Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

August 25, 2010
The Truth is in the Handbag

Shari Braendel

"Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me." Psalm 31:3 (NIV)

Devotion:

I recently watched as a frazzled shopper fumbled around in her bag trying to find her allusive keys. As she dug through her overstuffed purse, multiple items spilled out, landing on the counter and falling to the floor. Quickly, she began collecting her items.

I thought about her pretty purse, beautiful on the outside but hiding an unruly mess on the inside. And then I started thinking about how alike women and purses can be.

Maybe you're like a small purse that only has the capacity to hold a few things. Yet you try stuffing more into your life than you can hold, only to get frustrated. Perhaps one of those things is God: He's been crammed into a tiny space in your world and you don't give Him much room to rule because you feel more comfortable when you are in control.

Perhaps you're like a big purse, carrying all kinds of things. You're involving yourself in so many activities just because you can; with no real purpose to why you're doing it. You end up flustered like the shopper digging for her keys because you haven't spent the time needed to organize your spiritual life.

I know you're not a handbag, but when applying biblical truth and application, what kind of purse are you most like?

It's not God's desire for our inside to be out of sync with our outside. He desires for us to have our hearts turned toward Him and have our very pulse in beat with what He is doing in us.

Where should we start to curb the chaos, release our controlling tendencies and lighten the busyness to fall in step with God?

Start by being still. For some, that will go against every fiber of your being, but try it. Perhaps you abide in chaos because it's masking what is really going on with you, just like your pretty purse hides the unorganized mess within. Sit quietly and pray for God to help you be keenly aware of Him. Nothing that you are going through is a surprise to God.

Next, relax and trust the Lord. Sometimes feeling out of control causes you to hyper-control everything around you. Let go of your fears, doubts and worries and make room for God in your life.

Finally, clear your calendar. We overbook and over-schedule out of habit and now busy feels normal. Is your fast pace driven by fear, or does it define your value or identity?  If so, re-evaluate where your time and energy are being spent and why.

Making a change doesn't come easily, but it can be done.  Although seeking out time with God, learning to trust Him, and reorganizing your priorities can feel uncomfortable and difficult at first, I know for sure that it's not nearly as hard as living overcommitted and out of control.

Together, let's commit to cleaning out our "purses!"

Dear Father, will You please meet me right here, right now and quiet my heart so that I can rest and regroup? Thank You for the comfort of knowing that while I sometimes get waylaid, You never take Your eyes from me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.   

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Visit Shari's blog where she is giving away two spectacular handbags and signed copies of her brand new book, Good Girls Don't Have to Dress Bad!

Walking with God in the Quiet Places: Devotions for Women by Various Authors, including Lysa TerKeurst
Intimacy with God: Establishing a Vibrant Quiet Time and Prayer Time by Tara Furman

Take a quiet moment to read our free resource, Good Thing or God Thing?

Application Steps:

Take a moment to journal what you are thinking right now. This is for you only, so feel free to be absolutely honest and dig deep.

Challenge yourself to make one change; slow and steady wins the race.

Reflections:

Do I believe God is in control?

Do I trust Him with my whole heart? If not, what am I holding back and why?

If God has more planned for my life than just coping, can I embrace a change for the better?

Power Verses:

2 Thessalonians 3:3, "The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." (NIV)

Hebrews 13:20-21, "May the God of peace...equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (NIV)

Zephaniah 3:17, "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (NIV)

© 2010 by Shari Braendel. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

August 26, 2010

The God of Learning

Marybeth Whalen

"Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary."

Isaiah 46:1 (NIV)

Devotion:

Education is important. None of us would disagree with that. But how important is it and what role is it to play in our lives, especially as parents?

This has been a conflict for me as I have made my peace with the need for a good education for my children with my own desires for them to be "the best." While I recognize that education opens doors, I also wonder if perhaps I haven't at times fallen out of step with what God wants me to stress as a parent.

I will admit that I have valued academics over character growth at times.

A friend of mine once said, "Bible is not on the test." I asked her what she meant. She said that she always tells her children that, no matter what they score on standardized testing, she reminds them that there are things that can not be measured with grades or charts. My friend reminded me that our children's character growth and commitment to the Lord are more important than any grade, yet which gets more attention in our society?

