arena of little responsibilities that our true dependability is revealed.

My challenge today is to make every decision count. I ask myself, "Is this decision going to get me closer to my goal, or further from it? Is this decision going to show God I can be trusted with the little things?"

Sometimes I ask these questions every hour. Which is why I ate steamed vegetables for dinner, and my family had overstuffed burritos. (Not that it's Monday night and I'm weighing in Tuesday morning or anything.)

Dear Lord, thank You for caring about every detail of my life. I know You have placed goals and dreams in my heart that will take diligence to carry out. Help me to look to You when faced with a decision, and I pray for Your wisdom as I make the right choice. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Visit Glynnis' blog where she shares her top 10 list of important little decisions to make.

Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst

Dear Bathroom Scale, an excerpt from the P31 Woman magazine

Six Habits of Highly Effective Christians by Brian T. Anderson and Glynnis Whitwer

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity. Your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministries we offer at no cost. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!

Application Steps:
Identify one big goal you have for your life. Name one helpful "little" decision you can make that will help you achieve that goal.

Reflections:
What are some examples of little decisions I make every day that can impact me positively over time?

Have I ever made a series of innocent choices that led me down the wrong path? What did I learn from that experience?

Power Verses:
Ephesians 5:8-10, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord." (NIV)

Colossians 1:10-11, "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience..." (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]

April 26, 2011

Tight Places
Marybeth Whalen

"Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer." Psalm 4:1 (NIV)

Devotion:
Though I looked okay on the outside, inside I was screaming and flailing about.

I was stressed, anxious, worried and overwhelmed. I felt like something was pressing in on me, pushing me down emotionally and preventing me from escaping my situation. The more these feelings built up, the more I wanted to lash out, strike out, or push back against my burdens.

Outside I looked fine; inside I was a mess.

Do you ever feel this way? Stress comes at all of us every day, in a thousand different ways. Kid stress, job stress, money stress, house stress, and medical stress, relationship stress — the list goes on and on. Try as we might, we can't escape it in this broken world. We feel trapped and imprisoned by these things we cannot change, and they weigh heavily on us.

When I read our verse for today, I was struck by the explanation in my Bible for the word, "relief." It literally means, "make room for me in tight places." Wow. I can totally identify with that idea!

I know what it feels like to want someone to come along and make room for me in my tight places. To remove the boundaries and burdens which threaten to smother me with their nearness.

My stress level mounts, my blood pumps in my ears, and my hope takes flight. Whether it is the little irritations in life like being trapped in a car with a screaming toddler, or the big burdens of wondering about the future of my husband's job, I know those tight places all too intimately.

We all do.

I love that Psalm 4:1 reminds us there is Someone who can come and offer relief. So many times, we try to make our own space in our tight places — handling things independently and attempting to solve problems without ever calling on the One who best knows how to make room for us.

God is faithful to give us emotional elbow room, easing our burdens and offering us His wisdom. He shows us mercy when we call on Him, hearing our prayers and rescuing us from tight places.

The next time you feel stressed, anxious, worried or overwhelmed, call out to God, and let Him find you in your tight place, making room where you thought there was none.

Dear Lord, thank You for being the God who is near. When my tight places press in on me, Your presence is what I need. Thank You for offering me relief no matter what my circumstances. Help me remember to call on You in my tight places. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

She Makes It Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen. A novel for every woman who has looked at another woman's life and said, "I want what she has," She Makes It Look Easy reminds us of the danger of pedestals and the beauty of authentic friendship.

Visit Marybeth's blog for her top 10 encouraging verses for when she's in a tight place.

More great resources by Marybeth Whalen

Application Steps:
Determine some personal steps today that will help you remember to call on God in those stressful moments instead of giving into panic or worry.

Reflections:
What does my tight place look like today?

Have I called on God for relief? Have I asked Him to make room in my tight place?

How would relying on God help me deal differently with my stress?

Power Verses:
Psalm 94:13, "You grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked." (NIV)

Psalm 143:1, "O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief." (NIV)

Lamentations 3:55-57, "I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: 'Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.' You came near when I called you, and you said, 'Do not fear.'" (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]

April 27, 2011

Pursued
Lynn Cowell

"But now, this is what the LORD says — he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine... Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.'" Isaiah 43:1, 4 (NIV)

Devotion:
I sit in the dark room, my heart beating wildly. "Hurry! Hurry!" my mind cries out. "You'll be too late!"

