Encouragement for Today

[Judy Harder]

January 26, 2011
Abigail's Choice
Rachel Olsen


"Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor."

Proverbs 18:12 (NLT)         

Devotion:
Marriages were often arranged in Abigail's era, and I wonder if this was true of hers. On paper her husband Nabal seemed like a "catch." He was wealthy, a good provider, and he liked to have fun and throw parties. But behind the scenes his self-control and integrity was seriously lacking, causing those closest to him to suffer.

Here is what we know about Abigail's husband Nabal from the Bible in 1 Samuel chapter 25:1-41:

*He is wealthy - that's partly due to David's protection of his land and flocks. (vs. 2,8)

*He's crude, and mean in all his dealings. (vs. 3)

*He sneers at guests who come in peace, and questions their character. (vs. 10-11)

*He shouts insults. (vs.14)

*He's stingy, not returning favors or repaying kindnesses showed him. (vs. 16, 21)


*He is so temperamental that people dread talking to him. (vs. 17)

*He thinks more highly of himself than he ought. (vs. 36)

*He drinks too much. (vs. 36-37)

Basically, Nabal was a self-centered, ill-mannered guy who didn't recognize God's provision or blessings in his life. And if you read his story, you'll see he was foolish enough to insult the most powerful man around (King David) but more importantly, he was foolish enough to insult the one true God.


God let Nabal face the ultimate consequence of his character - death (vs. 38-39).

Imagine yourself paired up in marriage to such a foolish, arrogant, sharp-tongued man as this. (I hope you have to imagine, and have not lived this.) How would you react towards him? What do you think living with him might do to your personality, or your character?


Might you grow depressed? Would you become withdrawn or timid? Would you nag him to do better? Would you grow bitter, angry and become argumentative back? Or, would you perhaps just "let yourself go" and decide not to care about anything?


Let's look at Nabal's wife Abigail, from that same passage in the Bible:

*She is smart and sensible. (vs. 3)


*People look to her for wisdom and leadership in times of trouble. (vs. 14, 17)


*She is decisive and wastes no time worrying, pitying her situation, or fussing at those who cause her trouble - instead she takes action to improve the situation. (vs. 18, 23)


*She is generous, (vs. 18, 27) even willing to lay down her life for others. (vs. 22, 24)



*She is humble (vs. 24, 41) and quick to ask forgiveness. (vs. 28)


*She speaks eloquently and tactfully - with a knowledge of God - as she gives one of the longest speeches by a woman recorded in the Bible. (vs. 24-31)


*She looks out for the well-being and reputation of others - even Nabal's. (vs. 25, 31)


*She trusts God, holds her tongue, and waits patiently for the right timing. (vs. 36-38)



Abigail has always been one of my favorite women in the Bible. She has it all - wisdom, character, courage, faith, eloquence, graciousness. She possesses both inner and outer beauty. But her life with this man Nabal was no picnic, and that's really why I admire her.

How many times did Nabal get drunk and say or do something demeaning to her? Yet she chose not to let her spirit die. How many times did she wish for revenge, though not seek it? How many times did he berate her, yet she wasn't paralyzed by his insults?

How many times did his foolishness cost her greatly, or those she cared about? Yet she chose not to count the costs to herself when she put her life on the line to spare his life and the other men's.

Abigail's praiseworthy character ran deep, which tells me her reverence of God did as well.

After Nabal's death, she married King David and they had a son. David would have seven other wives in his lifetime, but only Abigail earned his complete respect. Only she had a positive influence on him.

Abigail challenges me to choose differently - to be humble, wise and courageous. Her example teaches me that I can choose how I will allow my circumstances to shape my character. While Nabal's life clearly shows that haughtiness goes before destruction, Abigail's shows that choosing humility and wisdom allows God to shape my character and my circumstances. And it makes room for God to be glorified in both.

Dear Lord, today I humble myself before You. I confess my sins and ask You to help me develop and display the same wisdom and character as Abigail. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:


Visit Rachel's blog for a chance to win a copy of her book It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know


The One Year Women of the Bible: Then and Now Reflections on Women of the Bible and Women Today

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


Application Steps: 
Open your Bible and read Abigail's story in 1 Samuel 25:1-42.


Reflections: 
Do my words and actions typically reflect haughtiness or humility?


Who is my "Nabal"? A boss? A parent? My own sin-nature that combats my spirit?


In what current circumstance or relationship do I need to choose wisdom, humility and courage?


