Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

December 29, 2008

Cutting it Close to the Line

Karen Ehman

"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

James 1:13-15 (NIV)

Devotion:

"Impossible!! How can this be? Why, I'm certain I never crossed the line!"

Out tumbled the words from my disbelieving mouth during a recent trip with my family to nearby Illinois . My husband and I stood staring at the two left wheel wells on our family mini-van that now sat spattered with bright yellow paint. While driving through construction in the Chicago area, it seems I traveled a little too close to the freshly painted yellow line that separates traffic.

While I was keenly aware that the workers had just finished placing the sunny stripes on the pitch-black pavement, I was sure I had driven in a manner that, although closely hugged the lines, had not crossed them. Much to my dismay, when the van's tires rolled to a halt at a local rest stop, the truth was revealed. Crossed the line? No, I actually hadn't. There was no paint on the actual tires. However, my getting ever so close was enough to cause the wet paint to stick itself stubbornly to my vehicle's wheel wells resulting in a nearly neon public display of my too close behavior.

Sometimes we do the same thing with sin. Oh, we make sure we don't actually cross the line, but we dangle dangerously close to it. We toy with temptation. We wink at seduction. We let bad behavior beckon us.

Perhaps it is with our tongues as we say just enough that it borders on gossip and gets our point across, while still technically remains innocent. Maybe it is fudging a slight bit on our taxes or other financial papers. What about the books we read, the shows we watch or the sites we visit? How about "innocent" but bantering relationships forged with members of the opposite sex. Do we reason and reckon that some of these behaviors aren't "that bad," but in reality they come so close to the line that they drag us away from God. And once the dragging starts, we're hooked. Then we just might find ourselves standing in a very public way with sin spattered all over us.

Instead of asking ourselves how close we can get to the line, perhaps the opposite approach is best. We must remind ourselves just how desperately near we must stay to the Lord Jesus. So near that wandering even slightly away feels foreign, not familiar. Let's vow together to stick safely by our Savior and a world away from that nasty line of sin.

Dear Lord, Prick my heart when I begin to veer from Your perfect path and wander dangerously close to the line of sin. At those times, may I obey Your commanding voice, however still and small it may be, and rush back safely to Your side. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Confession of an Adulterous Christian Woman: Lies that got me there, Truths that brought me back by Lyndell Hetrick Holtz

Pierced by the Word: 31 Meditations for Your Soul by John Piper

For more on this topic visit Karen's blog

Application Steps: 

What practical actions can help me from coming too close to crossing the line of sin in my life?

Is there someone who could be my accountability partner, asking me tough questions about my seemingly secret behavior? What could I have them ask me each week? Could it be about my viewing habits, how I spend my free time or even how I relate to members of the opposite sex?

Reflections: 

Is there a time in my life when I wandered so close to the line that it got me into trouble? In retrospect, how could I have handled the temptation differently?

What tempting topics covered in scripture could be beneficial for me to investigate and memorize? You can use Bible Gateway to search for verses by keyword. Then you can cement them in your mind and have them on your lips when you need to draw from your arsenal of scripture to fight temptation.

Power Verses:

I Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (NIV) 

Psalm 119:10-11, "With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for and of You and yearning for You; Oh, let me not wander or step aside [either in ignorance or willfully] from Your commandments. Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You." (AMP)

© 2008 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

December 30, 2008

Spiritual Curfew

Tracie Miles

"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NIV)

Devotion:

I thought my parents were from another planet. As a young teenager, I just didnt understand how they could sit at home on the weekends, which I was sure had been created for the sole purpose of endless socializing. As is the norm for most teens, I was convinced the curfews my parents had set for me were overbearing and pointless. But now I know that although I couldn't see the benefit of curfews then, my parents knew what was best for me.

Have you ever felt like God's Word has too many "don'ts" and not enough "do's"? I have heard non-believers say that being a Christian is too rule-oriented, too strict, or simply no fun. At times, this could be the viewpoint of Christians too, who are trying to live a life for Christ but finding it difficult to turn from their old ways.

