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God’s will, heart, revival, heartbeat, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Heartbeat: Reviving Our Hearts for the Lord

DevotionalsJune 30, 2019June 30, 2019

Just as our physical human bodies need a strong, healthy heart, our spiritual heartbeats are no different. They can become distracted and out of sync with the Lord’s plan.

The condition of your heart is critical in your walk with the Lord.

The Heartbeat

I held the small piece of paper in my hand. It was proof of the life growing inside me. BUT, this was the moment I was waiting for… assurance that my child was alive.

The nurse laid the cold instrument on my belly and I held my breath. In a split second, the room was filled with the most amazing sound. Tears came to my eyes as I heard the heartbeat. Strong and true it was the proof I needed.

Why is Your Heart Beating?

We know why our heart beats, but what does your spiritual heart beat for? Is your heartbeat for your kids, your spouse, your job, your ministry? What makes your heart skip a beat and bring you pure joy? If we eat the right foods, exercise, and drink properly our heart will be in good shape physically. BUT, let’s be honest for a moment. Are we taking care of our spiritual hearts the right way?

For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.
Matthew 6:21, KJV

Are you feeding your heart with the Word of God every day? Do you pray for your family and friends “without ceasing”? Are your heart and soul being fed with Christian music and hymns? Do you spend time with God?

Now, I have to include myself in the “you” because I am guilty of not feeding my heart the right way sometimes. Sometimes, I just want to curl up on the couch and binge watch a show, or a good Hallmark movie! There is nothing wrong with that, be we must guard our hearts and feed our hearts with the things of Christ.

When Your Heartbeat Stops…

Tell your heart to beat again
Close your eyes and breath it in
Let the shadows fall away
Step into the light of grace
Yesterday’s a closing door
Say goodbye to where you’ve been
And tell your heart to beat again
Danny Gokey, “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again”

When the physical heart stops, it must be shocked back into beating again. Sometimes we face difficult trials in our lives and it feels as though our heart has been shattered, broken, and stopped beating altogether. I have been there! I know what it feels like and I am sure many of you, Dear Friends, have too! BUT… let me encourage you. My heart, your heart, our hearts will beat again!!!!

Sometimes we face difficult trials in our lives and it feels as though our heart has been shattered, broken, and stopped beating altogether. BUT… our hearts will beat again! Click To Tweet

Shock Your Heart

Sweet Friend, let me share with you some of the things God showed me to shock my heart into beating again.

Humble

Encourage

Attitude

Retaining and Applying God’s Word

Transparent

In-Depth Heartbeat

H stands for Humble. We must humble ourselves before the Lord. We must come to Him with a humbling spirit. This allows our hearts to be teachable.

E stands for Encourage. This does not mean encouraging ourselves, but rather to encourage others. In helping others, we help ourselves heal.

A stands for Attitude. My youth leader as a child would shout out, “Attitude Check.” We would then have to stop and respond.”1-2-3 Praise the Lord.” So, let us stop and think about our attitudes. Do we have an attitude of self-pity and woe is me mentality? While many of us are definitely entitled to this, it does not help your circumstance or the condition of our heart to feel sorry for ourselves.

R stands for Retaining and applying God’s word. Soak in His scriptures and revel in His promises. During the night season of our lives, when faced with trials and tribulations, we will be able to call upon those verses and apply them to our current situations.

I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night season
Psalm 16:7, NKJV

T stands for Transparent. As a woman raised in the south I was taught to dress up, put on makeup, and put my best “face” forward. While there is nothing wrong with that, sometimes we do not allow others to see what is really behind the mask. We are all sisters in Christ and have messy and sometimes downright chaotic lives. God made us imperfect creatures. So, let your hair down and be transparent. Your crazy and messy life just may be the message another woman needs to hear.

Changing Our Hearts

The process of shocking your heart, or making it healthy again takes time. It will not happen overnight! It took me a long time to learn that sometimes God does not change our situation because He is trying to change our hearts! For some of us the healing process takes a long time, but let me assure you that is okay. God will be with you every step of the way! Just remember, if God changes your heart, be willing to change your plans.

Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 119:11, KJV

Until we meet again……Gracie

guidance, God’s will, peace, renew, transform, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Renewing: Training Our Minds to Seek the Will of God

DevotionalsApril 9, 2019April 9, 2019

We strive toward our own plans but we must allow God’s word and voice to direct us, daily. This provides a supernatural renewing and calm to our minds.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1-2, CSB

Relocate the Trashcan

I get bored easily. When this happens I relocate things around the house as I clean. My husband has learned to accept this about me. Too many times he has come home from work only to find the couch has yet again been relocated to a new spot in the living room. Please tell me I’m not alone in this?!

On this particular day, I found myself doing this very thing in my kitchen. It was time to find a better place for the trashcan. It was originally by the back door, but everyone kept running into it, so it had to be relocated. I decided to move it on the other side of the kitchen beside my refrigerator. The flow of my kitchen instantly became more functional. The trashcan had finally found its new perfect home. My kitchen finally felt clean and organized.

Training My Brain

Do you know what muscle memory in the brain is? Well, I do now! Even though I loved the new location of the trashcan, my brain seemed to still have trouble finding the new spot. I can’t tell you how many times I went to throw away trash by the back door. Naturally, I knew it would take a few days for my brain to get used to the new flow, but I never thought it would take this long!