My circumstances do not control my character - I do.


Power Verses:
Proverbs 31:26, "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." (NIV)



Proverbs 15:33, "The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom; and humility comes before honor." (NIV)



© 2011 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.

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

[Judy Harder]

January 27, 2011
When the One You Doubt is You
T. Suzanne Eller

"Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'" Matthew 14:31 (NIV)


Devotion:
I walked away discouraged. It was a disaster! The end of the world! I mentally listed all the ways I had messed up.

Things had not gone the way I had hoped. Later that night as I lay in bed, going over the events one more time, regret plopped right in the middle of my chest.

I wish that I could say that self-doubt was never a problem again after that day, but it has tried to spring up again from time to time. It's just that I handle it in a different way now. I finally recognized self-doubt for what it is. It's an unhealthful twist on humility. It appears to be self-assessment, or even meekness. Instead, it is distracting to my dreams and the direction that God is trying to lead me.

Self doubt can be paralyzing unless we learn to unpack it. Asking questions like:

Is there a valid reason I am doubting? Maybe there are gaps that need to be filled with education, with knowledge, with training, or good old-fashioned time alone with our Heavenly Father.

Is it due to a certain person or my past? My friend and Proverbs 31 Ministries sister Lysa TerKeurst describes twirling around as a child, her dress fanning out around her, to capture her father's attention.

How many times do we twirl, trying to fill that place where a father's words or a mother's hugs didn't? We keep on twirling hoping that someone might notice, and we come up empty if they don't, even when there is no way that anyone can see that need.

Is it the enemy? We have an enemy according to Scripture. An enemy that desires to steal, to take away, to wound by distracting us from God's grace, call, and leading. Do we so intently focus on the things we didn't do "right" or well, at least in our eyes, and fail to see the good that took place?

When I stopped to take an honest look at the event where the world was coming to an end, the reality is that it was a small hiccup. A perfect learning experience, allowing me to fill in a gap that needed to be filled.

Self-doubt can either riddle us, consuming our thoughts, or it can be an avenue to honestly assess why it's there, and what we can do about it—with God's help.

Dear Lord, help me to look at the doubt I carry and then move forward. Let me leave this useless emotion behind and replace it with action, with knowledge, and most importantly with You. You know me. You know what I need, and You so graciously give it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?


Visit Suzie's blog where Suzie has a great giveaway.


The Woman I Am Becoming by T. Suzanne Eller


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

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


Application Steps:

Unpack your most pressing doubt and ask the three questions in today's devotion.


After unpacking, what is the real issue?


What is one action step you can take today?


Reflections:

"What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful."-- Mother Theresa.


Power Verses:

Luke 24:38, "And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?" (ESV) 

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

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

[Judy Harder]

January 28, 2011
The Blessed Life
Rachel Olsen

"For the Kingdom of God is ... living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17 (NLT)         

Devotion:
With each passing year I grow ever more convinced that the life of faith is a life characterized by peace and joy.


Sure it's a life of goodness as well, that's practically a no-brainer. Ask anyone what religion or Christianity specifically is about, and you're likely to hear, "Being good." But being good is not the sum total of it.



In fact, simply being good—doing what is morally right—absent of a peaceful trust in God and a joyful appreciation of Him can become legalism. And few things upset Jesus more than the legalism of the religious leaders of His day.



Legalism is living a life of rules with little room for the very thing Jesus affords us: grace. It's characterized by self-striving. In my book, "It's No Secret," I share how easily I can overlook the fact that no matter what rules we happen to keep - or fail to keep - God provides His people with grace, mercy, forgiveness, peace and joy.



Some may say that if I am experiencing more peace and joy it's because I'm being increasingly good. That it's because I'm being obedient and doing all the right things—praying more, trusting God more, walking in a manner worthy of my calling, and so forth. Well, yes. And, no.



I've come to realize that I have no real right to extra peace or happiness just because I pause to talk with God. I have no entitlement to contentment or joy just because I submit to His commands. I pray and obey simply because God is God, and I am not. He is the creator of my life. He holds the patent. And I'm created for His pleasure.



Yet in His gracious, extravagant kindness, He has made it so that when I pray rather than worry, I experience peace. When I gratefully accept what He has given me, and do not wish and whine for more, I find contentment. When I give away what I have, so often I get joy in return. And when I look steadily on Him all these blessings come into view.