For many years in my Christian life, I played by my own set of rules. I thought that God's commands were for religious fanatics. However, I now realize that early on, had I adhered to the "spiritual curfews" set out for me in God's Word, many painful experiences and bad decisions could have been avoided. As it turns out, God knew what was best for me!

If you are like I once was, you too may think that some of the biblical guidelines for Christian living are overbearing, maybe even pointless. But consider this: if parents allowed their children to do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted, with whomever they wanted, is it likely that they would learn right from wrong, take the right paths, and make decisions that are in their best interest? Of course not! Children need guidance, encouragement, discipline and direction from their parents. As children of God, we need those same things from our heavenly Father.

Sometimes it is hard to understand why God asks us to think a certain way, do certain things, or refrain from doing other things that are not indicative of someone living for Christ. That is where our faith must come in. Faith is our motivation to abide by the spiritual curfews that God outlines in His Word. If we doubt His reasoning, wonder why certain guidelines matter, or change the real meaning of a scripture to accommodate our own selfish purposes, then we are setting out on a path that will dishonor God and lead to sin.

What godly principal are you battling to obey today? I remember my mother telling me to choose my battles, since not every situation was worth fighting for. Living a Godly life is sometimes a battle. This is one battle we should always fight: to honor God's Word. If we believe the Bible is truth, we should follow its guidelines. In a world where moral values are crumbling around us, Christians need to fight the good fight.

Even though God's Word may sting our hearts at times, and we may feel convicted by the Holy Spirit when we do wrong, let us never forget that God truly does know what is best for us.

Dear Lord, Please give me the strength and courage to stand for what is right in Your sight, even if those around me do not agree or understand my beliefs. Help me to fight for what I believe in, and obey Your Word. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do you know Jesus?

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Dear Jesus: Seeking His Light in your Life by Sarah Young

Visit Tracies' blog

Application Steps: 

Read Exodus 20:1-20 and Ephesians 5.

Reflections: 

Consider any things or behaviors your life that you know do not please God. Pray for strength to fight the battle of breaking that habit so that you can achieve victory over that area of your life. We'd love to pray for you! Click here to let us know how we can.

Power Verses:

Hosea 10:12, "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you." (NIV)

Exodus 20:20, "Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.'" (NIV)

© 2008 by Tracie Miles. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

December 31, 2008

The Night I Lost All Hope

By Elaine Bonds, She Speaks Graduate

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
       
Devotion:

I remember it so well -- the night I lost all hope. I had been hoping that my prodigal son was not lying to me. While I was 99% sure he was, I still clung to the 1% chance he was telling the truth. My heart simply refused to give up that final thread of hope.


As a condition of living in our home again, we asked that our 21-year old son attend a weekly support group meeting. We wanted him back home; his other living choice was not a good one. But we needed to establish boundaries, offering a safe place to live without tolerating or enabling his destructive behavior. We wanted to start rebuilding the trust we had lost. One building block was his Friday night support group meeting. Though our son said he was attending, in my heart I felt something was wrong.

One night I just had to know if he was living up to his commitment. I drove to the place where his meeting was held and my fears were confirmed: he was nowhere to be found. I went right home and waited. When he came home I asked about his meeting. "The meeting was fine. I'm tired and going to bed." I had caught him in a lie!

Hope left me and discouragement came quickly to replace it. I couldn't even confront him -- at least not yet. I needed time to wrestle with the loss of the 1% of hope. It was just a tiny bit of hope. No big loss, right? ... Wrong! That last 1% of hope is what I held onto the tightest. I was so angry and crushed. But then, God spoke. He chose a friend to speak His Words to me the very next day. She had no clue what was happening with our son. She just prayed what God prompted her -- for me to have HOPE! She emailed me her prayer:

"Father, You are the God of all hope. Your Word tells us that those who hope in You will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not be faint. I pray this for Elaine this morning ... that she will place her HOPE in You and You alone ..."

