Blog Archives

Daily Devotion

3/31/2015

Telling the Truth
Jill Briscoe

"Feeling Forgiven"

Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me--now let me rejoice. Psalm 51:8

David was feeling terribly guilty--and justifiably so. He had committed terrible sins and needed to be forgiven (2 Samuel 11). In this psalm David cries out to God, "Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me--now let me rejoice" (Psalm 51:8).

Guilt can be both good and bad. We can experience "false" guilt--guilty feelings when we are not guilty of anything. Sometimes feeling guilty is good, because we have done something wrong and it needs to be corrected. We may need to ask for forgiveness and make restitution to another person. Sometimes we need to run back to God. But even if we ask God to forgive us, sometimes we still don't feel forgiven. What do we do then?

Remember that if God has forgiven you, then you must be willing to forgive yourself. When you refuse to accept God's forgiveness, you are saying that Christ's sacrifice was not enough to handle your sin. Discipline your mind to stop thinking about whatever keeps making you feel guilty. Satan wants to keep you bound up in guilt so you will be ineffective for God. Remember also to pass along that forgiveness to others. Comforting others with the same comfort that you have received helps greatly in the healing process.

If you still don't feel forgiven, ask God to renew your spirit (Psalm 51:10) and restore the joy of your salvation (Psalm 51:12). Then stop waiting for the feelings to come--go teach others (Psalm 51:13) and praise God (Psalm 51:15). Move on!

For further study: Psalm 51:1-9

Daily Devotion

3/30/2015

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Liz Curtis Higgs

"One Holy Morning"

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb …” John 20:1 (NIV)

Long before daylight touched the sky, a trombone choir crept along the deserted sidewalks of Main Street, gently nudging the sleeping town awake. Each step drew them closer to the historic church square, where they would form a semicircle, point their instruments toward heaven and herald the dawn of another Resurrection Day.

I tossed aside my bedcovers, eager to get going. “He is risen!”

“He is risen, indeed!” my husband mumbled, though I heard the smile behind his words.

Our two teenagers appeared, bleary-eyed. “This better be worth it, Mom.”

It would be.

We dressed in a hurry, then joined dozens of worshipers assembled on the church lawn. Many had their hands tucked under their arms for warmth, like robins poking their bills beneath their wings.

When the final trombone note floated across the square, my husband shepherded our family through the narrow, wooden doors of the church. We settled into a pew near the front and exchanged glances, our eyes moist. Almost time.

Two thousand years ago, Mary Magdalene ran through the streets of Jerusalem “while it was still dark” (John 20:1), seeking the One who called Himself light. But He was not there. The tomb was empty. As two angels looked on, Mary Magdalene wept. She didn’t grasp the truth of His resurrection until He spoke her name: “Mary” (John 20:16).

The Lord speaks our names as well, in the depths of our hearts. He calls us to see Him as He truly is: risen, victorious, eternal. He calls us to believe, to leave the darkness of doubt behind and step into the light of His truth.

That Easter morning, my family and I sat up straighter as John’s Gospel was read aloud, the words washing over us like a shower, scrubbing us clean. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched my teenagers listen more intently than usual. The greatest story ever told, the one that never gets old: the Son of God, risen from the dead.

We’d heard His story before, but we needed to hear it again. To be reminded.

My son elbowed me. “When do we go to the cemetery?”

“Soon,” I promised. It was the highlight of our sunrise service, that solemn walk to God’s Acre — the hallowed field where those who’d fallen asleep in the Lord in centuries past were laid to rest.

When the brief service in the sanctuary ended, we left the stained-glass walls behind and moved out into the damp morning. Trombones and trumpets and French horns echoed across the church parking lot as we walked toward the graves.

Flat, plain stones — so old the engravings were worn smooth — pressed down upon the spongy earth. We enclosed them in a human square, facing due east in anticipation.

I realized that nothing was going to actually happen among these graves. I was not Mary Magdalene, and this was not the first Easter. Oh, but it felt like it.

We’d sung His praises and spoken His name. Now we stood, transformed among the tombs, as we watched the sky above us slowly brighten.

On that sacred morning long ago, Mary Magdalene couldn’t keep the good news to herself. She went to the disciples, just as Jesus had commanded her, and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18).