Hannah Whitall Smith writes:



"This blessed life must not be looked upon in any sense as an attainment but as an obtainment. We cannot earn it; we cannot climb up to it; we cannot win it; we can do nothing but ask for it and receive it. It is the gift of God in Christ Jesus. And where a thing is a gift, the only course left for the receiver is to take it and thank the giver."



Simply because He is good, peace, contentment and joy are available to us regardless of our position, possessions, performance or circumstances. It's His loving kindness and the empowerment of His Spirit that makes living in the kingdom of God a life of goodness, peace and joy.



And that, my Yahweh Sister, is a blessed life -a gift. It's what life in the Kingdom looks like. Let's share that gift by introducing others to its Source.


Dear Lord, thank You for the grace afforded me. I so desperately need it, and I so deeply appreciate it. Please blanket me in the blessing of Your presence and guide me in Your will. Let me walk in goodness, peace and joy today, in Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:


To learn more about living as a modern woman in the Kingdom of God, get a copy of Rachel's book It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know


Visit Rachel's blog today for a chance to win a copy of her book It's No Secret.


Application Steps: 
Pause and thank the Giver!


Allow your God-given blessings to come into view.


Reflections: 
Would those who know me best use the words "goodness," "peace," or "joy" to describe my life?


What can I do to set my mind on peace and joy today?


Power Verses:
Luke 17:20-21, "Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, 'The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst.'" (NIV)


Isaiah 55:12, "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." (NIV)


Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (NIV)

© 2011 by Rachel Olsen. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105

[Judy Harder]

January 31, 2011
Chasing Love
Lysa TerKeurst

"I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land."
Psalm 143:6 (NIV)

Devotion:
A few years ago, I sat with a beautiful young woman and watched the tears stream down her face. Six months before our meeting, her world was filled with so much. A loving husband, a healthy toddler, fun friends, and a new starter home that her mom helped her decorate.

Life was full.

But some part of her heart still felt restless, unsettled, a little empty. She couldn't put her finger on it. She tried talking to some of her friends but they laughed it off as something related to hormones that would pass.

Only the feeling didn't pass.

She started to feel detached from her husband and disappointed that his love didn't fulfill her. Why couldn't he make her feel loved? She'd always thought of marriage as the ultimate love. He was going to be the one to right her wrongs, fill up her insecurities and give her a lasting feeling of love, or so she thought.

Questions bombarded her constantly... What is wrong with him? Why didn't he say what he's supposed to say? Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm not pretty enough, witty enough, good enough?

Then one day she met a man that said things she'd longed to hear her husband say. He made her feel pretty and witty. Soon, she rationalized that she'd never really loved her husband in the first place. She convinced herself she'd made a mistake marrying so young. That this new man was her true soul mate.

She fell into his arms. A web of lies was spun. The thrill of new romance clouded her every decision.

She had not wanted to come to the women's retreat. She knew it might make her feel guilty and she was past guilty feelings. She was just waiting for the right time to leave her husband and start over with the real love of her life.

But her friends had started to grow suspicious of her pulling back from so many church activities. So, to appease them, she went.

Over the course of the weekend, the walls she'd so carefully constructed to keep everyone at a distance and her secret hidden started to crumble. By Saturday night, she sat down with me and confessed it all.

She desperately wanted to know how I felt so full of God's love. She'd never known that kind of relationship with God. She was now convinced it wasn't the love of another man her heart craved; it was the love of God.

I think this is true of many people. We spend years chasing things in this world that we think will make us feel loved. But everything this world offers is temporary. Everything.

The kind of love our souls crave is lasting, eternal. And only God can fill up our hearts with that kind of love.

The sad thing about chasing love outside the will of God is it invites so much into our lives that is the exact opposite of love. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 is a picture of God's perfect love. It is patient. It is kind. It does not envy... it is not self-seeking... it does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth... it always protects... it always perseveres. Love never fails.

This is not a description of what is inherently ours when we fall in love with another person. It is a description of God's love.

This kind of love can be ours as we become more Christ-like and decide to give this kind of love. It is never focused inwardly. It is never about what I'm going to get from another person. It is deciding this is the kind of love I will give away.

False attempts at love will make us impatient, unkind, envious, self-seeking, resistant to the truth, reckless and temporary.

I am challenged by this. Because our souls were designed for God's fulfilling love, if we aren't staying closely connected to Him every day, our hearts will start to feel empty. Restless. Unfulfilled.