After about two weeks or so of still having issues with finding the new location, I found myself seriously considering moving it back to its old spot. I figured, just give my brain what it wants, right? Instead, I resisted the temptation and stuck it out another week. Lo and behold, my brain accepted the new location of the trashcan! I no longer find myself throwing trash away by the back door! Hallelujah! It’s as if I never had any issues with the switch. It sounds like a silly analogy to use, but it works perfectly for what the apostle Paul is talking about in Romans 12:1-2… “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind“.

Renewing Our Minds

I had to train my brain to find the new location of the trashcan. In the same way we, as sisters in Christ, need to train our minds to find the will of God, instead of our own. This will seem frustrating at first, just like it was for me; because, let’s face it, we all naturally want what feels comfortable. Yet, Dear Sisters, God is calling us to a much better place! One that will make the flow of our lives function more smoothly, and operate WAY better.

If we choose to open our hearts and let God’s word saturate our minds, then we can begin the transformation required to function properly in this world. Walking in the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God provides immeasurable peace and joy that our souls crave. We might be born into sin, instinctively desiring to follow the world, but we are also God’s creation that He made to desire Him.

Walking in the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God provides immeasurable peace and joy that our souls crave. We are born into sin but we are also God’s creation that He made to desire Him. Click To Tweet

Ask, Seek, and Knock, Ladies…

Finding God’s will provides us with an understanding of what renewing should take place in our lives in order to function efficiently and effectively as His followers.

In Matthew Chapter 7 verses 7 – 12, Jesus teaches His disciples to ask, seek and knock. Ask God for help. Seek God first in everything. And knock continuously on the door to God’s Kingdom. If we seek Him, we will find Him…

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Matthew 6:33, CSB

Today, Dear Reader, if you are struggling like me to find the new location of the trash can, then DON’T GIVE UP! We have all felt this way at one point or another. Today’s a new day! Ask God where He wants you. Seek God in all you do. Knock like crazy on the door to His Kingdom. And when He answers, Dear Friend, follow Him. His will is always worth pursuing.

Prayer of Renewal

Father, I need your guidance and direction in order to find where I will function best in my life. I know your will, Father, is good and pleasing and perfect for me. Lord, give a renewing of my mind that chases after your will daily. Thank you for patiently waiting for me. Thank you for forgiving me when I willingly choose to test the waters outside your will. God, keep my feet from wandering from the path you have relocated me to be. Protect me and give me your supernatural strength to face the unknown. I trust you, Lord! As I travel outside my comfort zone into this dark world, I have peace knowing your light will lead me to where I need to be. I pray all these things because of my Savior, Jesus Christ; without which none of this would be possible. Amen.

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Pslam 119:105, CSB

Perminder Klair

Faithful, God’s will, peace, trust, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Tapestry: Changing Our Perspective on the Big Picture

DevotionalsMarch 31, 2019March 31, 2019

Sometimes our lives can feel like a huge jumbled mess of ups and downs. We may not be able to see the whole tapestry, but we must trust God has complete control.

since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

1 Corinthians 14:33, CSB

The lead pastor of my church, JD Greear, has used the analogy I am going to share with you today many times in his sermons. It always gets me thinking and helps to change my perception of things in my life. I pray it will do the same for you…

What Is A Tapestry?

I don’t know about you, but when I think of a tapestry, I think of a large hand-woven blanket that hangs on a wall in an old historic church. They look magnificent because of all the details they display. Anyone looking at one knows the hours upon hours of hard work and love that went into each thread. The completed work is simply amazing. Now, let’s take that same beautiful tapestry and flip it over on the opposite side. Have you ever seen what a tapestry looks like backward?

A complete HOT MESS!!

There are threads going everywhere in all different directions. Colors are all out of whack and there are knots and strings dangling to and fro. The backside of this well thought out masterpiece looks like it threw up yarn all over the place!! If this thing were judged by its backside, no one would buy it, look at it or ever even think of hanging it as a piece of decoration!!

Understanding The Tapestry

Friends, God created each of us to see our lives like the backside of a tapestry. We are born, we grow, we make choices, good and bad. Then we die one day. We can’t always understand His reasons and ways for certain things happening in our lives. We won’t always be able to figure out or comprehend what He’s up too.

Sometimes we look at life wondering why everything around us seems so unorganized and dysfunctional. We go through life trying to find some glimmer of hope to help us understand this confusing threaded mess, but never seem to find a good enough explanation. We assume, panic, pretend, wonder, imagine, ask, pray, and everything else! Anything other than trust this absurd randomness. We forget far too easily that God is in complete control of our lives, holding our completed picture in His hands.

For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Psalm 139:13, CSB

Like the backside of a tapestry, hitting a bump in the road of our lives, is actually us running into one of the knots God strategically put there to end one thread and start another. Whenever you feel that BUMP, remind yourself that a new chapter is on the horizon.

We do anything other than trust the absurd randomness of life. We forget far too easily that God is in complete control, holding our completed picture in His hands. Click To Tweet

What A Piece Of Work

I personally stare at the backside of my own tapestry and think “Oh goodness me, that is a lot of mess going on. I’m a piece of work!!” Then, I realize who is designing this ‘piece of work’, and decide to trust the process knowing God’s in control.

Our Father in heaven knitted us with power for a divine purpose.

From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Ephesians 4:16, CSB

He knows every sin and choice we will make before we even make them. God sees our life tapestry on the correct side knowing that we can only see the incorrect side. He did this on purpose as a way to reveal His details and reasons one step at a time.