Reading her prayer, it suddenly became clear to me. My hope had been in my son and in that weekly meeting. The hope I had lost -- that 1% I'd been clinging to -- was human hope. That kind of hope is in limited quantity, and when it runs out, you are left drained, discouraged, disappointed and ...hopeless! Oh, it may masquerade as "hope," but it is completely different from the hope that God provides. God's hope renews and refreshes. It empowers, uplifts, and strengthens. God's hope does not disappoint! There is an unlimited supply of God's hope.

God knew I had been clinging to human hope, and He knew that last 1% of weak, feeble hope would run out. He wanted me to cling to Him, the God of true, lasting, unlimited hope. So, as I wiped my tears, I waited as the winds of God's hope blew my way. My circumstances were still the same, but my heart was now filled with the hope that only God can provide.

Dear Lord, Thank You for Your wonderful, everlasting hope. Please help me always put my hope in You and You alone. Thank You that with You all things are possible. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do you know the Giver of hope?

Divine Prayers for Despairing Parents by Susanne Scheppmann

Finding Hope in the Midst of Depression by Mary Southerland

Join us for more Everyday Life Encouragement

Application Steps: 

Pray today about a situation you've considered hopeless. Ask God to give you His perspective and His hope.

Reflections: 

Ask God to reveal where you are placing your hope. Are you hoping in your husband, your bank account, your job, a program, a promise from someone? Or, are you truly placing your hope in the Lord?

Let 2009 be a year that you place your hope in God alone.

Power Verses:

Psalm 42:5, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." (NIV)

Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (NIV)

Psalm 147:11, "The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." (NIV) 

© 2008 by Elaine Bonds. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

January 1, 2009

A New Year's Prayer for You

Wendy Blight

"Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord."

Lamentations 2:19a (NKJV)

Devotion:

It's a new year. What is on your heart? What would you like to accomplish? What would you like to change? Have you made any New Year's Resolutions?

A few years ago, I gave up making New Year's Resolutions. I could never keep them. One year, instead of a resolution, I wrote a prayer. Throughout the year, I watched in amazement as God worked in my life and in the lives of others through my simple prayer.

Today, I would like to pray for you. Below is the prayer that the Lord put on my heart. As you read it, I invite you to use it as a model. Sit with the Lord and ask Him to help you personalize this prayer for you.

Father in heaven, thank You that You are Sovereign. Thank You that You know each precious woman reading this devotion. You planned for her to meet You here today. You created her heart. You know her every need, her deepest desires, and her open wounds. Lord, I ask that in this new year, You would fall afresh on her.

Father, You are Holy and call us to be Holy. Yet, we confess that so often our hearts wander from You, our speech does not glorify You, and our actions do not honor You. Soften our hearts to receive the words Your sweet Spirit has to speak to us. Clothe us with humility. Take away our desire to always be right and have our own way. Help us to seek Your Word in all that we say and do. Help us to submit to Your Word; allow it to penetrate those deep places in our hearts that resist change. If necessary, put us through the refiner's fire to burn off those things that keep us from walking in step with Your character.

Give us hearts that love and seek after Truth above all else. Give us wisdom and discernment to reject the lies of this world and the evil one. Guide us into all Truth. Guard our hearts and keep our eyes fixed on You. Grow in us those things that will make us more like You. As we study Your Word, fill us and saturate us with You!

Today, Father, we surrender our thoughts, our speech, and our hearts. Thank You that You are Faithful and True. We trust You will do a mighty work in us and through us this year and carry it on to completion until the day we step into eternity with You. Help us to trust in You with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Help us to acknowledge You in all our ways so that we can hear Your voice as You say, "This is the way, walk in it."

Lord, we love You and thank You that You love us. May our lives be a living testimony of You. We ask this in the powerful and mighty name of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord who will do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story (available February 2009) by Wendy Blight

Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer

31 Days of Praise and 31 Days of Prayer by Ruth Myers

Application Steps: 

As you write your prayer, is there an area of your life in which you consistently struggle? Would you be willing to give it over to God this year?