Let us never get to the place where we think we are beyond being tempted in this way. If we are all completely honest, we are only a few bad decisions away from the same mess my friend is now trying to untangle herself from. While I have complete hope in God's ability to restore her, the consequences of her chase for love will be severe on many levels.

The kind of love our souls crave will never be found in the things of this world. Lasting and perfectly satisfying love will only be found when we stop chasing and start living out the truths of God.

Dear Lord, please help us see our marriage for the sacred gift that it is. Help me to remain faithful in a way that honors You and brings joy to our home. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Visit Lysa's blog for one thing every wife needs to understand about affair proofing her marriage.

Lysa would be honored to meet you! To check for a city near you, click here.

Join us for the free Made to Crave webcast tonight at 8pm EST. For more information click here.

Application Steps:
Oh sweet friends, can we make a commitment together today? Can we commit to be women who recognize how crafty Satan can be and how vulnerable we are when it comes to our need for love?

Reflections:
If something or somebody in this world seems appealing enough to draw your heart away from the truth of God, will you pray about telling this to another godly woman and asking for help?

Power Verses:
Ephesians 1:4 "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." (NIV)

Matthew 19:26, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (NIV)

© 2011 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

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

[Judy Harder]

February 1, 2011
One Stitch at a Time
Melanie Chitwood


"Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other,
Let us show the truth by our actions." 1 John 3:18 (NLT)       
Devotion:
When the four Chitwood family members settle in for some TV, we fight over who gets to snuggle with the patchwork quilt made years ago by Granny. The quilt comforts us with its warmth and the memories of Granny's love.


After years of snuggling, Granny's quilt displays signs of use: seams pulling apart, well-worn fabric with quilt-stuffing peeking through, and permanent stains.


One part of the quilt, however, remains completely intact: the quilting stitches. These are the smallest stitches in the whole quilt and interestingly also the strongest.


These small stitches offer us a lesson for our marriages. In Matthew 19:6 Jesus says, "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate." God says a married couple becomes "one flesh" when they marry, and they work out that oneness all the days of their lives.


One way to establish that oneness is to make small, daily "stitches" to strengthen the fabric of marriage. These small habits don't take much time or effort, but they do require intentionality.


In my book, "What a Husband Needs from His Wife," I talk about three areas - thoughts, words, and actions - where we can choose some specific small habits to start practicing in our marriages.


Consider your thoughts toward your husband and marriage - When he's having a stressful day, do you think he needs to get over his bad mood, or do you think about how you can encourage and support him? Maybe you walk through the messy garage and think it's about time your husband cleaned it up. Instead you can think about how you and the kids can help with that project.


Consider your words - How do you speak to your husband? Do your words cut him down or lift him up? Also, think about your words to others about your husband. Decide today that your kids, mother, and best friend will hear you praise your husband, not criticize him.


Consider your actions - Jesus was a servant who laid down His rights to love others. How can you be a vessel of Christ's love toward your spouse? Show him your love by simple actions such as cheering him on at his softball game, picking up his favorite snack at the store, and making intimacy a priority.


Practicing these small habits will help our marriages stay intact, just the like the tiny quilting stitches of Granny's quilt. Prayerfully consider the various areas addressed here. Ask God to show you how you can strengthen the oneness in your marriage. You'll be glad you took time to sew some stitches today, knowing that the fabric of your marriage will hold tightly against the pulls and pressures of tomorrow.


Dear Lord, open my eyes and heart to small, daily habits I can practice today to strengthen the oneness of my marriage. Give me a willing heart to honor my marriage by investing in it daily. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:
Visit Melanie's blog for more ideas for "Strengthening Your Marriage One Stitch at a Time."

What a Husband Needs from His Wife and What a Wife Needs from Her Husband by Melanie Chitwood
Becoming Your Spouses Better Half: Why Difference Makes a Marriage Great by Rick Johnson
When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!

Application Steps: 
Make three columns on a piece of paper labeled thoughts, words, actions. Create a list of small habits you can practice daily to sew a strong marriage.


Consider getting together with a friend or a group to do the Bible study in Melanie's book, What a Husband Needs from His Wife.


Reflections: 

What bad habits are ripping apart the seams of my marriage?


What are some daily habits I already practice to strengthen my marriage?


What is one small stitch I can sew today to strengthen the fabric of my marriage?