When we see our sin as a jumbled up mess of black and gray strings, God sees the shadow He was weaving for the beautiful oak tree growing tall in our life. The timing of each placement of thread is impeccable. He makes no mistakes and never has any imperfections in His work.

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Deuteronomy 32:4, ESV

Take A Step Back

We can each see His timing best when we step back and look at our past. Noticing how God used different situations and different moments to work His good and power in our lives is simply amazing. Babies being born, weddings taking place, conversations that arise, new job opportunities. Whatever they may be, God shows us His divine care when we take a minute to look back on where we’ve been.

This helps us become aware of how we arrived where we are today. Somehow, the storyline, in all its chaotic form, still seems to make sense. God is a brilliant and creative storyteller. He is writing your story and supporting you every step of the way. Scripture says it like this…

A person’s steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord supports him with His hand.

Psalms 37:23-24, CSB

The Missing Piece

Trust me when I tell you, friend, He is working something so good in you right now! I promise it will be worth it when you finally see the pieces fall into place. Oh, how marvelous it will be when we one day stand before the throne of God. When we are able to see the completed work of our tapestries for the first time.

Your life tapestry is just one piece of God’s massive patchwork quilt that He has been creating all along. You are a piece to the much bigger puzzle being designed. Don’t ever let anyone steal your rightful place in the bigger picture.

For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to His good purpose.

Philippians 2:13, CSB

Today Dear Reader, let’s choose to walk faithfully forward and keep trusting the backward tapestry that will one day be flipped over for good!

Prayer For Today

Oh Lord Help Me to see your goodness as I go throughout this day! Thank you for the ability to see glimpses of my front-facing tapestry. Help me to remain faithful as I trust that you are in full control of my life working all things for good. Forgive me when I doubt your abilities to bring to completion the work you started in me. I pray you will teach my heart to desire things above and not of this world. Lord, give me eyes to see the beauty in the backward tapestry knowing good and well it’s not yet complete! I pray these things in my Savior Jesus’ name. Amen.

Fancycrave

God's Will, resolution, testimony, love, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Resolution: Reflecting on God’s Lessons and Moving Forward

Devotionals, Stay SaneJanuary 7, 2019January 13, 2019

Reflecting on the year gone by can help us move toward the future God has planned for us. Our resolution should be to testify of God’s goodness and great love.

A little over a year ago I wrote my first devotional “Love Letters: Expressing Our Desire and Commitment to God”. As I reflect on my year of writing devotionals for Oh Lord Help Us, I am reminded that love is what brought me here. My love of God, my love of writing, and my love for a friend.

Reflecting on God’s Lessons

As a teacher, I encourage my students to always consider what they have learned. In reflecting on my year, I am asking myself to do the same. I see the ebb and flow of my emotions, what is important, and a voice cracking through to be heard. Being vulnerable and allowing others to see inside has been scary, intimidating, and oh so rewarding.

God has shown me that fear is just the devil’s way of sidetracking His work through me. Fear is a human emotion that everyone feels, but trusting in God is the divine intervention that makes it possible to get to the other side of the fear.

Be strong and courageous! Do not fear of tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!

Deuteronomy 31:6, NET

Every time I wrote an article I waited for some pithy comment, some sharp retort about what I had written, or criticism about my words. I got some, well-deserved critiques from friends and family. All given in the spirit of love and understanding. It took me a beat or two.

My knee-jerk reaction was anger and frustration. Luckily, God has taught me to breathe through it, listen with a spirit of willingness, and adjust as needed. Sometimes I needed to choose different words, sometimes I needed to give further explanations and sometimes I needed to stick to my guns and say what I said.

Being vulnerable can be scary. Fear is just the devil's way of sidetracking God's work through us. Trusting in God is the divine intervention that makes it possible to get to the other side of the fear. Click To Tweet

Where God Leads

I have also learned to listen to God’s soft whisper. As Mark Batterson says in his book Whisper, “What we’ve learned from Scripture is that He often speaks in a whisper. Not to make it difficult to hear Him, but to draw us close.” Sometimes I would rather be punched in the face with His message so I don’t have to stop my life or wait. But this year I have learned to listen more intently, look for the patterns in God’s path for me, and slow down. Okay, so that last one I’m working on.

As I write down my prayers to God, I can see His hand at work in my life. I can testify to His power to move in small ways. When you see small miracles over and over, month after month, week after week, even day after day – you can’t deny the power and overwhelming love of our Father.

For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age,

Hebrews 6:4-5, NET

Some days my prayers are full of gratitude and joy. Other days they are cries for help. I have begged for healing for friends and family members. I have sobbed out, as evidence from tear stained pages, for help when my children were hurting. Sometimes God sent abundant blessings and other times He carried me to the next day. He answers “yes” and He answers “no”. And sometimes He answers, “wait”. That is by far the hardest to hear.

Resolution

Once my students analyze their work and decide what it is they learned, I ask them to make a new goal. Something that pushes them to grow. So now it’s my turn. My husband laughingly asked me to write him more love letters when I shared it was time to write my next devotion.

He was being cute, but it kind of hit me when I read my first post from last year, it has been years since I wrote him a really sweet, gooey, love letter. It’s also something I feel very uncomfortable with, sharing my feelings about others. Over and over I have told you I want to be a reflection of God’s light. I’ve been trying to share my love of God more, but now I need to share the love in my heart that God has put there. I can’t horde it or feel it but not mention it. The words “I love you!” said with sincerity are super important. So my New Year’s Resolution is to say them more often.