You'd think I'd never seen this movie before, but I have. In fact, I've watched it over and over. I know the hero will get there just in time. He will come to the rescue right at the last second and yell, "She goes free!" to the captain and his crew. I know he will risk his life to save hers.

It doesn't matter that I already know what will happen. The thrill of the pursuit and a heroic rescue sends my heart pounding every time.

I may be a little strange, but I know I'm not alone. Countless women curl up on their couches to watch the same chick flicks over and over, especially the ones where the hero gives everything to save the girl. Like the one rescued in movies, we want to be desired, fought for — pursued. And we are.

Someone is pursuing us but it's so much better than what happens in the movies. Our Creator and King is pursuing us. He gave up His life and paid a great price to come and rescue us.

There were times in my life where I had seen Jesus as my savior, shepherd and friend. But it wasn't until I read these verses below and realized the magnitude and depth of His love for me that I saw how valuable I am to Him.

"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end — Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you."Isaiah 43:1b-4 (The Message)

He'd give up everything just for me? That's crazy! But that's the radical love that revolutionized my life.

When I learned these verses, I began to see a side of Jesus I had never seen before. He pursues me. He loves me more than anything. And He wants to be my everything.

This truth satisfied a deep longing in my heart I didn't even know I had. It was what I wanted then, and what I still need to know every day. This is the love that fills the gaps in my wanting heart and settles the question, "Am I valuable enough to be pursued?"

Yes, I am. And so are you, my friend. So are you.

Dear Lord, this part of me that wants to be pursued and rescued...You created it. You created it to be filled by Your unconditional love. Jesus, thank You that You will never grow tired of me or stop pursing me. You want me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

Do you have a young woman in your life that you want to know this truth? His Revolutionary Love by Lynn Cowell empowers young women to discover God's love in a way that builds confidence, enabling them to make wise choices.

His Revolutionary Love DVD and CD

Stop by Lynn's blog today where she is giving away a "Revolutionary Love" bundle which includes: A signed copy of His Revolutionary Love, her His Revolutionary Love DVD and a t-shirt. She is also sharing her own story of how this truth transformed her life as a young woman.

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 out Psalm 45:11 on an index card, putting in your name: "The king is wild for __________." Over the next few weeks, when you feel rejected, downcast or vulnerable remind yourself of this truth — Your King is crazy for you!

Think of a time in your past when you did not feel wanted or pursued. Rewrite that story in your heart, knowing this time Jesus is there to fill that rejection and vulnerability. When this memory comes back, replace it with the truth that God is there and He would trade the whole world for you!

Reflections:
Have I ever thought of Jesus caring for me and pursuing me like this? Why or why not?

If I had known the truth that Jesus was crazy about me as a young woman, how would that have changed the course of my life?

Power Verses:
James 4:4-6, "You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that 'he's a fiercely jealous lover.' And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that 'God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.'" (The Message)

© 2011 by Lynn Cowell. All rights reserved.

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

[Judy Harder]

April 28, 2011

The New York Times
Lysa TerKeurst

"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

Devotion:
Have you ever wondered if the dreams tucked in your heart will ever come to be?

Me too.

I still remember sitting on my bed as a young girl and staring down at an old typewriter my dad brought home. I was fascinated with the way the keys struck the paper. I started to string together words — sentences — paragraphs. I whispered, "Maybe one day a whole book."

But the whisper got buried in a tangle of other things.

All the while the Lord had a plan. A hope. A future. If only I would seek Him, I would find Him, if I would seek Him with all my heart. Not just my Sunday heart. Not just my quiet time heart. But, seek Him in it all.

Seek Him.

Surrender to Him.

Trust Him.

Turn to Him.

Obey Him.

Say yes to Him.

Realize how significantly God can use inconvenience, interruption, and unlikely twists. Instead of always praying, "God bless me," I started praying, "God unsettle me. God inconvenience me, interrupt me, and redirect me."

The road was bumpy and hard. There were years of quiet service with no light on the horizon that God would ever use me beyond my own mailbox.

While others were chasing dreams, I was scraping dried up Cheerios from underneath the sticky farm table. And in that place I learned so much. "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD" (Psalm 27:14, NIV).

Maybe you are in that place right now? Waiting and wondering if your calling will ever come to be. The road ahead seems so long... almost impossible. Sweet sister, take heart. The years of quiet service are a treasure. God must develop our character in the quiet if we're ever to be used effectively in public.