Power Verses:

Colossians 1:17, "... in him all things hold together." (NIV)


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


© 2011 by Melanie Chitwood. All rights reserved.

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

 

[Judy Harder]

February 2, 2011

The Book of Days

Ariel Allison Lawhon, She Reads Co-Director


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

Devotion:
They say that smell is the sense most linked to memory. And I know this to be true. The earthy aroma of geraniums transports me to a porch in west Texas where my grandmother tended flowers with the hands that had worked the land her entire life. I see her, water hose dangling from her fingers, spraying the heat and dust from the cobblestone patio. Washing away the residue of a hot afternoon.

The memories of my childhood are bound up in a woman whose name, Ellen, means "shining light." Yet most of those memories are now forgotten to her. Stolen by an illness that I once called "Old Timers Disease." And she laughed at that, back then, when I was all elbows and knees and teeth. Back when she told me that her father suffered from Alzheimer's. The thief of memory.

The diagnosis came early last fall, just as her flower garden began to die, the red petals of her geraniums crisping around the edges, falling away. I now live the great sadness of seeing her slip into the haze of Alzheimer's, that shining light in her eyes replaced by confusion. And I wonder where her memories go. 

Shelling peas with her grandchildren on the back porch.

Cracking open a watermelon and teaching me to spit the seeds across the yard.

Burying her second child, a little girl named Kathy, at the age of three.

Her wrinkled hand tracing the lines of Amazing Grace as we stand and sing the benediction.

Weddings and funerals and the births of grandchildren.

Her own husband of forty-plus years, gone on before her.

All these precious moments of a life falling away, like petals in an autumn frost. Is God catching them as they escape her mind? Holding them in His palm? Does He record them with a tender hand, each memory pressed between the pages of time? Will they one day be restored to her? Do our memories belong to us alone, or are they so special to God that He takes pains to keep track of each and every one?


In Psalm 139:16 we read the startling truth that every moment of our lives has been recorded by a knowing God. "Your eyes saw my unformed body; in Your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being."



God has already written down every moment of my grandmother's life in His book. He's done the same for me and for you as well. Our moments are precious to Him. The times we've knelt in prayer and shouted in praise. Tears and laughter. Celebration and sorrow. None will be lost forever. Not by us and certainly not by the God who ordered each moment before we were even born.



This spring I will fill my back patio with geraniums and I will inhale the scent of my grandmother. I will remember for her, until the day she sits beside her Lord and He opens His book to read the story of Ellen, a woman whose light shines brightly.


Dear Lord, thank You that my days are not forgotten to You. Each one is so important that You wrote it down, with Your own hand. My name is in Your book and Your love is written across every page of my life. For all the days that I have left, may I remember Your with the same passion that You remember me.


Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?


She Reads: Discovering Great Fiction Together A division of Proverbs 31 Ministries


James Rubart's latest novel, Book of Days, is the story of a man who goes searching for God's book written about in Psalm 139 in effort to regain his lost memories. Book of Days is also our She Reads featured book. Be sure to visit the She Reads blog and enter to win a Kindle preloaded with this novel.


Application Steps: 

Make a list of your sweetest memories and share them with someone you care about.


Pray for a loved one who suffers from Alzheimer's and thank God that no memory of theirs is lost.


Reflections: 

Have you ever considered that your memories are precious to God?


How do you feel knowing that God recorded every day of your life before you were born?


How can you praise God today for this kindness?


Power Verses:

1Chronicles 16:15, "He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations." (NIV)


Psalm 25:6, "Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old." (NIV)


Psalm 42:4, "These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng." (NIV)

© 2011 by Ariel Allison Lawhon. All rights reserved.

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

[Judy Harder]

February 3, 2011
Stay In the Shade
Marybeth Whalen

"There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."

Deuteronomy 1:31 (NIV)         

Devotion:
Last summer I ran almost every day, often in the hottest part of the day. As I ran I would anticipate the moments when I would run under the shade trees, receiving cool relief for a few moments from the unrelenting summer sun.


One day as I was running under the shade trees, I said to the Lord (I talked to God a lot as I ran), "Why can't I just stay in the shade all the time?" To me this made perfect sense. I could run under the tree cover every day, always comfortable, always taken care of. Wouldn't a loving Father want that for me, I reasoned?


His answer—as it often does—hit me right between the eyes. Well, that makes sense now, but how are you going to feel about that shade when it turns cold? I had to smile at His point. Staying in the shade makes sense sometimes, but other times it's the last thing we need.