If you answered yes to this question, I invite you to surrender that area today. Boldly ask God to speak Truth into this area, no matter the cost. Ask Him to teach You His way, give you a mind to understand, and a heart to obey. Hold fast to what you hear so that your walk in that area will be established and ordered according to His will, not your own.

Reflections: 

Spend time praying the prayer above or your own prayer aloud. Believe God that He IS able to answer your prayer.  Watch expectantly for His answers. Thank Him every time You see His Hand at work. He will be faithful!

Power Verses:

Philippians 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

Ephesians 6:17-18, "Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for the saints." (NKJV)

Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (NKJV)

© 2008 by Wendy Blight. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

January 2, 2009

Just a Little Heart Cleaning

By T. Suzanne Eller

"If you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come offer your sacrifice to God."

Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT)

Devotion:

Yesterday I swept the mahogany dark wood floors in my house. I worked with so much energy it might have looked like I was a clean freak or, at the very least, industrious. I am neither of those things. In fact, I really didn't even notice the dust bunnies flying through the air. I was hurt, trying to sweep away harsh words spoken the day before by a friend.

I had spent most of the morning mulling over the words from the day before, wondering why I didn't say something. Wondering why she did. I finally put on some music, took out the broom, and asked God for His grace because mine didn't seem to be big enough at the moment.

I've heard people throw out advice on forgiveness as if dispensing aspirin. They casually say things like, "Jesus forgave, why don't you?" The reality is that you and I aren't Jesus. It's an uneven journey at best as we accept His grace and strive to learn from His example. The practice of living a forgiving lifestyle can be an ominous task. There is incredible freedom in living a life of mercy, but it's not something that we just find along the way. It's a purposeful intent to move beyond the burden and restrictions of bitterness, anger, rage, or unresolved emotions tied to a person or event.

Forgiveness is a bridge I thought I had crossed and yet here I was again. I had forgiven an abusive, dysfunctional childhood. I understand the joy and freedom that comes through forgiving others. So why was the small stuff tripping me up? Perhaps it is because I am still growing, a process that will never stop.

Jesus met a man who was paralyzed. His friends brought him to Jesus on a mat. The need was obvious, but instead of healing his legs Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9: 2 NLT) Isn't it interesting that He addressed the issue of the man's heart before attending to his physical body?

He hasn't changed. He still sees my heart. I have forgiven - but I will continue to become a forgiver as I meet life's challenges. To do that, I have to give myself a little grace, but also invite Him into the process.

Maybe you're like I once was; dealing with the hurts of the past and forgiveness seems impossible. Forgiving doesn't mean that abuse can continue or that what happened is okay. What it does mean is that you are ready to live life free of entanglements to the past.

Maybe you have grappled with the big issues and they no longer hold power over you, but the little stuff is the big stuff and you are tired of it.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us". As I talked with my Savior, He settled in and made Himself at home in the situation. Yesterday my house got cleaned, but so did my heart.

What happens when we are willing to forgive? It moves us one step closer to deep-seated faith marked by grace.

Dear Lord, Help me to forgive one person today. I lift up my heart. I won't pretend that it doesn't hurt, but I am willing to forgive. I'm not always big enough, but You are and I am grateful. I won't forgive based on a person's response, or even what is fair, but instead I will trust that You desire my heart to be free so that You can love in and through me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Sandpaper People: Dealing with the Ones Who Rub You the Wrong Way by Mary Southerland

The Woman I am Becoming by T. Suzanne Eller

Visit Suzie's Blog

Application Steps: 

No matter whether it is a big or small issue, invite God into the situation today.

Reflections: 

Think about unforgiveness as a wall. We build it around our heart to keep people from hurting us. What keeps you inside that wall?

What can we miss when we live in a fortress?

You don't offer forgiveness to hear someone say they are sorry. It's nice if it happens, but even if it doesn't it's foundational to wholeness - in you!

Power Verses:

1 Corinthians 13:5, "Love does not demand its own way. [Love] is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged." (NLT) 

© 2009 by T.Suzanne Eller. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

[Judy Harder]

January 5, 2009

New Year's Traditions

Tracie Miles

     "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)

Devotion:

In December, my friend Karen challenged her blog readers to think about our Christmas traditions, and determine if certain traditions were worth continuing or simply another "one more-thing-to-do-but-nobody-really-cares-about" tradition.