Yes, there were years of quiet for me. And those years were so very crucial. There was a rich purpose to the wait. There always is.

Then one day I saw a lady share her story at my church and I dared to whisper to my husband, "Could I? Should I try?"

His smile said, "Yes."

And I remembered the old typewriter. The words. The sentences. The whisper of a book. Of all the moments that rushed by long forgotten, that one snagged in the corner of my mind and lingered.

Seventeen years later, I wrote a book I thought only a handful of people would ever want to read. The message I never dreamed I could live. A book about my raw and secret struggles with food and how I learned to crave God above all else. My mess, touched by the Messiah, turned into a message.

And after years of waiting, I find myself staring down once again. This time my tears leak over one little square inch of newspaper... the New York Times bestseller list. An unlikely nod from the world that very rarely even looks in the direction of a Jesus message.

Today I whisper, "Thank You Jesus... thank You for the years of quiet service. Thank You for Your reminder to wait on Your timing. Thank You for healing me and allowing me the honor of breathing hope into so many other women with the same struggles. It was all worth it. Every day spent waiting, learning, developing and trusting. And in the end, the great joy isn't hitting a best seller list. The great joy is discovering how good and necessary times of waiting really are."

Dear Lord, thank You for Your perfect plans... Your perfect timing... and the perfect way Your development happens in my times of waiting. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Visit Lysa's blog for a list of 3 crucial things to do in a season of waiting

If this devotion resonated with you, don't miss Lysa's new book: Made to Crave, Satisfying Life's Deepest Desire with God, Not Food. Also, you'll want to consider doing the 6 week Bible study using this DVD set: Made to Crave DVD and the accompanying workbook: Made to Crave Participant's Guide.

Lysa will be speaking in more than 40 cities this year. Click here to see her schedule. She would be honored to meet you.

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity! 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 are interested in learning more about Made to Crave, consider signing up for a FREE 21 Day Challenge Lysa has written to help you find the spiritual encouragement to make healthier choices. For more information, click here.

Reflections:
In what area is God calling me to seek Him for direction? How might God be using my season of waiting in good ways? I will turn to Him. Trust Him. Obey Him today.

God uses inconvenience, interruption, and unlikely twists. Today I pray for God to unsettle me, inconvenience me, interrupt me, and redirect me. There is no better place to be than in the center of His will while waiting.

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

Micah 6:8, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (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]

April 29, 2011

Answer Envy
Karen Ehman

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

Devotion:
Do you ever envy God's answers to someone else's prayers?

I remember almost choking on the words, "I am so happy for you!" in response to the breaking news that friends of ours from North Carolina had sold their house after it had been on the market for twenty days.

To them it had been a long twenty days. Houses were normally snatched up quickly in their area. In our shaky Michigan economy, however, it takes a bit longer. In fact, on the day she announced that her home now had a "sold" sign in the front yard, we turned another page on our calendar — marking how long our house had been for sale. Not twenty days, but twenty months to be exact.

Although I was genuinely thrilled for my friend, I was also a tad green with jealousy.

I call this answer envy. It is that "poor me" mentality that creeps into my heart when God answers someone else's prayers more quickly than mine. Or when He responds to them with a "yes" but His answer seems to be a "no" for me, or at least a "not right now."

I've had my fair share of answer envy outbreaks over the years, at all stages of life.

As a child, I was envious of the kids who came from two-parent homes while I resided in a family torn apart by divorce. No matter how hard I folded my little hands and prayed to God, my daddy didn't come back to us.

In high school, it was other girls' good looks, cute clothes or even cuter boyfriends that I longed for. Instead, I was granted average looks and wore department store blue-light-special fashions. And, as sports editor of our school paper, although I was every guy's pal, I was usually nobody's gal.

In college, I envied those whose prayers for a knight in shining armor, complete with sparkly diamond ring, were answered while I remained single. Once married, I struggled with miscarriage and dashed dreams of motherhood. So, for five long years, I slapped a smile on my face to mask my broken heart and attended yet another pale pink or baby blue church shower.

Over the years I have discovered that the cure for answer envy is not always easy because I must play an active role in my own healing.

What I need is a shift in perspective. When I "call to God" as encouraged in today's key verse, I must trust that He will keep His word. He will tell me "great and unsearchable things" that I do not know. Sometimes those things are the answers to my request. However, do you know what those great and unsearchable things more often are? They are the reasons He seems not to be answering my original request!