In Jonah 4, Jonah wanted to stay in the shade as he climbed up the mountain to pout about the salvation God had offered the Ninevites. God caused a branch to sprout up and provide him shelter so Jonah could rest under that branch. But then God caused a worm to eat away Jonah's shelter, exposing him to the heat once again.


Jonah became angry and grumbled about his lack of shade. He—like me—wanted to be comfortable. He wasn't thinking about what was best for him or what awaited him in the future. But God was. Jonah's immediate comfort wasn't God's first priority; eternity was.


Perhaps you're in a place of extreme heat bearing down on you. You feel the heat of bad decisions and broken relationships bearing down on you and you wonder why God doesn't provide some shade.


Or maybe you're feeling some cold temps invading places that used to be warm for you. A marriage has grown cold. Your finances feel frozen. Why doesn't God provide some warmth, you might be asking? Maybe because He knows that soon you won't need that shade or that in the future that warm place is going to keep you from becoming the person He wants you to be.


I ran recently in the cold, avoiding the shady spots because the temperature was much cooler there. I thought back to the summer and my conversation with God. He knew this time was coming but I didn't see it then. He knew that the shade wouldn't always be the best place for me.


God loves us enough to take us to different places—sometimes carrying us if necessary as our key verse says—always preparing us for what lies ahead. He will make sure we reach the place He has for us and that we are the people He wants us to be when we get there.


Dear Lord, help me to trust wherever You have me. I might think I know what's best for me, but I am not seeing what lies ahead the way You do. I want to submit to Your plans for me every day, in sunshine and shade. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?


Visit Marybeth's blog


Becoming a Woman of Influence (CD) by Marybeth Whalen


She Reads: Discovering Great Fiction Together (A division of Proverbs 31 Ministries 

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


Application Steps: 
If weather permits, take a prayer walk today. When you walk under shade trees, thank God for the times He's provided coverage for you. When you walk under open skies, thank Him for the times He's allowed the sun to shine on you. Use the prayer time to reaffirm your complete trust in His plans.


Reflections: 
When I am feeling the heat or the cold in life do I tend to accept or question God's plan? Have I ever stopped to think about the fact that sometimes my environment is preparing me for a future I cannot see?


Power Verses:
Jonah 4:9a, "But God said to Jonah, 'Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?'" (NIV) 


Psalm 28:9, "Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever." (NIV)



© 2011 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.


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

[Judy Harder]

February 4, 2011
Do You Have the Time?
T. Suzanne Eller

"How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone. James 4:14 (NLT)         

Devotion:
"Would you rather spend a weekend with your parent, or receive a $200 gift certificate to the mall?"


I hit send and the question went out to hundreds of teens. As a mom of three teens at that time, my research for a book was as much a project for me as it was for the publisher.


For months I had asked teens from all over the nation about the pressures they faced, about faith, about communicating with their mom or dad, and other pressing issues. When I sent out this question, I thought I knew what the answers would look like.

I was wrong. I received hundreds of fun, introspective, and sometimes sad answers. One girl tried to negotiate. "What if I spent the weekend at the mall with my parents spending the gift certificate?" she asked. Others were painfully honest. "I choose the gift certificate. It would be too hard to have an entire weekend with my mom."

One teen sent me a long list of grievances about her relationship with her parents, choosing the gift certificate. She later sent a second e-mail. "The last time I spent any time with my mom was like...never! So I change my vote. I really love her, even if we don't always see eye to eye."

I had expected the results to be about 50/50. It weighed in at about 95/5 in favor of time with a parent. It appears that time equals love to a teen.

This can be confusing to a parent because the messages they get from their teen might seem to be: I want stuff. I need cold, hard cash, please. I want to do this, and that. And in order to fulfill our teen's wants, we spin our wheels trying to make it happen. It can also be confusing when we feel isolated from a teen as he or she updates their Facebook status, texts, or sits in front of the computer with their IPod earbuds firmly entrenched in their ears.

It's understandable that mixed messages can make us feel that teens don't want time with us, but the answers to the other questions in the survey revealed that the world they live in is often tricky to navigate, and quantity time with mom or dad can make it better.

Teens said they felt most loved in the unplanned moments sitting around a table and telling stories, or laughing at something silly until milk comes out of their nose, or when mom or dad sits beside their bed at night and asks them about their day--and really listens. Time equals love to a teen, even if they don't tell us in those words.