In today's verse, Nebo, the god that burdens the Babylonians, is the god of learning. My breath caught in my throat when I read that note in my Bible. God pointed out in scripture that the god of learning burdened the people who worshiped it. I know the god of learning has burdened me during the time I have been a parent.

Whether I was a young parent making sure I exposed my child to all the right things to get them ready for kindergarten; a homeschool parent striving to provide all the right academic curriculum for my young students; or a mom of a public school kid pushing them to make the grades and try harder, I have felt the burden of making a god out of learning.

As parents we should care about our children's performance and grades. We should care about sending them to the right schools and their academic futures. But more than that, we should care about them growing closer to God. I want to give my children a hunger for His Word and ignite in them a passion to chase after Him. But as my friend said, none of that is on the test. At least, not any test the world devises.

With my eye on eternity, I can remove the burden of the god of learning by refocusing on the one true God, and helping my kids to do the same.

Dear Lord, as a parent I want my kids to know You first and foremost. Help me to keep my priorities in perspective and to not put too much stress on academics. Help me to find the balance between doing everything as unto You (including learning) and inspiring my children to follow hard after You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

P31 Woman magazine

Learning To Live Financially Free by Curt and Marybeth Whalen

Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child Character Chart and CD by Renee Swope

Visit Marybeth's blog

For more great parenting ideas, read our free resource Full-time Job

Application Steps: 

If you have children, set aside time today to read a Bible story or turn on some praise music. Praise them for the character qualities you see in them and not their academic achievements or shortcomings.

Reflections: 

What place does learning have in your life? Has it become a god to you? To your children? How can you topple that idol in your life and put God first?

Power Verses:

Luke 2:52, "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." (NIV) 

Isaiah 46:7, "They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles." (NIV)

© 2010 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

August 27, 2010

Just Because He Said So

Rachel Olsen

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands." 2 John 1:6a (NIV)

Devotion:

"No more words, honey, we're going to be quiet for the rest of the ride home."

My four year-old daughter and my husband were out late at a church event. She's an extrovert so being around all those people had her excitedly talking non-stop on the way home. The more she talked, the more animated she became. Finally my husband issued the no-more-words decree.

"But why?" she asked.

"Because it's late and you are tired, and you need to let your body wind down to rest."

"I'm not tired at all," she insisted.

"You don't realize it but you are very tired; it's way past your bedtime and you need to settle down."

After a moment of silence she said very matter-of-factly, "You can't know how I'm feeling."

My husband, who has a Ph.D. in communication, came through the front door saying, "Our preschooler just out reasoned me!"

She wants to understand our plans, motives, and reasons for everything. If she doesn't understand the logic of something she has a hard time accepting it. She loves us and truly wants to please us, but she wants to know why before she obeys.

She's usually obedient, once she's heard our reasons. Nonetheless, in response to her questioning I'm often tempted to use that infamous parental phrase: "Because I said so!"

I wonder if God ever wants to use that phrase with me?

I sometimes challenge His rules. Do not murder - check. Do not take the Lord's name in vain - got it. Honor your father and mother - um, OK. Do not gossip - hum, not even in the form of a prayer request? Do not lie - you mean, not ever? What if it is a little white lie that prevents hurt feelings? Do not envy - is that even possible?

Other times I question His ways. Can't You just feed the poor by making crops grow? Why do unbelieving drug addicts conceive babies, but my own girlfriend who follows You cannot? Why didn't You give me more organizational skills if You were going to have me marry this man and do this job? Are You sure You weren't distracted when You made me? Or when you gave me this questioning child?

God is infinitely more patient a parent than I am, and He is abounding in grace and love. He can easily handle all my questions without exasperation. But I wonder if He wishes I would just simply trust and obey - just because He is God.

I sure wish I would!

The scriptures say: "Do what your king commands; you gave a sacred oath of obedience. Don't worryingly second-guess your orders or try to back out when the task is unpleasant. You're serving his pleasure, not yours. The king has the last word. Who dares say to him, 'What are you doing?' Carrying out orders won't hurt you a bit; the wise person obeys promptly and accurately" (Ecclesiastes 8:2-5, MSG).

I want to be that wise person.

The Bible also sets my questioning tendencies straight with: "But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?" (Romans 9:20-21, NIV).

