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Daily Devotion

5/31/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Sheila Walsh

“The Longing in Me”

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”
Psalm 143:8 (NIV)

It was a moment I had prayed for and yet, honestly, it was a moment I dreaded too. My husband, Barry, and I have only one child, a son named Christian, and it was finally time to let go.

Christian had been accepted into a college only a 3-hour drive from our home. That made this mom’s heart rest easier … a little!

We’d been collecting things all summer long.

Bedding.

A shower curtain and towels.

A coffee maker.

“You don’t drink coffee,” I said.

“I think I’ll start now,” was his response.

The list got longer and longer and the piles around the house got higher and higher.

When I woke up the morning of his move I prayed the words of a Psalm that I pray every single day, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love …” (Psalm 143:8a). I paused there to let the weight of those words fill me. What a promise! God’s love will never fail.

On days when I feel strong, His love is with me and on days when I feel vulnerable and weak, His love is with me.

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love for I have put my trust in you.” I reminded my soul that this is a choice. I choose to place my trust in God when my heart wavers. I choose to trust God with my son’s life just as I choose to trust Him with my own.

“Okay, Lord. Let’s do this!”

We arrived at the school about the same time as half of the state of Texas, or so it seemed. Christian checked in at student housing and got his key. He’d be sharing a two-bedroom unit with his best friend, Brendan. That made my husband, Barry, and me very happy, as we love Brendan like another son.

Let me pause here to say, August in Texas is really not the month you want to carry boxes up three flights of stairs. Halfway through my fourth trip I flopped down on the stairs and announced to anyone who was listening, “I’m too old for this!”

By sunset we had most things in place. Barry and I were staying for the night in a local hotel so we left the boys in peace to enjoy their first night as college freshmen. We grabbed a quick dinner in a local diner and then flopped into bed.

“Do you think he’s ready for this?” Barry asked. “Did we do enough to prepare him?”

“I don’t know,” I replied. “But I do know he loves God, and even more than that, I know God loves him more than you and I ever could … I’m just wondering though, do you think he’ll ever remember to change his sheets?”

The following day we stocked their refrigerator, vacuumed the rooms and took the trash and empty boxes to the dumpster. Then it was time to leave. I asked the boys if we could pray over them and their new home. I shared my morning verse, my daily prayer and reminded them that when you trust your life to Christ, He’ll direct your steps.

Christian walked us out to the car. He hugged his dad and me and said, “Thank you! Thank you for loving me. Thank you for making this possible.” Then he turned and walked into all that God had for him his freshman year. I cried all the way home. Can you cry for three solid hours? Why, yes you can!

Life seems to be full of moments that ask us to let go when we long to hold on.

I don’t know what you face right now, what season of life you’re in, but my prayer for you is simple and from the heart. May you know the comfort and strength of the One whose love will never fail you, and whose mercies are new every single morning!

Heavenly Father, help us to know that Your love for us will never fail. Be our comfort and strength whatever season of life we find ourselves in. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (KJV)

Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (NIV)

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Daily Devotion

5/27/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Wendy Pope

“What’s In Your Heart?”

“Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.”

Psalm 24:4 (NLT)


Many years ago, as I read the book of Exodus, I was appalled to learn how God’s people created and worshiped idols like the golden calf. Later, my disdain turned into understanding when I learned the definition of idol and uncovered my own false gods.

An idol is any person or thing regarded or worshiped with blind admiration, adoration, intense love or extreme devotion. Studying this definition forced me to examine my life. When I asked myself what I adored and loved the most, sleep topped my list.

For me, there was nothing compared to changing into my pajama bottoms after a long day, curling up in bed with a good book and not waking up until I hit the snooze button a couple of times the next morning. If my kids or husband interrupted my sleep, it must have been for a very, very good reason! Some days (OK, many days) my first waking thought was, “I can’t wait to go back to sleep tonight.”

My extreme admiration for sleep had overtaken my desire to spend time with the Lord in the morning. Instead of getting up to read the Bible and pray, I’d roll over and dream. God wasn’t first, second or even third in my heart’s desires.

God knew the desire for us to create idols would be tempting. It’s human nature to go after things we can see (hence the phrase, “Out of sight, out of mind”), but as God’s people, we must remember to keep our spiritual eyes on Him.

Friends, this is nothing new. Moses warned God’s people about turning their affections away from their Creator and onto His creation:

“So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form … don’t be seduced into worshiping them … Remember that the LORD rescued you … in order to make you his very own people and his special possession, which is what you are today” (see Deuteronomy 4:16a, 19b-20, NLT).