He urges all of us who love Him to do the same. To tell everyone who will listen, “The Lord is alive. He is real. And here’s how much He loves you.”

Dear God, thank You for the resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. We want to celebrate Him every day of our lives. In a world that grows increasingly dark, help us hold up His light. Give us the courage to speak as boldly as Mary Magdalene did, and never be ashamed of proclaiming Your Good News. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

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

2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” (NIV)

Daily Devotion

3/27/2015

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Chrystal Evans Hurst

"Real Love Bleeds"

“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (ESV)

Once while attending a conference I found myself browsing through the vendor section.

Most, if not all, of the vendors had products available where the proceeds would be invested directly into a ministry or mission project designed to change the lives of people near and far.

The idea that my purchase could in some way be a small contribution to Kingdom work propelled me to actively seek something that I wanted to wear, use or display in my home.

I paused in front of a table featuring art prints with various inspirational quotes and verses. It was like a sea of words.

I figured that somewhere on that table were words I would want to display in my home. Words that would inspire me and spur me on to be the person God wanted me to be.

I found those words. But they weren’t the warm and fuzzy words I was looking for. The kind that would make me want to smile when I walked by them in my home.

Instead I found words that cut deep and convicted me beyond my expectation. Words that inspired me … but solemnly. Words that did not yield a cozy experience, but certainly lit a fire within my heart and soul. The print said:

“Real love bleeds.”

I bought it.

Loving people can be hard work. It can be even harder when the love you give requires the very essence of who you are to flow through wounds inflicted by the ones your heart beats for.

When I read these three small words penned by this artist-turned-missionary, I stopped in my tracks because I knew I had been doing exactly the opposite in my life.

Instead of being willing to “bleed” for the ones I loved the most, I had slipped into full-on apathy.

Why? Because sometimes caring for and loving others doesn’t feel good.

Sometimes, it’s easier not to love.

Over time, and unbeknownst to me, I had become an expert at self-preservation and pain avoidance.

Anything that hurt, I didn’t touch — including the people I loved the most.

I grieved as I realized that the very love Jesus continually offered me — the same love that came at His own great personal discomfort and eventual agony — was unfortunately the kind of love I’d become unwilling to consistently offer.

Why? Because sometimes loving others hurts.

As I stood there and pulled out my wallet to purchase the simple yet beautiful print, I realized that great love comes at a great cost — as evidenced by the example of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for my sins, which we see in today’s key verse.

I remembered His illustration of love for me and recalled His command that I follow in His steps: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34, ESV).

Now, let me concede this. I am completely aware that everyone who causes us pain should not be an automatic recipient of our deepest level of sacrifice. However, I am acutely aware of my own need to assess my willingness to love like Christ loves me and to sacrifice for those to whom I am called.

What I know for certain is this: There are times when the love I have for others is not a matter of feeling, but rather a matter of my decision to be obedient to Him — and it won’t feel good.

The question is, when real love results in my personal discomfort or even a heart-wrenching level of pain, am I willing to love well anyway?

Father, thank You for Your love — a love that never fails and never gives up on me. You are the perfect example of a great love — a love that is offered full-strength even when love is not given in return. Help me to love like You. I want to honor You by doing my best to love others in the way You have loved me — even when it hurts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

1 John 4:11, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (ESV)

1 Corinthians 13:13, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (ESV)

Daily Devotion

3/26/2015

Telling the Truth
Jill Briscoe

"Joy In the Doing"

"I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your law is written on my heart."
Psalm 40:8

To know the will of God and to take joy in doing it are two different things! Many of us do not really want to know what God wants us to do because we might not want to do it once we know it! If we are inwardly honest and sincere, we will determine to find God's will and then set about joyfully obeying.

While Jesus was on earth, he explained his mission: "For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me" (John 6:38). The Son of God was not talking about a trip around the world--a luxury cruise through the universe. He was talking about the will of God for him, which involved suffering. Yet he delighted to do it because God wanted it!

It isn't easy to do the will of God when his will for us is difficult or involves suffering. It isn't easy to say no to a relationship or a job, even when we know that it is not God's will for us. It isn't easy to say yes to a difficult step or a move across the world, even when we know it is God's will. Notice that the psalmist took joy in "doing" God's will, not just in "knowing" it. Yet can we obey God, knowing the joy "set before us" at the end of the day? It may not be easy at first, but God promises that we will have great joy in the doing.