What I am commanding you today is to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to obey his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances. Then you will live and become numerous and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you are about to possess.

Deuteronomy 30:16, NET

Thank You

Dear reader, I love you! I love how supportive you have been of me on my writing journey. How you have cheered me on. I am so grateful for the stories you have shared of your own life and walk with God.

Oh Lord Help Us has been one of the greatest blessings to me. Katie and Rachael, as well as the rest of the writing staff, have been amazing. Their posts are rooted in God’s word. Our Father has been faithful through them in holding me through the bad days and celebrating with me through the joyful times.

May the New Year bring you freedom from fear, joy in abundance, and love that knows no bounds. God offers all that and so much more. I am so thankful and wait with an expectant heart for my Savior’s next plan in my life.

Dear God,

Thank You for all the wonder that You have shared with me this year. I see so clearly Your hand in my life. Sharing the testimony of this life you have blessed me with has not been easy, but so fulfilling. I cried out to you for peace and happiness. You have carried me through to the other side of my fear.

Help me to be more patient and wait for You. Be a constant reminder to me to reflect Your love. Not just in deeds but in true words. Help the words “I love you!” come easily and joyfully from my lips. Let those who hear them know that they come from You.

love,

Annie Spratt

pride, worship, focus, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Pride: Resolving to Correct Misplaced Worship to Fulfill God’s Purpose

Devotionals, Stay SaneDecember 12, 2018January 13, 2019

Pride wears many faces. It is a sneaky thing that isn’t all bad but can quickly become a monster if it is misplaced. To fulfill God’s purpose, we must lay down those things we place above Him.

I asked the following question to a mixed group of folks, (some claiming Christ, others who do not), ranging in age from 11 to 70…

What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you think about pride?

Feeling good about yourself.
Lions.
Being proud of yourself and where you came from.
In your head; selfish.
Handling big things on your own. Getting a handle on it, trying to wrap it up pretty, then presenting an incomplete and shallow lie. Then wondering why it’s falling apart.
Honor and dignity, and when all is lost you don’t back down or stop trying.
Mega-nationalism; egotism.
The root of all evil.
Self.
When you have faith in yourself or something else.
The belief that I am self-sufficient and can be an everywhere it all, fix it all and know it all.
Fall—as in it comes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18).
Men.
Confidence; strong ethics.
Arrogance and self-focus; but also positive in a way like confidence. Like doing something well.
Self-consumed, lifting oneself up, thinking your wisdom is superior.

Focus

I found the variety of responses fascinating. Modern society teaches love yourself more. Evangelical culture preaches be filled with God’s love. But where the Western world falls short, spouting off “Jesus loves you” somehow fails to produce change. It doesn’t delve deep enough. I agree with how one author addresses this issue:

The love of God can be a profound answer to just about any human struggle, but sometimes we can use it in such a way that it becomes a watered down version of profoundly rich truth. For example, sometimes, because of shortcomings in us rather than Scripture, this answer misses the call to “consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3), or it ignores personal repentance. Sometimes it still allows us and our needs to be at the center of the world, and God becomes our psychic errand boy given the task of inflating our self-esteem.

Edward T. Welch, When People Are Big and God is Small

At the end of the day, it is about what and who we worship. What is most important? Comfort? Recognition? Peace? Power? All of those point back to self. As followers of Christ, anything we revere more than Him will ultimately be torn down. It is not for meanness sake, but because God’s purpose for those He created is to reflect Him.

Survey

Lately, I have been inundated with the topics of pride and humility. They are in the books I’m reading, the lectures I’m watching, and the sermons on Sundays. Uh…I hear you, God; loud and clear. Last week I filled out a pride and humility survey. Yeah, it’s a thing.

In the past when I completed personal assessments similar to this, I either felt weighed down by my ineptness or gratified with my growth. Ironically enough, both responses are manifestations of pride. Feeling burdened by my short-comings keeps the focus on me and does not honor God. Nor does it seek to be molded more into His image.

While it is good to be remorseful over my pride, I mustn’t stop there. The next step is repenting and asking God to keep working in me to do away with it! Feeling content with my progress in humility is still pride. But praising God for continuing to create a good work in me is worshipful.

Feeling content with our progress in humility is still pride. But praising God for continuing to create a good work in us is worshipful. Click To Tweet

Pride

So, are all forms of pride bad? No; but there is a micro-fine line between righteous boasting and every other self-focused version. God said it first to the people of Judah through Jeremiah.

This is what the Lord says: The wise person should not boast in his wisdom; the strong should not boast in his strength; the wealthy should not boast in his wealth. But the one who boasts should boast in this: that he understands and knows me—that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the Lord’s declaration.

Jeremiah 9:23-24, CSB

It pleases God when we brag about His power! Paul reiterated God’s instruction in both of his letters to the Corinthians.

Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one may boast in his presence. It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:27-31, CSB

So let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.

2 Corinthians 10:17-18, CSB

Worship

Having a mind focused on God, the One in Whom all things are from, through, and to (Romans 11:36), fights against selfish pride. It is okay to feel good about ourselves when viewed rightly through the lens of God’s work in us. There is nothing wrong with having an appreciation for where we came from—understanding God is the One who birthed us into that place. It’s alright to be pleased with our own or someone else’s accomplishments, as long as we acknowledge it is God who works through us for His good purpose.