Everyone’s idols will differ: money, marriage, notoriety, security. Whatever our idols are, they can’t remain in our hearts. Why? In Psalm 24, David asks who can be near God. The answer is found in today’s key verse: "Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies" (Psalm 24:4).

If we are to be in a close relationship with the Lord, we can’t have idols lingering in our hearts. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money” (NLT).

Or sleep. Or ________ {you fill in the blank}.

It may not seem like a big deal for us to desire wealth, fame, relationships or other seemingly insignificant things. But when these take precedence over God, it is a major issue to Him. Scripture tells us that He is jealous for our hearts and will not--nor should He--share His glory with another (Deuteronomy 4:24).

Reality television has co-opted the word jealous: we see housewives jealous over handbags and luxury vehicles; chefs jealous over others’ delicious, well-executed dishes; bachelorettes jealous over fun dates other women go on. But they aren’t actually jealous; they are envious.

Envy longs for what belongs to others.

Jealousy passionately desires what rightly belongs to you.

You and I belong to God, so when anything claims our affections, time, money, thoughts or desires more than He does, He becomes jealous. He loves us and knows nothing can fulfill us like He can and nothing is better for us than His ways. In fact, Psalm 24:5 says that when we purify our hearts of idols, we “will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God [our] savior” (NLT). God longs to be the one thing you long for the most.

Every now and then, I still struggle with desiring more sleep than I need. But now, instead of settling in for an excessive snooze, it’s a lot easier to convince my sleepy bones to follow my heart’s true desire--to spend every moment I can with the One my heart longs for.

Lord, investigate my heart, search every part. Reveal anything that is keeping me from having a right relationship with You. Forgive me for elevating anything and anyone above You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


1 Corinthians 10:14, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (ESV)


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Daily Devotion

5/26/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Lysa TerKeurst

“No Matter What”


“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)

I remember the day Art and I settled in our hearts that we would choose God’s love and the pursuit of a relationship with Him, no matter what.

We were in the hospital with our middle daughter who was 6 weeks old. She had seemed a perfectly healthy baby until an allergic reaction to the protein in my breast milk landed us in the intensive care unit. The doctors told us on the fourth day of our visit that Ashley needed emergency surgery, and they did not expect her to survive.

They gave us five minutes to tell our baby goodbye.

My heart was shattered.

I so desperately wanted to scoop her up and run out of the hospital. I wanted to somehow breathe my life into hers. I wanted to take her place. I could handle my own death so much easier than the death of my child. Art prayed over Ashley, we both said our goodbyes, and then, with tears streaming down our faces, we let her go.

When Art took me outside to the hospital parking lot, I collapsed into his arms.

He gently cupped my face in his hands and reminded me that Ashley was God’s child to give and His to take back.

“Lysa, God loves Ashley even more than we do,” he gently told me. “We must trust His plan.”

Art then asked me to do something, and it changed my whole perspective on my relationship with God. “We have to get it settled in our hearts that we will love God no matter the outcome of Ashley’s surgery,” he said.

At first I resented Art’s desire that we love God in this way. I feared it might give the impression it was alright for God to take Ashley.

With all my being, I wanted to hold on to my child and refuse God. Yet, though I was heartbroken, I also felt God’s compassion. I felt Him drawing me close and pouring out His tender mercy. God knew firsthand the pain we were feeling because He’d felt it Himself. I knew that, ultimately, I had no ability to control my child’s future.

With tears pouring from our eyes, Art and I released our sweet Ashley to the Lord and promised to love Him no matter what.

It was as if the more I fell into God’s arms, the less the pain of the moment seared my heart. Feeling the power of God took away the fear of the unknown. I stopped thinking about the what-if’s and let my soul simply say, OK. God, in this minute I choose rest with You. I will not let my mind go to the minutes that are coming. I will simply be in this moment and face it with peace.

That day we settled our love for God not just for this situation, but for all time. Though we did not feel at all happy, a gentle covering of unexplainable calm settled over our hearts. Knowing that the One who loved Ashley even more than we did was taking care of her, and that His plan for her was perfect, brought peace in the middle of heartbreak.

The end of this chapter of Ashley’s life was miraculous and we are so grateful. Though the doctors can’t explain how, she made a full recovery. Who can understand why God answers prayer the way He does?

I know the devastating other side of situations like this--where my little sister didn’t recover, and we stood at her grave, helpless and heartbroken.