For further study: Psalm 40:6-10

Daily Devotion

3/25/2015

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Melissa Michaels

"Love the Home You Have"

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)

One day as I was putting away some laundry, I caught a glimpse of our upstairs family room through the door at the end of the hall. The sun was streaming in the windows, filling the room with bright light. Instead of simply rejoicing at the sunshine, I couldn’t help but notice how worn the carpet had become.

I didn’t love the drab color to begin with, but after years of wear and tear with an aging dog, a teenage boy and three puppies, that carpet definitely had lost its new-house freshness.

The declining condition of the carpet reminds me of an ever-growing list of things falling apart around the house. If I let myself think about it too long, I can get so overwhelmed counting the flaws (and lack of funds to improve them) that I begin to grow discontent with my home. Before I know it, I’m daydreaming about a better house in a different neighborhood.

My dream house includes a picket fence, more closet space, less clutter and definitely no drab or smelly carpet in the family room!

I almost believe that if only I lived there, life would be so much easier.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with daydreaming now and then about home improvement or a better house, but I’ve learned that what comes next can either help or hinder me.

When I’m tempted to peer over a picket fence to see if the grass is indeed greener on the other side, I know it’s time to turn around right then and there and change my perspective. The home I have is enough.

Most of the time I really am grateful for the gift of a roof over my head, but if I lose perspective, it doesn’t take much for discontent to move in and steal any contentment with what I have.

Yes, carpet can be cleaned or even replaced someday. Clutter can be removed to reveal more closet space. The dishes will have to be done in any house we live in. I will never get to every project on our to-do list.

Any home needs some TLC to transform it into a sanctuary for our families. Yet to find true contentment in all circumstances, as our key verse reminds us, I have to be transformed first.

I’ve learned that it’s not about finding the right house or keeping up with the to-do list or the Joneses, but about learning how to find joy and delight in what I’ve been given (even when it isn’t exactly what I would have chosen!).

With the right perspective, I can create a comfortable space to serve God and my family well, right here in this place.

Every uplifting word we speak to our families, every time we pick up the mess or clean the carpet or rearrange the furniture, every opportunity we take to show hospitality and love to the people who come through our door — they all matter.

Caring for the home we have with a perspective of gratitude builds up our contentment with what God has provided. As Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (NIV).

Whether your home is an apartment, a condo, a rental or your forever dream house, the ordinary blessings you count every day will keep your perspective on what matters most.

Dear Lord, sometimes I lose perspective when viewing the gifts right in front of me. I start to believe my dream house must be somewhere else, because it certainly couldn’t be right here in this mess. Help me refocus my heart and find contentment right here, in this place You so graciously provided for me. Help me honor You through learning to take care of the home I have and showing love to the people who enter through my door. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Proverbs 14:1, "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." (NIV)

Daily Devotion

3/24/2015

Telling the Truth
Jill Briscoe

"God is Always Within Earshot"

The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.
Psalm 34:15

David had the answer to all of his afflictions. He sat in his cave and counted his blessings. Blessings are very threatening to afflictions. Troubles tiptoe out of the door when praise bursts in. David began to praise God for being God, which is an excellent idea when you can't praise him for what he has allowed to happen in your life!

David said, "I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me" (Psalm 34:4). He believed God was near enough to hear his cry. We need to remember that, when trouble comes, God is always within earshot. "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted," insisted David (34:18). A broken heart may feel only its brokenness, not his nearness. It's what we know of God, not what we feel of him, that brings his healing presence to our damaged lives.

"Where is God when it hurts? cry the rejected wife, the mourning husband, the lonely teenager. God is near. David wrote in another place, "Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near" (22:11). When David insisted on believing trouble was near, God insisted on being nearer.

"But if I could only see him, feel him" we say. Will you believe he is near when you can do none of those things? If you will, you will be well on the way to growing faith in the soil of your troubles. After all, what is faith for? When we count the blessings of his nearness, sorrow and sighing flee away.

For further study: Psalm 34:1-22

Daily Devotion

3/23/2015

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Lysa TerKeurst

"What If the Next Big Step God Wants You To Take Is Small?"