Exhibiting honor, dignity, and confidence isn’t a recipe for unholy pride. Jesus was confident in the Father, and He taught the highest principles of loving God and loving others. He accomplished the most honorable mission of all time by taking on human form, living a perfect life, dying a horrific death, and raising from the dead so we could be redeemed.

Jesus did not back down because He was God—He didn’t consider equality with God something to be grasped (Philippians 2:6). No, Jesus didn’t back down because He wholly trusted the Father to complete His work through Him. It’s the tiniest tweak that makes all the difference, but it’s monumental. It really is all about what and who we worship. Let us resolve to pledge our reverence to the King!

self, focus, God's will, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Self: Shifting Our Focus from Ourselves to Christ in Us

Devotionals, Stay SaneNovember 14, 2018January 13, 2019

Shifting our focus from ourselves to Christ, we die to self and live for Him. Alive in Christ, we reach the fullest expression of who He created us to be.

Recently I received an email from a friend who asked me two very simple yet thought-provoking questions. She was writing a talk for an upcoming couples’ retreat and wanted to hear from the hearts of women closest to her.

Her first question was: “What does your heart long for?” And the other was: “At your core, what do you desire?” As I considered her questions, I realized how my answers have changed from what they once would have been. My responses signaled a shift in focus–from a limited self-focus to a greater awareness of Christ, who is living in me.

Self-Focused…

As a new believer, I probably would have responded to my friend’s questions very differently than I would today. I might have said that my heart longed for love. That my desire was to have a successful career as a singer/songwriter. While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with either of these responses, they are entirely self-focused. Me-centered. I needed to know that I was loved and that I was accomplishing things with the gifts the Lord had given me. Honest answers, yes. Selfish answers? Also, yes.

But as I responded to my friend, I said that my deepest desire is to experience being fully loved by my Father so that I can love others how He loves: unconditionally. It’s no longer enough for me to simply receive His love. I want to be so filled to overflowing with it, that when others are with me, they experience His love through me. Thus, the Lord is shifting my focus away from myself. Away from primarily considering my own needs and desires. And He’s redirecting my gaze toward Him. He’s teaching me what’s most important: that He is living in me.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

My Gifts?

My response to my friend’s next question about desire revealed a similar shift in focus. I replied: “At my core, I desire to create (songs, writings, jewelry, recipes, spaces…) that reflect the beauty that the Lord has given us. I want His beauty to shine through the work of my hands. For it to resonate from the song on my lips.” What was once an honest yet somewhat selfish desire-to get to do the things I love to do creatively-has changed.

I’ve realized that I really have nothing creatively to offer in and of myself. I am only creative to the extent that I recognize from whence my gifts come: from the Creator Himself. So in essence, they aren’t even my gifts. They are His gifts, to me, for others. And He doesn’t give His children creative gifts so that we can run away from Him to go make a name for ourselves. His desire is for us to stay close to Him. To heed the calling He has given us. And to make creative contributions to this world so that He is glorified.

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

A Self-Obsessed World…

What the Lord calls us to do looks drastically different than what the world wants from us. The world is self-obsessed. Everywhere we look, there are books about self-love. Reminders that we need to practice self-care. Encouragements to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps and be self-sufficient. Invitations to take selfies and plaster them all over our personalized social media pages. Sorting through all of this, we can become overly self-conscious. We might lack self-confidence. Fall prey to self-doubt. Feeling like we don’t measure up, we can tend toward self-hatred.

Interestingly, thousands of years ago, Paul wrote to Timothy describing how in the “perilous” last days, we would be caught in this cycle of self-destruction:

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.

2 Timothy 3:2

But all of this self-exploration is a chasing after the wind. Because until we are grounded in I Am, we will never be able to make sense of ourselves. Much less create anything of worth. We must die to ourselves and be hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3). But if we’re not careful, this process can get twisted.

All of this self-exploration is a chasing after the wind. Until we are grounded in I Am, we will never be able to make sense of ourselves. Click To Tweet

Twisting…

The way the world frames the notion of ‘dying to self’ is soul-killing. To the world, if you follow Christ, you will lose your precious personal identity. This carnal perspective claims that dying to self-means sacrificing our self-expression.

And the enemy warns us: “If you follow Christ, you won’t get to pursue the deepest desires of your heart or do the things that make you come alive.” Carnally minded believers might even encourage you to squelch your deepest desires in lieu of serving others. Don’t piddle your time away painting that painting when you could be dutifully sweeping the floors of the fellowship hall!

But this kind of twisting is of the enemy. Thank God, the Lord is not in the business of twisting, but of shifting. He shifts our gaze away from ourselves toward Him. And when we focus on Him, we learn who He truly is and what He actually desires for us. When we’re in right standing with Him, our deepest desires tend to align perfectly with what He is calling us to do.

A Paradox of Life and Death…

The world will never understand this paradox because it can only be spiritually discerned. But when we completely die to ourselves and allow Christ to fully live in us, we come alive. And when we’re alive in Him, we are able to reach the fullest expression of who the Lord has uniquely fashioned us to be. When we surrender our self-will to His will, we find that the results and the rewards are far greater than we ever could have arranged for ourselves. When we die to self and live in Him, He fully equips us to accomplish our deepest desires which He ordained for us.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

John 12:24

Beloved, when we are no longer living for ourselves but for Christ, we can begin to grasp what Paul meant when we wrote:

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21

Have you made a shift, from yourself to Christ in you? Have you died to yourself and come alive in Him?