So, instead of only begging God to "sell my house" or "take away my pain" or "fix my kid," I need also to ask myself some questions. Questions like, "What is my Creator trying to teach me that I might never learn if He were to suddenly pluck me out of this situation?" Or, "What character qualities is He trying to grow in me? Patience, trust, compassion, contentment?"

Not available in quick microwave form, the cure for answer envy must be cultivated moment by moment.

We must believe that God will answer. He will clearly say "yes," "no," or "not right now." He is able, ready and willing to answer our prayers — here is the catch — as He sees fit and to grow us to be more like His Son in the process.

It took two years until our "for sale" sign was finally replaced with a "sold" banner. It was a long stay in God's waiting room. However, I now know this to be true: I must not merely seek the answer to my prayer. Instead, I must seek a deeper relationship with the answer Giver.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your perfect plans... Your perfect timing... and the perfect way Your development happens in my times of waiting. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

For 5 Tips in Effective 'Wait' Training and a giveaway centered on this topic, visit Karen's blog today.

A Life That Says Welcome by Karen Ehman

What to do in the W.A.I.T: Finding Contentment in God's Pauses and Plans by Wendy Pope

One in a Million: Journey to your Promised Land by Priscilla Shirer

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity! 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:
Think back on a prayer request or two from your past where God seemed not to be answering. What else did you learn about Him as you waited for His reply?

List any personal prayer requests you currently have on a piece of paper or in a journal. As you continue walking through life in the next few months, next to your requests, chronicle all of the peripheral blessings that come from the waiting.

Reflections:
What category do my prayers to God fall into most often — help me, show me, rescue me or change me?

Power Verses:
Psalm 38:15, "I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God." (NIV)

Romans 8:25, "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." (NIV)

© 2011 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.

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

 

[Judy Harder]

May 2, 2011

I Need to Know the Truth
Ginny L. Yttrup
She Reads Featured Author

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32 (NIV)

Devotion:
The diagnosis was unexpected. Unsettling. And followed by tears of...relief? I climbed into my car, fastened the seatbelt, and wiped away the tears. Why am I relieved by difficult news? I wondered.

As my doctor's words ran through my mind, so did a surprising phrase: I'm not crazy. The relief, I recognized, was founded in the truth that the diagnosis revealed.

When did I start believing I was crazy? I recalled the chronic pain I've suffered for the last two years. As I did, familiar accusations ran through my mind: You're such a wimp. There's nothing wrong with you. You're crazy. Ah, there it was, the lie that had slithered unbidden into my mind and nested there.

I've spent many of my adult years uncoiling the lies I've believed about myself. Venomous lies that poisoned my mind following a dozen years of childhood sexual abuse: You're worthless. No one will ever love you. And the heartbreaker... God doesn't care.

I'm not the only one who has believed the lies, right?

You don't have to be a survivor of childhood abuse to believe lies. I think they're part of the human condition. And women seem especially susceptible. Perhaps that susceptibility is an imprint of the fall when Eve believed that first untruth the serpent hissed at her in the garden.

But good news comes with the truth. Not our truth. But the Truth — Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..." (Romans 8:1). In other words, when condemning accusations coil around my mind, I know — I can be fully assured — they're not from God. And if they're not from God, they're not worth believing.

I'm learning to combat the lies by submitting them to the Truth, Jesus.

When the enemy says, "You're worthless."

Jesus says, "You are a pearl of great value."

When the enemy says, "No one will ever love you."

Jesus says, "You are My beloved."

When the enemy says, "God doesn't care."

Jesus says, "I gave my life that you might have eternal life."

After my doctor's appointment when I recognized I'd fallen prey to the lies again, another thought went through my mind: You'll never get it right. Good grief! This time, I had to laugh. I was aware of the crafty serpent and wasn't falling for another lie. Instead, I turned to Jesus and thanked Him for the freedom found in Him, the Truth.

While the enemy will continue to try and thwart God's truth, we can know he's already lost the battle. It's a done deal. In Genesis 3 we read that the head of the serpent will be crushed under Jesus' heel, defeating him for all time. He holds no real power over us.

The longer we walk with Jesus, and the more we seek His truth, the more we'll recognize His voice and enjoy the freedom found in Him. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. (Galatians 5:1, NIV)

Dear Lord, I pray that I'll recognize Your voice above all others. Give me ears to hear You. Teach me how to live in the freedom of Your truth and thank You for the gift of Your grace. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Jesus?