"Listen for GOD’S voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track."
Proverbs 3:6 (MSG)

It was a hot day inside and outside at the orphan village in Liberia. The 12 boys inside, practicing their choir music, found their eyes wandering over to the soccer field, where the promise of fun and the cheers of their friends tugged at them.

They were feeling the pull of wanting to go outside and play soccer. But these boys determined the choir was worth the sacrifice.

Years earlier, Liberia had been ravaged by a civil war that left more than 25,000 orphans to be cared for. So to raise money and support, an a cappella boys’ choir was formed to travel throughout the country of Liberia and perform in churches.

Two of the teenage boys in that choir, Jackson and Mark, had been orphaned as babies when their parents and most of their siblings were killed by rebel forces.

Night after night, these boys knelt beside their makeshift beds and poured out prayers of thanksgiving and hope that one day they’d hear six simple yet life-changing words, "You are my child — welcome home."

God had a perfect design for their prayers to be answered and worked miracle after miracle to bring the boys’ choir to America. But little did I know my husband Art and I would be part of the answer to Mark and Jackson’s prayers.

Our life was busy and full, and we were enjoying being the parents of three little girls. So you can imagine my surprise the night I went to see The Liberian Boys’ Choir concert at our church that I was stirred to consider adoption.

As I sat in the concert, God whispered to my heart that two of those boys singing were mine. No, I thought. Not me.

I felt like sticking my fingers in my ears and singing, La, la, la, la, la … I’m not listening to You, God! But the stirring in my heart wouldn’t stop.

I decided to try a new tactic with Him. Lord, I just came here tonight to bring my girls to a simple little cultural event. I’m not looking for a major life change. My life is already very full with speaking and writing and homeschooling three girls. Besides, all my friends would think I was crazy, and my husband would never think this is a good idea.

But God wasn’t discouraged by my response. His directive in my heart became more intense as the evening went on. After the concert, I asked the coordinator of the event which of the boys still needed homes. He told me that eight of the boys still needed to find families and encouraged me to walk into the reception area where they were. If God intended for some of these boys to be ours, he was sure I’d know it.

Reluctantly, I walked into the reception area. In a matter of seconds, Jackson and Mark walked up to me, wrapped their arms around me, and called me Mom.

I was moved and terrified at the same time.

What began as a small heart prompting had turned into a very big decision for our family.

After talking with Art, we cried out to God, desperate for His guidance and wisdom. We pondered every aspect and wrestled with this decision deep in our spirits.

Still, doubts and questions flooded our minds: How could we financially increase the size of our family? How would we find the time in our already crammed schedule? How would we raise boys? How would we find room in our home? The list went on and on.

One day, I called a friend and poured out my heart. I told her I could list many other parents who were much more qualified to adopt. She patiently listened without much response as I asked, "Why me?"

Then quietly and prayerfully she answered: "Because God knew you’d say yes, Lysa."

I was stunned. It was the highest compliment I’d ever received. My heart was filled with joy as memories filled my mind of the years of small steps God had me take to reach the place where I could be prepared to take this much bigger step.

Now, over 10 years later, I think back to sitting in that church pew, just going about my ordinary life when God’s extraordinary invitation burst forth. I could have so easily walked out of that church and ignored God’s stirring. I’ve done that more times than I’d like to admit. But look at everything we would have missed out on, had I done that.

Hear my heart: I’m not saying everyone is called to adopt. Honestly, the next big step God wants you to take might actually be small. But we’ll never know what that next step is if we don’t "listen for GOD’S voice in everything we do, everywhere we go" as Proverbs 3:6 instructs us.

Each day we can look for His invitation to leave our plans behind to join Him in His wondrous work through small steps of obedience.

Dear Lord, today I will embrace what You have for me. I will step out in faith because Your ways are higher than mine! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Proverbs 16:9, "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." (NLT)

Daily Devotion

3/19/2015

"Telling the Truth"
Jill Briscoe

"Surely"

The words of Psalm 23:6 tells us that "surely [God's] goodness and unfailing love will pursue" us. Surely-- not maybe or perhaps. The man who wrote those words, King David of Israel, experienced God's goodness and mercy all his days and nights. Whether the sun was shining, or it was midnight in his soul, David was able to say, "Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me."

It's so much easier for us to say "most days" or "some days." Yet the text promises God's presence all the days of our life. This is not a promise that all our days will be good or happy but rather an assurance that the God of mercy will follow us through the good and the bad days, the rich and the poor days, the sick and the well days--all the days of our life.