All scripture references are from The King James Version of The Bible

content, happiness, trust, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Contentment: Surrendering Our Lives to the Will of God

Devotionals, Stay SaneOctober 30, 2018January 13, 2019

Discontentment can take hold of our lives in many ways causing us to doubt and directing our steps to the wrong path. When we search above for contentment and trust in God’s will we can live in his truth and feel at peace with our season in life.

Throughout the course of my life, I have struggled to find contentment. I jumped from toxic relationship to toxic relationship looking to be content with every person but Jesus. I struggled because I was looking in every place except the one where I could actually feel content.

The mindset I had was one of “when this happens…then I will be content”. It took form in many ways such as:

When I have a boyfriend…

When I become a wife…

When I have kids…

When I am in this job…

etc., etc., etc…

I searched for contentment in all of the wrong places.

Failing Contentment

We all go through these struggles of thinking that we will be content when we enter a certain situation, but at the end of the day, there is only one source of contentment. His name is Jesus. We all have a tendency to search for contentment in every place but in the love of Jesus. Whether it is through people or through money we all look elsewhere for our contentment. Instead of being content where God has placed us, we strive to build a place of true contentment.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:10-13, ESV

In this passage, Paul speaks into finding contentment in all situations. He tells us that the secret to being content is knowing that through God we can do all things. We need to follow this example. With all seasons of life, our calling is to find contentment in our Savior. In the One who will provide for all of our needs.

In All Things

When we are standing in a place where we are struggling to be content it is important to think about who our source is. Who sustains us and provides for us. It can be difficult to find contentment in situations that you feel unsure and unstable. We all want to know that things will turn out well for us.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28, NIV

Even in times of question and times when we feel unsure we can have hope that things will turn out well for us. That is where we find our contentment. Life is not all rainbows and butterflies and we all go through trials. We can have confidence when we face trials. We can find encouragement in the truth that no matter what we face, God will work it out for good.

Focusing Our Eyes Above

When we struggle with times of discontentment and doubt we have to focus our eyes on above. Lauren Daigle released her new album last month entitled “Look Up Child”. One of the songs on the album shares the same name. This song is all about how when we feel doubt and we feel discontent and like the war is raging God calls us to look up. In the seasons of discontentment that we are unable to get out of all we can do is look up.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Colossians 3:1-4, NLT

We are to set our sights on things above. This includes times when thoughts of discontentment threaten to creep in. Our lives are sealed in Christ, who ascended to Heaven after His resurrection. A seat at the throne of God is our true citizenship. We should live our lives to honor that citizenship. When we focus on the things above, we cannot help but feel contentment in whatever season life may throw.

Jesus is our source of contentment and the director of our lives. Trusting in His plan changes how we think and how we act. Click To Tweet

Giving God Permission

When we feel discontent with where we are we can ask God to intervene and change our thinking. When we make bold asks of God, He will come through for us. He will give us the tools we need to feel content with where we are and our direction.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Roman 12:2, NIV

Letting God renew our minds and redirect our thoughts enables us to live in His will. When we are living according to His will, we will be able to find contentment in our actions. This is because we will have the assurance that He is directing our steps. When we fail to surrender our lives, doubt and fear creep in causing discontentment. We must live according to His will and not our own to live a life of contentment.

Contentment is only found by trusting God’s will. He asks us to surrender. To allow Him to direct our path. Resting in God’s will and trusting in His plan makes us content. Focusing too much on what we want and on our plan will cause discontentment to fester. Jesus is our source of contentment and the director of our lives. Trusting in His plan changes how we think and how we act.

purpose, schedule, time, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Agenda: Godly Responses to Being Slowed Down

Devotionals, Stay SaneSeptember 28, 2018January 13, 2019

We all have a plan nestled deep in within us. For me, that agenda typically serves to provide me with comfort and ease. Let’s take a look at Scripture to see how the Father’s agenda is superior to ours and how it brings glory to Him and blessing to us!

A few weeks ago, I needed to pick up something from my doctor’s office and get a membership at a local gym. There isn’t a direct road between either of the places. So, I made a big, jagged circle around the city. I left an hour later than I had originally planned and every traffic light I came to was red. Isn’t that just how it works? But I talked my irritation down, telling myself that I didn’t have to be back home for two hours and there was plenty of time to accomplish my stops.

Testing My Agenda

After my first task was complete, I hopped back into my car and made my way to the other end of town. Once again, I caught every-single-light. Some of the lights in my town are two-three minutes long…just to give you a feel for how flabbergasted I was getting.

I thought I was pulling into the parking lot of the gym I wanted to join. Then I realized I had the wrong coordinates. It was a different fitness center, altogether. I started laughing and said out loud, You have GOT to be kidding me! I found a shady spot in the lot to park and sat there a moment to regroup. The gym I thought was close to me was actually another ten minutes away and it had way better reviews than this place.

Sobering Awareness

On my way home, still getting caught at every light, I made my last stop at the grocery store. I quickly secured the three things I needed and went to stand in the shortest self-check-out line. The lady in front of me only had one bag of grapes, but she was having trouble understanding what the machine wanted her to do. It quickly became clear she couldn’t read English nor speak it very well.

In God’s mercy, I felt a wave of compassion when she cast me a distressed glance. As the line grew longer behind us, I was able to help her complete the transaction and put her at ease despite the impatient tone in the air. As I watched her walk away with a smile on her face it hit me: That’s why I caught all the lights.