Why is it important? I believe one teen said it best: "Time with my parents or with just one of them would help things a lot. I would probably feel better about talking to them about what's going on in my life."

What distracts us from time with our children? In every family this looks different, but it's important to take an honest look at our own schedules and to adjust so that we can come alongside our children as they walk through this tricky thing called life.

Dear Lord, time passes so fast and I feel pressured by so many things. Please take inventory of my life and show me the places where I need to adjust. Look at every area and help me to know how to find balance, and to connect with my beautiful child. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

Visit Suzie's blog where Suzie shares 9 questions to help you and your family explore this issue further and for a free giveaway of Real Issues, Real Teens: What Every Parent Needs to Know
The Mom I want to be: Rising above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future by T. Suzanne Eller

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


Application Steps: 
What is your wish list of priorities?


Take an honest look at the amount of time spent on each. Write it down.


What are your real (actual) priorities (where you spend the most time)?


Reflections: 
I've learned that you can never be too old to hold your father's hand. ~Anonymous 4th grader


Power Verses:
Proverbs 16:1, "We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer." (NLT)


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


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

 

[Judy Harder]

February 7, 2011
Nothing Tastes as Good as Peace Feels
Lysa TerKeurst

"... seek peace and pursue it."

Psalm 34:14 (NIV) 

Devotion:
Nearly two years ago I set out on what I thought would be a three-month fast from sugar to lose weight. Here I am today and I'm still fasting from sugar. And I can honestly tell you, I never thought this would be possible for me.

As a matter of fact, at the beginning I mourned over giving up sugar for three months. Big, crocodile tears dripped from my eyeballs on many a day during the early part of this journey. We're talking the ugly cry. I was breaking up with a lifetime love affair with sugar. And, excuse the pun, it's really hard to break up with something when it is really sweet.

However, in all honesty, sugar wasn't being sweet to me. It was sweet to my taste buds, but it was not sweet when it made my energy level skyrocket and then crash. It was not sweet to my attitude which went south every time I hit a sugar low. It was not sweet to my complexion nor to the ever increasing size of my backside.

Most of all it was not sweet to the battle that raged in my brain.

Before my sugar fast, I was constantly bouncing between feeling deprived and guilty. All. The. Time. I was either feeling deprived because I was trying to watch what I ate or feeling guilty because I'd slipped back into the 'eat whatever I want' phase. Deprived. Guilty. Deprived. Guilty. I couldn't stop this incessant bouncing until I stopped the sugar.

I realized after fasting from sugar for a month, my cravings started to release their awful grip on me. The sting of sacrifice started to not sting quite as much. Slowly, I made the choice to change one fundamental thought.

In my new book, "Made to Crave," I reveal the switch that changed everything. I switched from feeling deprived to feeling empowered.

Don't read over that too quickly.


I can now look at my kid-friendly pantry laden with treats galore and not sigh. I can walk by the bakery counter at Starbucks and say "no thank you." I can go to a party without being riddled with "pitiful me" thoughts about how unfair it is that everyone else is living it up sugar style.


Instead of being sad that I can't have something, I feel so thrilled to be courageous enough to say no. Shifting from feeling deprived to empowered is the most crucial change I've made on this journey. And it's what made me decide to keep going past the three month mark.

So, am I still fasting from sugar to lose weight? No. I lost my excess weight and reached a healthy place a year ago. Now my goals have nothing to do with a number on the scale. My goal now is peace.

Peace.

And I can assure you, no treat in this world tastes as good as this peace feels.


Dear Lord, help me to see how the temporary sting of sacrifice will be worth the peace I will find in You. Please help me to have the courage to say no to things that distract me mentally, spiritually, and physically. I long to be empowered with Your strength and Your peace today. I admit I need You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:

If you have been stuck in a rut with your healthy eating attempts, there are 3 crucial things scientists have discovered that you must know- click here to visit Lysa's blog today and be empowered to change!


Sign up for a FREE webcast with Lysa based on her new book: Made to Crave. For more information, click here.


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

Also, you'll want to consider the 6-week Bible study using these additional resources: Made to Crave DVD and the accompanying Made to Crave Participant's Guide by Lysa TerKeurst


Visit Lysa's new website at www.MadetoCrave.org for additional information on this project as well as fun freebies and encouraging videos to help you overcome struggles to find lasting peace.


Application Steps:
Look up verses on God's peace, such as the ones listed in this devotion. This week, how will you seek peace and pursue it?