While driving to school one morning, I asked my daughters what their favorite Christmas traditions were at our house. They quickly answered in unison, "We don't have any traditions at our house." My heart sunk. I replied with irritation in my voice, "You mean all these years I have been trying to make special Christmas memories for all of you and you honestly think we don't have any special traditions?!"

I could feel my holiday spirit diminishing as my blood pressure rose. They seemed a little scared about what to say next to their mom who was hyperventilating behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. So they meekly asked me to describe some of the traditions that I was referring to. I provided an exhaustive list of family holiday activities and other things we have done every year since their birth, for goodness sake!

When I stopped to take a breath, as they sat wide-eyed at my flurried rundown of the Miles' Christmas traditions, one said, "Oh, I just thought those were the things we do every year; I didn't know they were traditions."

Okay, so at least they were aware of our family traditions and truly did treasure them. The problem was that they never considered them "traditions," because they didn't understand the meaning of the word.

Later, I looked up the definition of "tradition." The first definition is, "the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice." The second definition read, "a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting and a continuing pattern of culture, beliefs or practices."

When I read the second definition, still feeling a little perturbed about the lack of appreciation for all of my holiday attentiveness over the years, I felt God gently speak to my heart. With a fatherly voice He said, "Tracie, the tangible traditions that we carry out are not the only things we pass down to our kids; the true traditions come from the heart."

The thought almost stopped me in my tracks. I realized I had been fretting over my children remembering that we drank hot chocolate while putting up our Christmas trees, when I should really be focusing on the spiritual traditions that I am creating throughout the year in their hearts.

As a result, I made a New Year's resolution to focus on the spiritual traditions that I can pass down throughout the entire year in the Miles' home. Traditions that will matter long term, and make a difference in the hearts of others. Traditions like the importance of attending church and doing Bible studies to learn about God's Word; helping families in need; putting others first; caring about our sisters and brothers; honoring my husband; being respectful to parents and elders; being polite and considerate; forgiving others; and making Christ a priority year round, not just at Christmas.

But most of all, I don't want these spiritual traditions to be passed down simply by word of mouth, but rather by practice and a continuing pattern of others seeing God at work in me. I know I need to live out these traditions in my own life before I can pass them down to anyone else. The tradition of making Jesus a priority, is a tradition worth passing down.

Dear Lord, Forgive me for losing sight at times of what is really important. Help me to see ways I can build new spiritual traditions in my home which will impact hearts and lives for generations to come. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Homespun Memories for the Heart by Karen Ehman, Kelly Hovermale and Trish Smith

Love Notes in Lunchboxes by Linda Gilden

For other great ways to start the New Year, visit Tracie's blog

Application Steps: 

It is never too late to start new traditions. Ask God to show you what new traditions you can begin in your family to help them learn to depend on God's Word and His activity in their lives.

Reflections: 

Consider what traditions you focus on in your house. Are they all attached to a holiday, or are there spiritual traditions that create a bond to Jesus year-round?

If your children were asked what your spiritual traditions were, what would they say?

Power Verses:

Mark 7:9, "And he said to them: 'You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!'" (NIV)

© 2009 by Tracie Miles. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

[Judy Harder]

January 6, 2009

Running Prepared

By Lynn Cowell

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
       
Devotion:

A twelve mile run. I had known all week this long run was part of my training for an upcoming half marathon, yet I really hadn't given it much thought (except how badly I didn't want to do it). The day before, it was business as usual I didn't drink much water, ate a double bacon cheeseburger and fries, and didn't get a good night's sleep. Friends advised me I needed to make changes to my eating and sleeping habits, but I hadn't followed through.

The next day, my husband, Greg, and I mapped out our run. I knew it was going to be hard, but with my IPOD and water bottles, I thought I would make it. I couldn't have been more unprepared!