Slow Your Roll

What a gift! As I pieced together the events of my day, giddiness overflowed in my spirit. God used me to show that woman His kindness! There was nothing wrong with my to-do list, yet God had a greater plan and chose to utilize me in it. Now, I know I’m not the only helpful person in Northern Virginia and the Lord can use anyone to accomplish His will. But at that moment, He chose me to be a helper. And He also revealed to me that my agenda had been trifled with for His righteous purpose. And isn’t that what we all seek – to know our purpose?

My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

James 1:19-20, CSB

We’re All Lawbreakers

What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin.

Romans 3:9, CSB

Another point the Lord has been teaching me is how alike I am with my fellow citizens. God is showing me through seemingly menial moments, like my grocery experience, how great His patience is with me. Because of His kindness toward me, God invites me to extend that same patience to the people around me and mirror the character of my Savior!

Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Romans 2:4, CSB

Remember…

So, the next time you’re slowed down by a long check-out lane, a gazillion red lights, or something threatens your agenda, remember these three things:

God’s Opinion of Me

They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:24, CSB

God sees me through the purified lens of His Son, Jesus Christ. I am redeemed and have right standing with my Creator. Because of that, God invites me to be a part of His agenda which produces righteousness and brings Him glory!

God sees us through the purified lens of His Son, Jesus Christ. We are redeemed and have right standing with our Creator. We are invited to be a part of His agenda which produces righteousness and brings Him glory! Click To Tweet

God’s Love for Me

Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.

1 John 4:10-11, CSB

Because God loved first, I have everything I need to pour out on those around me. (Even that really rude person who cut me off.) I have no idea what is going on in the heart of a stranger…or even a friend. What if they received some disparaging news or their boss yelled at them? Perhaps they’re grieving or are in debt up to their eyeballs. I cannot know, but God does.

God knew what was in the depths of my heart when He chose to love me. He knew the sin, the hurt, the ugliness. Since God loves me in the face of my sinfulness, I also must freely love, trusting that God is “Omni”; I am not.

God’s Presence with Me

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17, NIV

Know this, sisters, the Father is with you wherever you go. You lack nothing. His love is unfailing, His plans will be accomplished and they are for your good and His glory. God’s will cannot be stopped; not by you or me or any other thing in the universe.

His love is a consuming fire and nothing can quench it. You and I do not deserve it and there is nothing we can do to earn it. But He still sent His Son to secure us for Himself. His character is trustworthy and stands the test of time…and beyond. Rejoice in His love for you!

parenting, children, plans, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, ministry

Plans: Trusting God’s Goodness for Our Children’s Lives

Devotionals, Stay SaneAugust 7, 2018June 28, 2019

Being a parent as a Christian means putting God first. Allowing God’s plans for our children can be scary, but we can trust His goodness.

I don’t always put my best foot forward as a parent. Sometimes I lose my temper, don’t listen to everything my children have to say, and am too quick to judgement.

On the other hand I have two children who think for themselves and can explain their thinking. My oldest just moved into a house with some friends and is totally ready to do some “adult-ing.” She is a college junior who has a plan for her future. My youngest is learning to let go of his fears and try new things. But the thing that I’m most proud of is their relationship with Jesus.

My daughter has learned that when life gets difficult, you should turn to Jesus and allow Him to help center your life. Phillip and I, as parents, have been able to model that for her. When she has turned to us for advice, the first thing we say to her is, start by praying.

Sharing God’s goodness comes so naturally to my son. He talks about Jesus at school often. Teachers, peers, and other parents have told me how kind he is and that they love being around him. A mom can’t ask for more than that.

Trusting the Father…

As I was reflecting on how amazing my children are in spite of my parenting mistakes, I thought about Mary and Joseph as parents to Jesus. First of all, can you imagine the pressure? Parents to God’s son? Whew!

Luke 2:41-52 tells the story of Jesus going to the temple at Passover. There was a large group of family members. It must have been quite a crowd because it wasn’t till the evening after they left, on their way home, Mary noticed that twelve-year-old Jesus was missing.

Mary’s panic must have been off the chart. She and Joseph took off back to Jerusalem looking for him. It took them three days of searching to find Jesus. He had never left the temple.

When they found him they were so relieved. But like any mother, Mary was ready to scold Jesus. If it had been me I would have raised my voice in a whisper through loud hiccuping sobs – “Where have you been? Your father and I have been looking everywhere for you. You have worried us sick.”

Instead of apologizing he says,

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Luke 2:49, NIV

We don’t know much else about Jesus’ childhood except from this point on he was obedient and continued to learn and grow. He was well liked by the people who met him.

It seems a little counter intuitive to how we would handle the situation, but then our children aren’t divine either. What I learn from this passage is that when our children are in the arms of our Father, they are always okay.

Allowing God’s Plans…

Being a parent is such a gift, and a huge responsibility. The most important thing to remember isn’t any kind of professional advice or information from a parent guru. It’s a simple truth that is part of being a Christian – trust God. As humans we can’t see God’s plan, but we should trust that He has one not just for our lives, but for our children as well.

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8, NIV

When we trust in our God, our worries for ourselves and our children will fall away. When we plant them and ourselves in God’s amazing garden we will all grow to be full and vibrant. That is God’s promise to us.

As humans we can't see God's plan, but we should trust that He has one not just for our lives, but for our children as well. Click To Tweet

Dear God,

Thank you for blessing me with two beautiful children. Reveal to me Your path for their life. Give me the tools to help guide them toward Your light and love.

love,

Adam Cain

faith, steps, stretching, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, ministry

Stretching: Walking by Faith Deepens Our Trust in The Lord

Devotionals, Stay SaneJune 12, 2018September 8, 2019

When the Lord is stretching our faith, we begin to more fully trust Him. Looking back, we can see how He has ordered our steps.