Reflections:
"The sting of sacrifice started to not sting quite as much."


How can I take this statement and apply it to a situation in my life right now? Is there an area where I will need to endure a temporary sting, and persevere through to come out on the other side? What would that be? What would it look like?


Am I on the other side of a sting of sacrifice? Have I been able to stay there?


Power Verses:
Philippians 4:9, "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put in into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (NIV)


Proverbs 14:30a, "A heart at peace gives life to the body..." (NIV) 


Colossians 3:15, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (NIV)


© 2011 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

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

[Judy Harder]

February 8, 2011
Just the Right Words
Renee Swope


"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."
Proverbs 25:11 (NIV)

Devotion:
Has someone ever spoken words that helped you see something valuable or unique about yourself that you had never seen before?

That's what happened between Jill and Leanne. They met when Jill was coaching a basketball team and Leanne's 13-year-old daughter, Shelby, was on her team. Years later, when she was in high school, Shelby got seriously injured and Jill reached out to her with encouragement, prayers and notes that spoke just the words Shelby needed to hear.

One day, Leanne sent a letter thanking Jill for the difference she was making in her daughter's life. She described the great qualities she saw in Jill and called her a "bright light" that shined in many lives, including theirs.

Leanne didn't know that months later Jill would go home to an empty apartment one night plagued with doubts, questioning her purpose in life. Battling clinical depression and living under the weight of feeling worthless, Jill contemplated suicide. That night as she pondered her fate, Jill opened her journal to write and a note fell out. As Jill opened the note, she read Leanne's words again.

God used Leanne's words to show Jill she did have a purpose and that life was worth living. Just the right words at just the right time.


When another woman speaks encouragement into our hearts, the course of our lives can be changed forever. And when we believe in someone else, God uses us to build confidence and security in a heart that may have otherwise been paralyzed by doubt and insecurity.

I'll never forget my friend Janet thanking me for words I'd penned from my heart to hers in a thank you card. To me it was only a thank you, but it was more to her. God touched her heart deeply through something I said. And in response, she encouraged me to write more than notes. Her prayers and confidence inspired this insecure young mom to eventually write a Bible study.

God used that tiny Bible study, written over 10 years ago, to uncover His plans and develop the future writer in me. He used a woman who believed in me more than I believed in myself to help me take the first step.

Just the right words at just the right time.

Perhaps you need to hear them today. If so, let God speak them over you through His promises: 

·         For you are a chosen [woman], you are a royal priest, a holy [daughter]. God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)



·         "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine....you are precious and honored in my sight, and I love you."
Isaiah 43:1, 4 (NIV)



·         For [you] are God's masterpiece. He has created [you] anew in Christ Jesus, so [you] can do the good things he planned for [you] long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)



·         In all these things [you] are more than conqueror through him who loved [you]. Romans 8:37 (NIV)



Just the right words at just the right time. 

Let God's promises settle into those places in your heart that need for encouragement today. And then ask Jesus how you might share them. Perhaps there is someone in your life who needs them now more than ever. 

Dear Lord, I need Your encouragement each day. Lead me to promises in Your Word that will strengthen me when I'm weary and build me up when I feel torn down. Help me see and believe what You see in me, and then share it with others. I pray You will give me just the right words at just the right time. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

God gave Jill just the right words at just the right time through Leanne, but that's just the beginning of their story. Renee is interviewing Jill and Leanne on her blog today and giving away a copy of their book "Letters from Leanne" along with a gift card and other fun stuff in a "Words of Encouragement" Gift Pack. Enter to win here!


Girlfriends' Road Trip (CD) by Renee Swope A message filled with encouragement and practical ideas for building Christ-like friendships


Letting God Fill the Empty Places in Your Heart Message on CD by Renee Swope


Connect with Renee on Facebook.

Application Steps:

Make a list of five people in your life who could use your words of encouragement.


Take five minutes each day this week to encourage one of them:

·         Write a note of encouragement via email or in a card.

·         Leave a voicemail with a short prayer and let them hear you thanking God for something special about them.

·         Post a comment on their Facebook page telling them how much you appreciate them and why.

Reflections: 
Do I realize the power of my words to speak hope and encouragement into the lives of others, as well as into my own life?


How often do I fill my mind with God's words of encouragement so that I know His thoughts to share with others?


Power Verses:
Isaiah 50:4, "The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught."

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