About half way through exhaustion and frustration became my running partners. My ear bud headphones kept falling out, my water seemed to evaporate into thin air, and the miles were not passing by fast enough. Lord help me finish, I pleaded. I ended up walking the last mile, my body racked with pain.

After returning home, things went from bad to worse. I paid dearly for my lack of preparation. Dehydration set in with shivers, cramps, and dizziness. Greg and the kids waited on me all afternoon and nursed me back to health.

Two weeks later, our training schedule called for another twelve mile run. This time, I got it right! I started hydrating days before, ate a carb-filled diet Friday night, and went to bed early. Before the run, I filled my fuel belt with Powerade, snacks high in electrolytes and Chap Stick. I was good to go!

Saturday morning, we had a wonderful time (as good as it can be when running twelve miles!). The sun was out, nature was beautiful and our conversation was enjoyable. I'm sure all of these circumstances were the same two weeks prior, but I was different.

After my run, I thought how this scenario is not so different from our spiritual race with the Lord. We know trials are ahead; He tells us in His Word they are a part of this life. Knowing this, we have choices to make.

We can be neglectful and not prepare. If that is our choice, like me, our trials can be very painful with tough consequences to follow. Or we can choose wisely and get prepared in advance. Preparing is essential if we want to keep running when tough times come.

So, how do we prepare? First, we ready our hearts by hydrating ourselves each day with the Living Water of God's Word, feasting on our Daily Bread through worship, and resting in the shelter of the Most High by investing time in our relationship with Him. These fuel and replenish us with faith, hope, and encouragement, and steady us in the everlasting joy of our Father.

I also find it helpful to get my house in order - things in place such as schedules, finances, and good relationships with family members and friends. Having our life in order means one less stress when trials hit.

I think the biggest mistake I made with my first twelve-mile run was assuming that if I just "showed up," I'd get through. That was so unwise! I don't want to make the same mistakes on my spiritual run. The Lord has given us everything we need to run our race, but we need to prepare, and by doing so will gain victory in our trials and finish strong!

Dear Lord, Please help me prepare ahead of time for the trials of this life. Teach me to dig into Your Word and invest in my relationship with You. I want to be ready to run well. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

The One Year Chronological Bible (NLT)

Get Over It and Get On With It by Michelle McKinney Hammond

Visit Lynn's Blog

Application Steps: 

Do a check-up on your life: are there things out of order that you need to get right before your next trial hits?

Life is hard. Find a "running" partner you can count on to encourage you and you can encourage in return!

Reflections: 

Have you been putting His Word into your heart so that you have the hydration you'll need for your spiritual race?

What changes can you make in your every day life that might help make trials to come easier?

Power Verses:

Hebrews 12:11, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (NIV)

Deuteronomy 33:12, "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders." (?)

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

January 7, 2009

You're a Can Do Kid!
Renee Swope

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

Devotion:

"I can't!" My four-year-old shouted as tears streamed down his cheeks. Joshua, his older brother, was trying to teach him how to use the Etch A Sketch,® but Andrew gave up before he even touched the little white knobs.

"I can't" had become Andrew's favorite phrase.

"I can' t," he cried when I encouraged him to put his face in the water at the pool that afternoon.

"I can't," he muttered, when I asked him to tell me the first letter in the word apple.

As I watched him sit in defeat, I thought to myself, "I can't take it anymore!"

Life with a child who is afraid to try new things can be very difficult. Frustration had been creeping into my heart all day because I didn't know how to help Andrew overcome his fears. So I stopped what I was doing and asked God to show me how to help my little boy.

I thought back on our week and remembered how Andrew had given up most easily when trying things his big brother could do well. Then I remembered an article I'd read about helping children become "can-do kids." I felt like God reminded me of that because He specializes in helping His children become can-do kids, and that's what He wanted me to do for mine. I remembered Gideon, a man God called a "mighty warrior" even while he was acting like a wimp. I thought about when Jesus called Peter a rock, although he acted more like shifting sand. But over time, both of these men became who God called them to be. And my son could, too!