Yes, He certainly does. I want to be the fancy pot but I have to trust I will find the greatest joy when I accept the purposes He's designed me for.

So my goal today is not to question God but simply to trust and obey...even if I don't understand why, and even if it's hard to do. I will accept the way that I am made and the plans that He has set before me.

Yes, I know I can take all my questions to the Lord and He will lovingly sift through them, but today I want to obey His commands in swift, willing obedience - just because He said so.

Dear Lord, help me to know Your commands and obey them. Give me the mind and obedient attitude of Christ today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

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

Win a copy of Rachel's new book "It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know by stopping by Rachel's blog. She'd also love to pray for your ability to be obedient to God.
6 Habits of Highly Effective Christians by Brian T. Anderson & Glynnis Whitwer
Read our free P31 Woman magazine article, When God Calls, Answer Yes
Application Steps: 

Write out a declaration of intention to obey God at all costs. Pray and ask God to help you grow in obedience.

Reflections: 

Have you been challenging the Lord lately about the way He made you? Or the task He has set before you?

Are there commands that you are struggling with obeying?

Will you leave this place of questioning and doubt and move forward in obedience?

Power Verses:

Romans 6:16, "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (NIV)

2 Corinthians 9:13, "Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." (NIV)

© 2010 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

August 30, 2010

Entertaining Thoughts

Zoe Elmore

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

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

Devotion:

As I entered the room, my old familiar feelings of inadequacy and insecurity welled up within me. I prayed that the "measuring tape of self-worth" sticking out of the top of my head wasn't visible to anyone but me. "You're not pretty enough, thin enough or smart enough" echoed in my head, and I found myself entertaining thoughts of critical comparison.

Did you get that? I allowed my mind to "entertain" those harmful thoughts.

You'd think that at fifty-something I would have stopped "entertaining" these thoughts and moved on to recognizing and dismissing lies from the enemy. But I still find myself believing them at times.

What about you, do you entertain lies from your enemy, Satan? Do you entertain thoughts of comparison and insecurity?

If you do, I want to encourage you to memorize and apply 2 Corinthians 10:5, "We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (NIV). In order to apply this verse, you and I need to recognize what is truth and what is lie. Once recognized, we should reject the lies and replace them with God's truth.

God tells us over and over again that He thinks we are beautiful; but not just on the outside. Look closely at the truths contained in Ephesians 1:3-6, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." (NIV)

Friend, critical thoughts filled with comparison and insecurity are not from your heavenly Father who has chosen you and loved you. When Satan whispers his lies, let's quickly respond, "That is a lie and I reject that thought. I will only entertain thoughts of God's truth."

When we entertain a lie, we allow the enemy to plant it in our minds. Once planted, it is hard not to entertain the lies and even harder to discard them. Satan's lies take hold in our minds just like weeds in an unattended garden. We need to take seriously the task of guarding our minds against Satan's lies. When we guard our minds, it's as if we are holding up a shield of truth that repels lies.

I've heard it said, "Every spiritual battle is won or lost at the threshold of the mind." While I do believe we can triumph over the lie once we've allowed it to cross over the threshold, we can save ourselves a great deal of trouble and heartache, if we begin to recognize Satan's lies, reject them and then replace them with God's truth. As a believer in Christ we have the Holy Spirit to help us in this journey. Our job is to outsmart the father of lies by "out truthing" him.

Dear Lord, I confess that I entertain thoughts that I know are not true. I compare myself to others; entertain lies of rejection and worry. Through the power of the Holy Spirit I want to reject the lies of the enemy as soon as they enter my mind. Help me replace them and entertain Your truth instead. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Visit Zoe's blog

He is that Into to You (CD) by Lynn Cowell
Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan
Birds in My Mustard Tree: How to Grow Your Faith by Susanne Scheppmann

Application Steps: 

Write down the lies you believe about yourself. Write a corresponding truth verse from the Bible for each one.

Reflections: 

What does God see when He looks past all the makeup, clothing and jewelry right into your soul?

Write down verses of truth in your journal and meditate on a different one each day.

Power Verses:

Colossians 3:1-4, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (NIV)

Isaiah 26:3, "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You." (NASB)

Ecclesiastes 8:1b, "Wisdom brightens a face and changes its hard appearance" (NIV)

© 2010 by Zoe Elmore. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

 

[Judy Harder]

August 31, 2010

Secret Decoder Ring

Rachel Olsen

"You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not." Matthew 13:11 (NLT)

Devotion:

Did you catch that gem of a revelation in today's key verse? Jesus said there are secrets in the Kingdom of God.