But both situations have taught me that no matter what God’s answer, our hearts can be settled to trust and love Him. I don’t have to understand; I just have to trust. This kind of total surrender brings about a depth of peace and relationship with God you can’t get any other way. It all stems from living out today’s key verse, loving God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Nothing in life is certain. Circumstances roll in and out like the ocean’s tide. And the unknown can sometimes seem so frightening.

We can’t stop or control things that roll our way any more than we can stop the water’s edge.

But we can make the minute-by-minute choice to let our souls rest in God.

Dear Lord, I want to love You with all of my heart, all of my soul and all of my strength like Your Word instructs. Teach me how to give up the control I try to maintain as I experience uncertainties and hard times. Guide me in pursuing a love relationship with You no matter what comes my way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

1 Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)


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Daily Devotion

5/25/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Karen Ehman

“Who Owns Your Stuff?”


“Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
1 Chronicles 29:14b (NIV)

I was beside myself with excitement on that spring afternoon. With my brand new driver’s license in my purse, I snagged the car keys from my dad and took the Cutlass for a spin--all by myself! It didn’t matter it was an old clunker, complete with rust spots and faded army green paint. I was thrilled to call it “my car.” Although the title was in my dad’s name, I still felt the pride of ownership.

Can you remember the thrill of owning something for the first time?

Maybe your first watch? Or bicycle? Or maybe, after years of scraping and saving, it was the joy of owning your very first home! Whether large or small, we like our things. But it begs the question, who really owns our stuff?

The Bible gives us a true perspective of what we call “ours.”

In 1 Chronicles 29, we see King David preparing to build God’s temple. He mentions he will spare no resource toward the construction, but will donate his own possessions and personal treasures of gold and silver. Then, other Israelite leaders join in willingly and joyfully donating gold, silver, bronze, iron and precious jewels toward the building of the temple (see 1 Chronicles 29:6-9).

After gathering the resources for the temple, David praises God in front of the whole assembly. Notice he doesn’t praise the people for their generosity, nor boast about himself and his charitable giving.

Instead, David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

  • “Praise be to you, LORD
  • the God of our father Israel,
  • from everlasting to everlasting.
  • Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power
  • and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
  • for everything in heaven and earth is yours.”

He continues:

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you” (1 Chronicles 29:10b-11a, 14-17, NIV).

Wow. Did you catch that?

“Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (1 Chronicles 29:14b).

What an amazing perspective on our possessions. If the ancient Israelites were so willing to offer what God had given them, turning right back around and investing in building His temple, could we today use all that He’s given us to build up other believers and also to encourage others who might not know Him yet?

It’s a subtle but crucial shift in perspective when we realize everything we work for here on earth really doesn’t belong to us. Instead it all comes from God. All our possessions are His in the beginning and at the end of our lives.

The question comes down to this: Who owns your stuff? Will you willingly share so others’ lives may be bettered? The satisfaction from serving God in this way never rusts, tarnishes or fades.

Dear God, help me remember that You own all my stuff. Help me have the same mindset as King David, to share it all with others so Your work can be done and others’ lives can be touched. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


Matthew 6:20-21
, “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (NLT)


Psalm 50:10, “For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.” (NLT)

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Daily Devotion

5/24/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Alicia Bruxvoort

“When Love Seems to Fade”


“There are three things that amaze me--no, four things that I don’t understand: how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman.” Proverbs 30:18-19 (NLT)

One entire weekend. No kids. Just my husband and me, alone in the mountains.

It sounded like a dream come true. Except …


By the time we finally stepped away from our busy lives to celebrate our anniversary, it felt like our love had lost its luster. Our marriage had morphed into an ordinary humdrum of kids, carpools, commitments and careers, and I wondered if we would ever rediscover the whimsical joy that marked our story from the start.

“Lord, I want our love to be extraordinary again,” I prayed as I followed my husband’s footsteps up a craggy mountain trail on a hike one afternoon.

When we reached the peak, we sat silently side by side and watched the sinking sun illuminate the canyon below in a blaze of orange glory.

“God, I want our marriage to be beautiful like that,” I whispered as my husband laced his fingers through mine.

And while I didn’t hear God’s voice peal from the sky, a simple thought crossed my mind. “Look for the beauty right where you are …”

“Beauty in the bedlam?” I silently questioned the God of the universe. “God, You know our life right now is filled with bills and babies, tears and tantrums.”

A shadow danced across my dusty shoes, and I dropped my eyes to study the stones scattered at our feet. And that’s when God reminded me of a little lesson I’d learned one spring from an obscure pile of gravel and a wide-eyed little girl …

My mind wandered back to the day we’d gathered seashells near the ocean. Suddenly, my daughter had plopped on the ground with a squeal of joy and began digging with gusto in the filthy gravel.