I bent down and looked into Andrew's tear-filled eyes and announced, "Andrew, from this moment foward you are my 'CAN DO KID'. There are so many things you can do. The Bible says you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength."

It was time for dinner so I told Andrew we were going to set the table together. I handed him the forks and showed him where each one went. I gave him one plate and cup at a time and watched him complete each setting. Once he finished, Andrew looked at me and proudly said, "Mommy, I can do it!" And from that day forward he called himself the "can-do" kid!

Our kids need us to believe in them and show it through our words and actions. I was so grateful God gave me such a powerful lesson and promise from His Word to pass on to my child in the midst of a challenging parenting moment. It changed Andrew's perspective and mine, too.

God wants you to know that you are His can-do kid! You can do whatever He's calling you to do today, because He believes in you and He's with you! He wants to pass that truth on through you, and use you to help your child know that they're a CAN-DO kid, who can do all things through Him who gives us strength!

Dear Lord, help me see beyond who my child is to who he can become in Christ. Show me if there are areas in his life where he is comparing himself to others. Help me notice and nurture his personal strengths and remind him that he can do all things through Christ. I pray you would open the eyes of my heart to learn Your truths in my everyday life and pass them onto my children. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child: Character Chart and Message on CD by Renee Swope. Positive and practical ways to connect spiritually with your kids in everyday moments!

Visit Renee's Blog for practical ways to raise "can-do" kids! Also, sign up to win some great give-aways for moms this month!

The D6 Conference -- helping parents and churches raise spiritual champions!

Application Steps: 

Think of your child (or someone you know) who needs you to believe in them.
Show them your confidence by trusting them with an assignment or special task.
Give them encouragement through a letter, phone call, card or email.

Reflections: 

Read Judges 6:11-16, and notice how God used words of encouragement to help Gideon. When your child gets fearful, instead of being critical, look for ways to be creative. Click here for a list of promises God gave to Gideon that you can offer to your children.

Power Verses:

Isaiah 43:1b, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine." (NKJV)

Judges 6:12, "When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." (NIV)

© 2009, Renee Swope. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

[Judy Harder]

January 8, 2009

Brain Blips, Mishaps, and Feelings of Failure

Lysa TerKeurst

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew: 7:24-27 (NIV)

Devotion:

Do you know what amazes me about those verses above? Both the person doing right and the person doing wrong experienced hard times. In both cases the rains came, the streams rose, and the wind blew and beat against the house.

Just because we're Christians living out God's principles for life, does not mean we won't face difficult circumstances. The difference being a Christian makes is how the difficulties affect us. If we are hearing and heeding God through our prayer time and reading His Word, then we will be able to stand strong in the storms of life. Our faith will not be shaken and our identity will not be rattled.

I once heard my pastor lament to my husband that sometimes he only feels as good as his last sermon. I can so closely identify with his comment because as a friend, wife, and mother, sometimes I only feel as good as my last interaction with someone close to me. A friend tells me I hurt her feelings and suddenly I feel like a bad friend. I forget to take the cookies I signed up to bring to the church nursery and suddenly I feel unreliable and disorganized. My husband asks me where his passport is, and when I can't find the file, suddenly I feel like a wife that can't be trusted.

The passport thing is still very fresh on my mind because it just happened recently. My normal reaction would have been to get frustrated, short tempered, and beat myself up while tearing the house apart looking for the missing passports.

But God's Spirit spoke to my heart and said, "Let me invade your natural flesh reaction. Call your husband and pray about the passports instead of getting frustrated."

So, Art and I prayed. I went from defining myself as a failure of a wife to being a praying woman who can face a hardship in a godly way. The frustration was diffused and we determined to look at this from God's perspective. If we find the passports, we'll praise God! If we don't find them, we'll see this as God's protection not to go on a planned trip later this month and we'll still praise God.

When hard times come and beat against our stability, we must be determined to hear God's words and put them into practice. Then nothing can topple our peace, security, or true identity.

Dear Lord, Thank You that my identity does not have to be determined by the circumstances of my life. Help me to hear Your Words, put them into practice and stand firm on Your truth. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Lysa's blog today to register for an exciting giveaway!