I don't know about you but I have a hard time resisting secrets - especially God-sized secrets. So when I discovered this verse, I immediately wanted to know more. Don't you?

What secrets might God share with me? What secrets will He reveal to you?

To be perfectly honest, for years much of the Bible seemed like a giant secret I wasn't privy to. I just didn't get parts of it—many parts of it. Was I one of those "others" who hadn't been permitted to understand? I wondered. I suspected maybe if I went to seminary or became a nun, I could get a secret decoder ring and suddenly my Bible would make sense to me.

I just wasn't sure this average, everyday gal could ever figure it out all by herself. Turns out, I was right.

Today's verse starts a passage every woman needs to hear:

"You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them. That is why I tell these stories, because people see what I do, but they don't really see. They hear what I say, but they don't really hear, and they don't understand." (Matthew 13:11-13, NLT)

According to Jesus, God grants us the ability to recognize Kingdom truths. Jesus promises if we are truly open to His teachings, He will help us understand spiritual realities. Therefore, it's not up to you or me to figure out the mysteries of God or the deep truths of the Bible with our own perception. No need to spend your days in seclusion, or your money on an advanced degree. Jesus is our secret decoder ring!

And we can wear it proudly because no ring shines brighter than He does! Peter, James, and John, three of Jesus' disciples, witnessed His astounding brilliance—His sparkling glory—when He took them to a secluded spot on a mountain top. "As the men watched, Jesus' appearance changed, and his clothing became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly process could ever make it" (Mark 9:2-3, NLT). Suddenly a cloud came over them and "a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him'" (Mark 9:7, NLT).

God never hides truth from sincere seekers. In fact, He came to earth in the person of Jesus to ensure that we'd learn His secrets and understand His ways. Our task is to open ourselves—ears, eyes, and heart—and listen intently to Him. To concentrate and apply ourselves to the process of prayerfully reading the Bible.

So, when I don't understand something I read in scripture, I look to Jesus. I ask Jesus to help me understand. I consider the example He set while here on earth - found in the gospels - and then I read the perplexing chapter or verses again in light of that. I ask His Holy Spirit to guide me into all spiritual truth. And I've been amazed by what I've found.

I won't say that I now understand everything in my Bible cover-to-cover, but I have discovered some truly empowering secrets to life in God's Kingdom. And I trust more revelation is to come, simply because Jesus said it would. He promised an abundance of knowledge to those who listen.

It's easy to miss the full impact of the first dozen words of today's key verse and zero in on the last four: "You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not." Don't make that mistake. Don't assume you'll never "get it." If you are a follower of Christ, listening to Him with your heart, He will reveal to you victorious secrets for life in His Kingdom. Open your eyes to Him. Open your ears to Him. Open your heart to Him, and dig into His Word. Pray for revelation and understanding.

And be ready to record the amazing things He reveals as you do.

Dear Lord, I willingly and eagerly open my eyes, ears and heart to You today. Cleanse me and speak to me through Your Word, I pray. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Jesus?

This devotion is based on the opening of Rachel's new book It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Needs to Know. Be the first to order your copy today!

Interested in learning the secrets Rachel discovered? Want to win a copy of her new book It's No Secret? Follow the link to her blog at www.RachelOlsen.com and read the book's opening, first chapter and Bible study. Click here.

Application Steps: 

Listen as you read the Bible today.

Consider getting Rachel's new book It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Needs to Know. Each chapter covers a different "secret," ending with a Bible study section giving you the opportunity to dig into God's Word for yourself.

Reflections: 

Do I avoid reading the Bible because I've struggled to understand it?

What does Jesus say in Mark 13:11-13? Read it out loud.

Power Verses:

Colossians 2:2-3, "I want them to be strengthened and joined together with love so that they may be rich in their understanding. This leads to their knowing fully God's secret, that is, Christ himself. In him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are safely kept." (NCV)

© 2010 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

 

[Judy Harder]

September 1, 2010

The Dream Book

Marybeth Whalen

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."

Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)

Devotion:

Heads bent together, they study what to me looks like a mess but to them looks like something beautiful. The table is littered with glue sticks, magazines, scraps of paper, and scissors. "Mom," my daughter informs me as she looks up, "We're making dream books." Her eyes shine with possibility. It is clear that she believes in the dreams she is pasting in her book.

Looking at her, I am reminded of my own little girl dreams, of a time that I saw life as bursting with potential: I simply had to believe hard enough to make those dreams turn into reality. Life had not taught me otherwise then.

I listen as they discuss what they are pasting into their dream books. "This," says my daughter's friend, "is my desk area. And this will be my husband's, right beside me," she says with satisfaction. I don't tell her that she might not be able to afford a house that is large enough for two desk areas. That her marriage may get to a point that her husband might not want to be right beside her.

"These are my twins," my daughter says, her face shining with enough pride that they could be her real children. "Their names are Hunter and Hannah." I don't tell her that her husband may not like the names Hunter and Hannah. That she may not be blessed with twins, with children at all. I don't cloud their dreams with the realities of adulthood. I turn my attention to the dinner that needs to be cooked, the pressing needs that seem to overtake what I once dreamed.

But in my heart, I feel God whisper, What are your dreams? Have you forgotten? Have you lost hope? You could take a lesson from your little girl. I am challenged to hang onto what I once believed about life—to not let setbacks and heartbreak scream louder than the echoes of my dreams. What kind of woman can I be if I have stopped believing that dreams can come true? What kind of home can I create if it's a place where dreams are discarded like the trash?

God has planted dreams in all of our hearts. He did not intend for our dreams to get trampled by our own busy feet. Just like my daughter and her friend catalogued their dreams, maybe it's time for you to take some inventory in your life. 2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us, "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (NIV). That includes your God-given dreams.

Do you remember your little girl dreams? What did they look like? Who did you dream of becoming? It's not too late to dream dreams, to envision a future that accepts reality, yet embraces potential. Just for today, allow yourself to remember your dreams. Smile, feel giddy, hope. Whether it's starting your own business, writing a book, having a great marriage, or running a marathon... whatever dreams stir your heart, don't push them aside today. Create your own dream book, even if the pictures are just painted on the canvas of your mind.

Dear Lord, I know You created me to shine for You. I know that You gave me unique talents and abilities, with dreams to match. Help me to remember my dreams and to trust You to fulfill them in Your timing. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Marybeth's blog

The Mailbox by Marybeth Whalen
Shaped with Purpose Workbook and accompanying CD by Renee Swope
What about your husband's dreams? Consider sharing this book with him Hero: Unleashing God's Power in a Man's Heart by Derwin Gray
Visit our Radio Show, Falling Forward, for more free encouragement!
Application Steps: 

If you had a dream book, what would it contain? What parts of your life would you keep? What parts would you like to add? Write about this in your journal and consider clipping a few magazine photos for some visual inspiration.

Reflections: 

What is one little girl dream you had that you have already seen come true?

Have you taken time to celebrate that?

Power Verses:

Psalm 62:5, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." (NIV) 

Proverbs 23:18, "There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." (NIV)

© 2010 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

 

[Judy Harder]

September 2, 2010

When People Let You Down

Melanie Chitwood

"Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8 (NASB)

Devotion:

Disappointment feels like a heavy rock sinking to the bottom of my spirit. I've felt disappointed in many situations - a business opportunity that didn't pan out, a writing door that didn't open, and a relationship that broke my young heart.

The heaviest disappointments for me, however, stem from people. And not just any people; people who I'm closest to. People who turn out to be not at all what I hoped they'd be, or not who I thought they were.

I know I'm not alone in wondering how to deal with people who let me down. Just this week a friend said with a choke in her voice, "I wish my mom and I could be closer, but I don't think we ever will be." Another woman said with despondency, "My husband and I just don't talk." I've heard the edge of bitterness in women's voices as they vow never to trust again because of a friend's betrayal. And most of us have swallowed the hopelessness that comes with a broken heart, "I thought he was the one."

I've tried different ways to handle disappointments in relationships. One way is to ignore the disappointment, to shut it in a box and hope the lid holds. Another way is to gloss over it with a quick statement such as, "People will let you down, but God never will." True, but does this really help me process the hurt?