When I’d tried to convince her it was just ordinary old gravel, my daughter had flashed me a knowing smile. Then she extended her hand to show me the lovely pink shell she held in her palm. “This gravel may be ordinary,” she conceded, “but if you look closely, it’s really beautiful …”

As I sat on the mountaintop, I couldn’t help but smile at that sweet memory, a visual reminder to find beauty everywhere.

The sunlight started to wane, so my husband and I began to weave our way down the trailhead with steady speed. My feet hit a patch of slippery stones and suddenly, my legs wobbled and slid. My husband steadied my frame with a strong gentle hand.

I thought about the cavern ablaze with wonder and the “beautiful” gravel speckled with shells and the wise words I’d read that morning in my Bible. “There are three things that amaze me--no, four things that I don’t understand … the way that a man loves a woman.”

Proverbs 30:19 reminds us that love is downright amazing. There’s nothing ordinary about a man choosing to love a woman for a lifetime, nothing trite about two people committing to love one another through the daily grind. Even love tucked into the folds of an ordinary life is one of God’s most beautiful gifts.

Suddenly, I was awash with awe as I looked at the man who faithfully walks beside me through the marvelous and the mundane. And I whispered a prayer that God would keep me from growing blind to the amazing gift He had given me.

When we reached the end of our hike, I picked up a simple souvenir--a handful of auburn gravel. I slipped those little stones into my pocket with a smile, because sometimes we just need something to remind us of the beauty of
ordinary love.


Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me with an amazing love. Help me to love my husband in the same way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


1 Corinthians 13:4a, “Love does not give up.” (NLV)


Proverbs 18:22, “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD.” (NLT)

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Daily Devotion

5/23/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries

Brooke McGlothlin

“The Motherhood Press”


“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Psalm 119:11 (ESV)

I sat in the late evening sun on the front porch of our home, head in hands, tears streaming down my face, rendered speechless by the realization that I didn’t have what it took to be the kind of mom I wanted to be.

Before having kids, I’d never really failed at anything. Oh sure, I had been through failed relationships. I’d come close to failing a test here and there. I even failed to live up to my own expectations from time to time, but never the big things. Every goal I set for myself I achieved. But as a mom--the one thing I really wanted to get right in life--I was failing.

I wanted everyone to believe I was capable of handling the two beautiful boys God gave me, but I wasn’t.

I wanted everyone to believe I could juggle work, kids, husband, home and church with ease, but I couldn’t.

I wanted everyone to believe crying babies, nursing problems, shift work and the Terrible Twos weren’t too much for me all at once, but they were.

And what I really wanted everyone to believe--that I was a confident, capable, smart, fully independent woman--was keeping me from admitting the truth. I didn’t have what it took.

Motherhood showed me just how much I needed Jesus.

It scraped me, rubbed me raw and pressed ugly emotions and words out of my heart I didn’t even know were there.

If you asked people I grew up with to describe my personality, I’m happy to report words like “angry, insensitive, overbearing, short-tempered and unkind” would not have topped the list. But there, sitting on my front porch in front of all my neighbors, not really caring who saw, I realized the woman I so proudly presented to others wasn’t the real me.

The truth taunted me and beat me down. The person I thought I was didn’t exist, and for the first time, I couldn’t fix my situation by working a little bit harder. My need was greater than my ability. I simply couldn’t do it by myself.

Why does it take motherhood to bring out the worst in us? Maybe it’s because most of us have never really been pressed so hard, pushed so hard or loved so hard. We’re like children eating a jelly-filled donut. When little hands squeeze, the jelly hiding inside dumps into their lap … and when life presses a mama too hard, sin lurking in her heart comes out and dumps on the people she loves most.

I love today’s key verse, Psalm 119:11. I learned it as a child, and its simplicity is the perfect antidote to my challenging, chaotic mothering days: “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

I learned a life lesson that day I hope will stick with me forever. What’s in our hearts will come out, good or bad. In order to be the kind of godly women we want to be, we have to store God’s Word in our hearts, letting it change who we are in our most-hidden places, so when we’re pressed, His love pours out.

Father, give me a never-ending desire to spend my moments storing up the treasures in Your Word, so that when I’m pressed by life’s challenges I might not sin against You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


Matthew 12:34b, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (ESV)


Proverbs 4:23, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (ESV)

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Daily Devotion

5/13/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries

Leah DiPascal

“When My Prayers Seem Trivial"


“Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.”