Looking for a good devotional to start this year? You  You can purchase the book this devotion was excerpted from: God's Purpose for Every Woman: A P31 Devotional Gen Eds. Lysa TerKeurst & Rachel Olsen

What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst

Application Steps: 

Write down something you've been mentally beating yourself up over lately. Find three verses that deal with this issue and commit to praying these Scriptures into your situation. Stand firm on God's solid truth that you are a godly woman who will face this circumstance in a godly way.

Reflections: 

Do you ever struggle with feelings of failure? Ask God to help you see your value apart from your performance.

Power Verses:

Psalm 37:3, "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture." (NIV) 

Psalm 32:10, "Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him." (NIV)

© 2009 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

January 9, 2009

Of Enoch and Long Walks

Karen Ehman

"Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."

Genesis 5:24 (NIV)

Devotion:

Do you have a favorite Bible character? One who inspires you, challenges you or one whose story you simply love? Perhaps it is Moses and his vast leadership skills. How about Esther, the compelling queen who, being both gorgeous and smart, used her quick thinking to help God save an entire nation? Maybe Joseph is your pick as you contemplate how someone so mistreated could continually take the high road; the road that lead him not only to political power but also to family forgiveness. All of these are marvelous choices, but none are my pick. I like Enoch.

Since first hearing of Enoch as a young teen, that guy has fascinated me. Not a lot is written about him in the pages of scripture, but what is there sure piques my interest. He "walked with God and then he was no more because God took him away." Hmmm. My young mind pondered that strange description.

As I grew as a believer, I learned a bit more about this biblical mystery man. In Hebrews 11:5-6 we catch more of the story. "By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (NIV)

Ah ha! Enoch was whisked away, spared the pain of death and transported immediately to God's side all because of one simple thing. He pleased God. I say simple. But I don't say easy. It is a simple thing to please God. You just do what He says in His word. Straightforward enough, right? However, my years as a follower of Christ have taught me that simple is not always easy. Choices present themselves. The world screams. Our flesh gets in the way. We want revenge or our own glory. We lack faith and instead try to control our own destinies. We mess up the "pleasin' God" part with our very own hands.

Enoch "walked with God." Oh, don't we long for that to be said of us? I'll admit I don't always walk with God. I take a stand for God; believe the right things and make it known. I may walk after God. And sadly, sometimes I run ahead of God; make my own plans and then say, "Oh yeah. By the way God, do ya mind blessin' these plans? I made them in Your name. I may have forgotten to consult You in the midst of them, but they are for You all right!" What a shame and a sham!

No two ways about it, walking with God means that we daily give up our right to navigate our own lives. We place our faith in Him, admitting He knows what is best for us and realizing He might not always reveal the hows and the whys until the very last second. Remember, God is seldom early, but never late. Only day-by-day faith-walking pleases God.

Oh, dear one, do you long to be one who pleases God this way? One who makes Him smile as He sees you daily place complete trust in Him and His infinite wisdom? Maybe then we just might be like my Bible hero Enoch; the one who walked so closely by our Creator's side that one day, during one of those long walks, God looked at him and said, "You know, we've been walking together for so long now that we are actually closer to my house than yours. Why don't you just come on home with me right now?" Glory!!!

Dear Lord, I am ready to learn to walk with You in faith; not ahead of You or behind You, but right by Your side. Show me how, step by step. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

For more thoughts on walking with God, visit Karen's blog

What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst

Birds in My Mustard Tree by Susanne Scheppmann

Application Steps: 

Do I run ahead of God or do I walk with Him? What actions (or inactions) would have to go in order for me to walk daily with God?

What keeps me from placing total faith in God and His will for my life? Fear? Distrust? A longing to be in control?

Reflections: 

For more inspiration, do an Internet search to read of some heroes of the faith who learned to live by daily walking with God. Try George Mueller, Dwight L. Moody, Amy Carmichael or Jim Cymbala.

Power Verses:

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

II Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (ESV)

© 2008 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org