One morning in my quiet time I was pouring out my sadness, anger and disappointment about a close relationship. As the tears slipped down my face, I begged God to show up. What do I do with all this? Show me and I'll do it because what I've been doing is not working.

Clear as a bell ringing in my spirit, Jesus said, Grieve.

Really? I questioned. I remembered that Jesus knew all about disappointment - Peter's denial, Judas' betrayal, and the disciples falling asleep during His anguish before His crucifixion (Matthew 26). I remembered people in the Bible who were well acquainted with people they loved letting them down, such as Joseph or Job. I felt reassured that Jesus wouldn't misunderstand my sadness as a lack of faith.

So I cried, feeling every ounce of the disappointment. I told God all the things I wish were different about this relationship, all the things I thought this person had done wrong, and what I wish this person would do differently.

After the winds of grief subsided, I was done. Grieving was the bridge I had to cross to move beyond the disappointment. On the other side I found myself in a place where I could embrace the relationship for what it is, not what it's not.

On the other side of grief lies a place where we can consider how to respond to the person who disappointed us. There are a number of possible responses. Sometimes we need to talk to the person or get godly counsel. Other times we may need to create healthy boundaries, or we may need just to let it go. Only after we've allowed ourselves to grieve, however, will we know how to respond to this person in the way that God wants. Then the words, "People will let you down, but God never will," will be truly comforting, not just empty words.

Dear Lord, I'm so thankful that when it feels like no one else understands, You do. You understand about being disappointed in people but You loved them in the midst of that. Lord, I want to follow Your example. I'm thankful You know this sadness is a part of healing from the pain of disappointment. Give me guidance in handling this -I trust that You can bring good out of this. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Melanie's blog What Matters Most

Struggling with disappointment in your marriage? Consider Melanie's books What a Husband Needs from His Wife and What a Wife Needs from Her Husband

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

Share in God's grace with our free resource, Just a Little Heart Cleaning

Application Steps: 

Be honest with yourself as you consider someone who has let you down. Have you grieved over the disappointment? Take time to be alone, to be sad, and to cry if you need to. Let go of bitterness, anger, hurt and unforgiveness. Then ask the Holy Spirit to give you discernment about what to do next in this relationship.

Reflections:

Have I unsuccessfully tried to deny that I am hurt or angry by this disappointing relationship?

Is it possible that I've depended on this person more than God?

How does God what to use this disappointment in my life?

Power Verses:

Psalm 42:11, "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)

Psalm 94:19b "When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up." (MES)

Lamentations 3:23, "...Great is your faithfulness." (NAS)

© 2010 by Melanie Chitwood. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

September 3, 2010

Lumping and Loving

Karen Ehman

"Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon." Philippians 4:5 (NLT)         

Devotion:

I usually cringe at generalizations. You know, stereotypes; lumping an entire group of people into a confining box.

Like "The _______ (nationality) are so ________ (bad character trait)." or "Those ___________ (age group) all are so ____________ (strange habit or behavior)."

However, every once in a while, in the lumping, a compliment is paid.

I was at my coffee-house-office-away-from-home recently. As I waited in line for a drink, a frail, elderly woman stood in front of me ordering a meal. She seemed distressed, her face reflecting her frustration as she fumbled for her change, paid the worker, then gathered up her bag of food and picked up her drink. As she headed for the door, her large purse began swinging off of her shoulder, nearly knocking her, and all of her lunch, to the floor.

"Oh....how am I going to do this. Oh my....oh dear...I can't....." she mumbled to herself, trying to shift her weight and her cargo while pushing open the door at the same time.

Though I'd just finally reached the front of the line, God used today's verse to tap me on the heart and shift my momentary schedule. I quickly hopped out of line. "Here. Let me get that for you." I uttered as I held the door open and steadied her drink. "Would you like me to carry your food to your car?"

This precious lady stopped dead in her tracks, her bright blue eyes looking up at me with gratefulness. "Oh dear...why you must still have a grandmother living that you love to be so kind to an old woman."

"No ma'am, I don't." I answered. "I just love Jesus and He wants me to help you."

Her face swiftly softened. She then shook her head slightly and decidedly declared. "Oh my...Of course! You people have always been so helpful to me. I don't know what I'd do without you."

You people.

She meant, "You Christians."