A few weeks ago, I found myself in a scene that could easily describe the beginning of a bad horror movie: It’s evening as an unassuming housewife drives along the highway to run a mundane errand. She sees a young man on the side of the road carrying a gas can. Feeling sorry for him, she pulls over to give him a ride. Disclaimer: I really dislike horror films and never actually watch them! But I’ve seen enough scary movies to know that this is the perfect setup for things to go really dark, really fast. But don’t worry, this plot takes a positive turn and ends on the bright side!

Stretching

Now, before your natural mind starts listing all the reasons why we should never pick up hitchhikers, please know that I share your concerns. I’m not trying to convince anyone to pick people up on the side of the road. But consider this: have you ever felt the Holy Spirit prompting you to do something that’s a little, or perhaps way, outside of your comfort zone? Do you believe the Lord calls us to do things that don’t seem to make sense in the natural but make complete sense in the spirit? I believe the Lord is always stretching my faith to deepen my trust in Him.

He might not stretch your faith in the exact same way that He did mine because the stretching looks different for each one of us. For some, it might be a nudge to simply smile and say hello to a stranger. For someone else, it might be to adopt a child from another country. And for another, to forgive someone who has hurt her. But I believe that the Lord is in the business of building our faith by stretching us beyond our own natural strength. And if we’ll trust Him, we’ll see that He is ordering our steps perfectly.

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

Proverbs 16:9, KJV

I believe that the Lord is in the business of building our faith by stretching us beyond our own natural strength. Click To Tweet

A Testimony to Share…

So, as it happened, I picked up a hitchhiker and have a testimony to share. The young man looked to be in his early twenties. When he got in my vehicle, he thanked me and even said, “Wow, ma’am. I don’t know too many women who would pick up a guy on the side of the road. I really appreciate it.” To which I replied, “Well, I have the Holy Ghost, so to tell you the truth, I’m really not afraid of anyone!” He said that was good to hear because he was a believer too.

As we made our way to the gas station, his speech was coherent, but his eyes kept sort of rolling back in his head. When I asked him if he was feeling ok, he said he was really exhausted. He explained that he was working two jobs–one at night and another during the day–and that he had already put in 36 hours in the past three days.

Out of Gas in More Ways Than One…

When we got to the gas station, he started rummaging through a little bag he had with him and was getting upset. He said he had left his wallet in the console of his car and didn’t have his debit card. I said it was no problem and paid the few bucks it took to fill up his gas can. When we got back in the car, he continued to thank me and said, “You really have no idea how much this means to me.” I said I understood what it was like to be out of gas physically, emotionally, spiritually, and every which way, and that I was happy to be able to help. And that’s when the young man began to weep.

I tried to console him, reassuring him that we all need help now and then. Between sobs, he said he had really been struggling recently. His dad had been a preacher and left his mom for another woman. He had moved back in with his mom to help pick up the financial slack since his dad left, and he was also helping take care of his other siblings. As he was talking, his eyes kept doing the rolling motion I had noticed earlier. At the risk of being intrusive, I felt like I was supposed to ask about his eyes. I said I understood that he was tired, but was he really doing ok physically? At first he repeated that he was sleep deprived and exhausted from working outside in the heat all day. And he claimed that he was sober, but then he admitted that he had struggled with addiction.

The Lord Had Let Him Live…

As he shared, I learned that he had been addicted to heroin and had actually overdosed a number of times. He said he didn’t understand why, but for some reason, the Lord had let him live. No matter how many times he had given up on himself and gone back to drugs, he knew that God had never given up on him. I told him how the Lord had saved my life when I was on the brink of suicide. By this point, we were almost back to his car, but he was having trouble holding it all together. So, I asked him if I could pray for him, and he said yes. I pulled off the highway onto a side road and into a neighborhood. And that’s when the Holy Spirit began to move.

I’m not even sure what all I prayed as I laid my hands on that broken young man. The Holy Spirit took over my words, and I prayed in the power of the Holy Spirit for quite awhile. He was buckled over in his seat weeping, moaning, and crying out to God. He was repenting. Thanking the Lord for saving him. Praising Him for letting him live. When it was all said and done, I believe that he was delivered of a spirit of addiction, and I know that his faith was restored. As the prayer was winding down, he said, “I can’t deny that Jesus is real because things like this keep happening to me.”

Our Steps Are Ordered…

So often I go through my days wondering when the Lord will really use me. I have grandiose visions of what an impactful ministry might look like. And I feel discouraged when my daily life doesn’t seem to measure up to the image in my mind’s eye. I can worry whether I’m taking the right steps so that I’m in the right place at the right time to do what He’s calling me to do. But as He stretches my faith, I am learning to trust that He is leading and guiding me perfectly.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

Psalm 37:23, KJV

We mustn’t let ourselves get discouraged in this daily walk with Christ. The mundane things: loads of laundry, dirty dishes, unfinished to do lists…these are just part of life. They cannot separate us from the love of Christ or the plans that He has to prosper us. His idea of ministry does not always involve a pulpit, a stage, and an audience. He is showing me that the stage for His ministry is my everyday life. And each day is not just a warm up for the main event. It’s a daily stretching of my faith.

How has He stretched your faith? Can you look back and see how He has ordered your steps?

Andreas Selter