When we believe this promise, we bring his presence into our problems. It is his presence in all of our nights that wrings from our lips the certain cry, "Surely!" His sweet friendship lights up good days and makes them even better. So we do not have a maybe or a perhaps or a hopefully, but a surely that is rooted in the proven promises of God. Such certainty in the reliability of the good and loving shepherd of our soul grows trust day by day, whether he leads us through the dark valleys in the shadows or on the high hills in the sunshine.

For further study: Psalm 23:1-6

Daily Devotion

3/18/2015

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Lynn Cowell

"Cover or Expose?"

“Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked.” Genesis 9:22-23 (NIV)

“This day is not getting off to a very good start. She’s already being rude,” my friend informed me.

It seemed the day ahead would present some challenges. One of our group members was having another rough day … and when she had a rough day, we all had a rough day.

I stopped for a moment to pray. I prayed for the woman. I prayed for both of our days. (It appeared we both needed it!) Then, I headed into a meeting, and purposed to forget the comment and move forward.

I know my friend was looking out for me by offering a warning, but when we find ourselves privy to information we didn’t ask for, we’re always given an opportunity …

Cover or expose?

In today’s key verses, Noah’s sons are in a similar situation. After the flood, Noah planted a vineyard. One day, while he enjoyed the fruit of his garden, he became drunk. In his stupor, he fell asleep naked in his tent. Ham, Noah’s son, walked into his father’s tent, I’m sure very surprised at what he found.

Stepping outside the tent, he let his brothers, Shem and Japheth, in on his discovery. The younger two responded to their father’s embarrassing situation by putting a cloak on their shoulders, walking backward into the tent and covering their father.

Noah’s sons had options on how to respond, and they took very different approaches.

Ham chose to expose. He took the opportunity to highlight his father’s fault.

To be fair, Ham didn’t intend to step into this uncomfortable scene. The Bible doesn’t say he was looking for dirt on his dad. We can’t assume anything other than Ham was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

In contrast, Shem and Japheth heard and covered. They weren’t looking to be told or to hear of their father’s unwise decision either. What made the difference, though, was how they responded.

They took action to protect their patriarch. We don’t read any words they said. No dialog of defense for their dad. They simply chose honor. They chose love.

God commands us to love others, and love makes choices for the good of others.

We, too, can find ourselves with the knowledge that someone has made a poor choice. Temptation nudges us to tell another. Like the brothers, it might be a family member, or it could be someone you barely know. No matter who the hurting person is, God calls us to practice protecting.

Practice taking the information to God first. Not to a friend or a favorite social media outlet. And if you feel God directing you, approach the person in a loving manner and protect them by speaking truth. Whatever the response, let it be in love and covered in prayer.

Ask God right now to give them the wisdom they need.

Father, (insert name) needs Your wisdom. Would You step in and help her find her way to what is best, and honoring to You? In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

1 Corinthians 13:7, “It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (NIV)

Proverbs 11:13, “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” (NIV)

Daily Devotion

3/17/2015

"The Greenest Grass"
Jill Briscoe
Telling the Truth

Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4

The Great Shepherd supports the sheep when they are frightened, but he knows the greenest grass is found in the valleys. Do you believe that? What dark valley are you traveling through just now?

Not long ago, my husband went away on business for five weeks. All the children are grown now, so I was alone. This time, because the dog had died a few years earlier, there was not another living, breathing soul in the house with me! I am not usually nervous, but I found myself wondering why I had never before noticed the veritable symphony of creaks and groans in the timbers of the house! It may seem a small valley to you, but it became a very big one for me.

I began to devise ways of staying out as late as I could after work, rather than coming home to face that empty house. One day, when I had had enough of my churning stomach, I simply put my hand in my shepherd's and said, "Help me walk through this valley with you."

"Stop running," he replied, "You have been sprinting along, intent on getting out of this situation as quickly as you can! Walk slowly and take a long look around.

See, here is some green, green grass."

Verse after verse of Scripture flooded my mind, bringing peace, and calm, and a sensible acceptance of the situation. I ate my fill and was satisfied. Yes, the greenest grass is always found in the valleys.

For further study: Psalm 23:1-6