She didn't align herself with the group saying, "Oh thank you for helping a sister out." No. She referred to me--and others who loved Jesus--as "you people."

It made me wonder, how had other Christians helped her in the past? Did they take her a meal? Rake her yard in the fall or shovel her driveway in the winter? Had they given her a ride to a doctor's appointment?

It drove home again for me the age old truth: more is caught than taught. And it demonstrated to me that people are watching.

And lumping.

What do they see? Do they see us being considerate in all we do? Sadly, I have been told all of the following:

By a waitress: "Christians are the worst tippers in the world; especially after a big Sunday supper out. Sometimes they leave no money at all."

By an acquaintance in college: "You're a Christian? So do you stand in front of the science building and scream Bible verses at people telling them they are all going to hell for believing in evolution? I don't believe in evolution. I am just trying to go to class."

By a sweet, misguided teenager from a broken and violent home, looking for love with her heart and announcing it with her body: "Oh, I tried going to church once. There was a sign on the front door that said 'All are welcome but please dress appropriately.' I didn't know what appropriately meant, but I knew it wasn't me. So I turned around and left."

If people watching see uncaring or harshly condemning Christians, why would they want to become one?

My prayer today is that you and I, as true Christ-followers, will be lumped in the "you people" group my sweet coffee house friend saw.

Considerate Christians. They make God and His body of believers look good. Sure, believers already know He is good. But others? They are watching. And lumping. What do they see in you?

Dear Lord, forgive me for the times I choose condemnation over love; rudeness over kindness; or decide to do nothing rather than do the right thing. Please prompt my heart and interrupt my momentary schedule so my actions accurately reflect who You are. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources: 

Visit Karen's blog today for a chance to win a signed copy of her book A Life That Says Welcome and two Target gift card bundles (complete with dark chocolate); one for you and one to give to a stranger.

Making It Real: Whose Faith is it Anyway? by T. Suzanne Eller
Do You Know Him?

She Cooks offers practical tips to be "You People!"

Saving Grace (E-Book) by LeAnn Rice

Application Steps: 

Make a choice today to perform a simple, kind deed for a complete stranger. When they thank you, give God the credit.

Reflections: 

Can you recall ways Christians have been lumped together? What was said? Was there truth to it?

What characteristics does the Bible say believers should be known for? List as many as you can.

Power Verse:

Proverbs 31:26, "She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness." (NKJV)

© 2010 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

[Judy Harder]

September 6, 2010

Labor Day Rest

Rachel Olsen

"And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done." Genesis 2:3 (NIV)   

Devotion:

In 1882 U.S. cabinet maker Peter McGuire introduced his idea for a new holiday saying, "Let us have a festive day during which a parade through the streets of the city would permit public tribute to American Industry." A dozen years later President Cleveland signed a bill into law designating the first Monday in September "Labor Day." For many Americans today is a day off from work, a chance to cook-out and hang-out in the lingering warm weather of summer.

A day off from labor, however, was not a new concept when McGuire suggested his holiday. The concept of a day of rest was first declared by the Lord in Genesis. In illustration, God rested the seventh day after creating the world and He deemed the day of rest holy (Gen. 2:2-3). He didn't call it Labor Day - He called it the Sabbath.

Sabbath is a not a day of tribute to workers, it's a day of tribute to their Maker. It's a day to rest your body while renewing your mind by making the focus of the day your Maker and your relationship with Him. In the Jewish tradition, the Sabbath is the focal point of the week - not just a day of laundry or list-making to gear back up for the week ahead. The Jewish people spent three days preparing for Sabbath, and three days reflecting on what they had learned or encountered of God during the Sabbath. They were a Sabbath-focused people, and therefore a God-focused people.

Keri Wyatt Kent, author of Breathe, writes, "This creates a rhythm of life that puts our focus not on our stuff or our schedule but on the opportunity to meet with God." Kent reveals:

"We are created in the image of God, and he modeled for us a way of life that makes sense for how we are created. Here's how to dance the dance of life, he said: work, be creative, use your imagination, throw yourself into it, whether you are washing dishes, reading to your kids and running a household, or trading stocks, reading corporate reports, and running a business. ...At the end of each day, stop. Take a rest, eat a good meal, get enough sleep, and refresh yourself. Take time to think about your day, to notice where God was in it and where you were blessed, and to say, "It's good." Then go back at it the next day. And after six days, take a whole day off. And say, "It's really good." Spend a whole day just pausing, just reflecting on how really good it is, and then start the dance again, at a sustainable pace."