WORDS by Ginny L. Yttrup

Ginny Yttrup, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, shares her story in this month's She Reads fiction selection, WORDS. Visit the She Reads blog today and enter to win a handcrafted sterling silver necklace that reflects the message of her novel.

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, 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:
Write down what you sense Jesus is whispering to your heart?

Ask Him to show you what lies you need to submit to Him, the Truth, today?

Join the She Reads online fiction book club as we discuss the themes found in this month's featured selection, specifically hope, healing, and redemption.

Reflections:
How would my life look different if I was living in freedom?

Power Verses:
Romans 8:1-2, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." (NIV)

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 Ginny L. Yttrup. All rights reserved.

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

[Judy Harder]

May 3, 2011

Feeling Emotional
Rachel Olsen

"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me." John 14:1 (NLT)

Devotion:
Frustration hit me full force about a quarter 'til dawn that morning. I woke up to find my child was sick, again. With my husband away on business, it was up to me to help the young boy who was standing beside my bed coughing.

He'd been sick the better part of that month with cold after cold. I thought he was finally turning the corner. I thought we were done with decongestants, germy tissues, and Clorox wipes. That is, until that morning.

The first thing I felt was frustrated.

When my child is out of commission, it puts me out of commission as well. He was already behind on his school work, and I was already behind on about a half-dozen things. I could feel my stress level rising as I poured the cough syrup into the plastic measuring cup.

I thought about the things I was supposed to accomplish — the scheduled meetings, the deadlines, the errands. A scowl settled into my forehead. I closed the medicine cabinet door with much more force than really necessary.

I felt sorry for my pitiful son. And I felt disappointed that my prayers had not prevented this relapse in illness. I felt angry that yet another day would be interrupted by some virus. And I felt bad because I knew I wasn't handling it well.

I felt, I felt, I felt ... all I was doing was feeling, letting my emotions spread out and lay claim over every aspect of my day.

I had this notion in my head that a mature Christian wouldn't be feeling this way. Shouldn't I be so spiritual that I'm above getting upset over things like this?

After taking care of my son, I sat down and scanned the gospels to see if Jesus ever felt emotionally strained. Sure enough, I found instances where Jesus is described as feeling "deeply troubled" and "distressed." (Mark 14:33, John 13:21, John 12:27, NLT)

If Jesus got emotionally agitated, then it's unrealistic for me to expect to go through life without feeling some stress. The problem isn't my emotions, it's my reaction to them. The trouble comes when I give them free reign in my heart and mind.

That's when I become unstable.
That's when I lose sight of God.
That's when I say or do things I regret.

Jesus spoke today's key verse to His disciples, knowing what their futures would hold. He knew His death was coming and it would trigger fear, sorrow and doubt in their hearts. Not wanting them to wallow in those emotions, He counseled them ahead of time to keep their focus on God and all that He'd been teaching them.

Jesus, knowing what our day holds, speaks the same words to us. He tells us to not let our emotions fly about, creating an unstable and troubled heart. Instead, our trustworthy Lord tells us to focus our attention on Him.

Eventually, I made the decision that morning to pray and place my trust in God, despite how my day was shaping up and despite how volatile my emotions felt. He calmed my anxious heart, and my son seemed to feel better as well.

It feels good when I trade in my troubled emotions for a source of strength that will get me through my day. And that's one feeling I think Jesus would love for me to wallow in.

Dear Lord, I want to be ruled by Your Spirit, not by my emotions. Help me to focus on You today and not my troubles. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know by Rachel Olsen

Are you able to help a child who might not have access to health care and cough syrup? Consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International.

Visit Rachel at her blog for more encouragement in trusting God on days when you're feeling emotional.

The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life by Louie Giglio

Application Steps:
Start your day praying for God to give you the mind of Christ, and emotions that are submitted to Him.

On days when you get off track, like I did today, resolve to shorten the amount of time between the emotional trigger and the moment when you release your feelings and the situation into God's care.

Reflections:
What is getting the best of me today? Anger? Bitterness? Depression? Fear? Lust? Greed? Frustration? Or Christ?

Am I willing to release these emotions to God and not let my heart be troubled?

Power Verses:
Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (NIV)

Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (KJV)

Isaiah 26:3, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." (NIV)

© 2011 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.

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