That sounds really good to me. Whether you are here with me in the United States today, or someplace else on God's green earth, may this Labor Day mark the day that you and I decide to rest and become God-focused people.

Dear Lord, I want to rest in You. Show me how to live this way. Meet me there in my time of contemplation, reflection, and worship. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

For more on learning to worship God through rest, get Rachel's new book It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know

God's Purpose for Every Woman: A P31 Devotional Written by several Encouragement for Today authors with Editors Lysa TerKeurst & Rachel Olsen.

Breathe by Keri Wyatt Kent

[Judy Harder]

September 7, 2010

The Pearl's Price

Rachel Olsen

"When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!" Matthew 13:46 (NLT)

Devotion:

Famous jeweler Pierre Cartier purchased the Fifth Avenue mansion that is now his New York jewelry store for $100 cash. Plus a double strand of matched natural pearls.

Natural pearls, as opposed to cultivated ones, are rare and valuable. That double strand Mr. Cartier paid with in 1917 was valued at $1 million!

A few years ago I decided I wanted a strand of pearls - they're just so classy, and a staple of southern accessorizing. I quickly discovered the retail mark-up at brick-and-mortar jewelry stores can be three times as high as an online retailer. That's money I could save to spend on other things. But then again, I'd have to buy the strand sight-unseen when buying online. Could be risky.

What's a gal to do? Pay full retail with the assurance of getting something of quality, or save some money to spend on another desire and risk receiving something of little worth in return? Maybe even risk getting something counterfeit.

This is really the question of our lives.

What is worth "paying retail" for? Jesus tells us the Kingdom of God is—see what I mean in Matthew chapter 13. Here Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a pearl of superb quality: "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! (vs. 45-46)." Jesus compared His kingdom to jewelry—this is a God after my own heart.

The pearl merchant that Jesus spoke of searched single-mindedly for quality treasure. He wasn't swayed by just any pretty round gem; he was looking to invest in the best. It was his quest. And when he found it, he didn't hesitate to pay full retail price—to go after it with sacrificing gusto.

I admire him—ready to invest all he had once he found a treasure worthy of such sacrifice. He knew what was most valuable, and he stayed after it. He boldly invested all he had, and was happy with that decision. I want to be a woman like that—a woman decisively investing my life in the Kingdom of God without waver and without regret.

Yet there are so many distractions. Shiny things in the marketplace catch my attention. Esteemed things in our culture tempt me to seek glory. Fun things in my life make me feel good and forget my former focus.

Bible commentator Matthew Henry writes, "All the children of men are busy ... one would be rich, another would be honourable, another would be learned; but the most are imposed upon, and take up with counterfeits for pearls.... Jesus Christ is a Pearl of great price ... in having him, we have enough to make us happy here and for ever."

Do we truly believe that Jesus is enough to make us happy—not just in eternity but here as well? Are you willing to bank everything on the notion that Jesus Christ is the supreme pearl? That's the underlying question of the parable of the pearl buyer, and the underlying question of our lives.

I never did buy that strand of pearls; instead I'm seeking to live as if Jesus is the choicest pearl anyone could find. I want to settle it in my heart that any sacrifice I make for Him or His Kingdom is worth more than the time, money, or effort it may require of me.

I'm choosing to put on Christ as my million-dollar, double strand pearl necklace, day after day. Yes, friends, I'm sporting some biblical bling.

What about you—are you willing today to sell out to the one true thing worth selling out to?

Dear Lord, You are superb, supreme and of surpassing value! Help me remember that today and act accordingly. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Click here to claim the Already Paid-for Peal of Great Price for yourself.

Want to win a custom Lisa Leonard Designs necklace with your name and a pearl charm? Come to Rachel's blog for a chance to win this fabulous necklace and a copy of her new book It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know.

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


Application Steps: 

What do you know Jesus has been asking you to do that you haven't done? Make the effort and do it. Pay the Pearl's price.

Reflections: 

What are you tempted to sell your life out to more than Christ? And what is it's real worth?

Power Verses:

Mark 8:35, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." (NIV)

© 2010 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org