Jeremiah 33:3 (AMP)

I could tell by the look on his face that my little guy was upset about something. Kneeling down I asked, “What’s wrong, Brody?”

“I can’t find my game, and I’ve looked everywhere!”

Feeling confident it was somewhere in the house, I agreed to help him look. We rummaged through closets and toy boxes. I combed through every room in the house, while Brody frantically searched all the dresser drawers.

After 20 minutes, I started thinking maybe the treasured toy had been accidentally left at school or lost during one of our many errands.

My heart ached as I watched the tears puddle up in my sweet boy’s eyes. So I asked, “Brody, have you prayed and asked Jesus to help you find it?”

“No Mom … will you pray for me?”

Huddled together we paused and prayed, calling on the One who has all the answers. We asked Him to reveal exactly where the game was mysteriously hiding.

As I wiped the tears from Brody’s eyes, we agreed that it was now time to wait and trust Jesus to answer our prayers when the time was right.

I knew this wouldn’t be easy. Brody was still longing to have his treasured item back, and asking an 8-year-old boy to trust in an invisible God was a big request that required even greater faith.

Ten minutes later, I heard him running down the hall. “I found it! I found it!!”

With pure joy beaming from his face, Brody waved the lost item in his hands.

“Where was it, Brody?”

“In my sleeping bag,” he said.

“How did you know it was in your sleeping bag?”

Looking at me with a countenance of confidence he said, “Jesus told me it was there!”

We hugged and celebrated together--thanking God for answering our prayers.

Losing something so small might seem trivial to some. But to my little boy, it was a very big deal. And watching how Jesus made Himself real to Brody that day was a very big deal to me.

We both learned an important lesson. Today’s key verse reminds us of God’s faithfulness when we call upon Him:

“Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish” (Jeremiah 33:3).

God invites us to call out to Him when we need answers. He promises to teach us things we don’t understand and even show us things that have been hidden.

I’ve discovered that these “things” can be spiritual truths, which He shows us in His Word or practical things like giving Brody a thought to check his sleeping bag which he hadn’t used in weeks.

God loves us. He cares enough to speak to us about the little and big things in our lives. There is nothing we care about that God doesn’t want us to bring to Him.

Have you lost something you love and long to have it back? Are you rummaging through life looking for answers and not sure what to do next?

If it’s a big deal to you, then it’s a big deal to God. He wants you to come to Him about everything. No request is too small. No problem you face is too trivial or insignificant for God.

He’s invited you to ask, so ask and trust that He will answer.

Heavenly Father, sometimes I don’t want to bother You with the small problems I’m facing in life. I often wonder if they seem trivial or if I’m wasting Your time asking for help. Thank You for inviting me to come and ask You about anything. The big issues and the small ones. Thank You for loving me and reminding me what matters to me does matter to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


Psalm 17:6-7a, “I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.” (NLT)


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Daily Devotion

5/12/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries

Lysa TerKeurst

“Three Things Every Mom Should Know”



“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)

Being a mom is tough.

I think one of the hardest things about motherhood for me has been my tendency to blame myself for the wrong choices my kids sometimes make.

The second hardest thing is trying to figure out how to fix their issues. Especially when you are hyper aware the situation your child is in will carry great consequences.

Deep is the sorrow of a mother who feels helpless.

Thankfully, God knows what it’s like to deal with wayward children. He feels our pain. He knows our sorrow. And He knows exactly how to encourage us through His Word.

Ephesians 6:10-12 tells us, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV)

Based on this truth, here are three things mamas should know:

1. God does not call us to find a power within ourselves to overcome the issues we’ll face with our kids.

He calls us to put on His armor because what we are facing is a battle. A battle of epic proportions. And His weapons aren’t silly little spiritual suggestions that might or might not work. His weapons are certain.

His belt of truth. I must park my runaway mind in the assurance of God’s love for me and my child.


His breastplate of righteousness. I must stop reacting in the flesh and choose to battle this with my praises and prayers.

His gospel of peace. I must walk in the assurance and peace that even when I can’t see things changing, God is working on my child’s behalf.

His shield of faith. I must have faith in God’s timing and in His ways.

His helmet of Salvation. I must trust God’s ultimate desire for my children is for them to have a close relationship with Him. Though a situation might seem like an unlikely part of this process, God will bring good out of it.

His sword, which is the Bible. I must read God’s love letter to me every day. And hold those truths as the lifeline between God’s security and my shaky heart.

And His gift of prayer. I must see prayer not as a last resort but as the very thing God’s most courageous followers turn to first.

Ephesians 6:13-18 assures us with these in place, we’ll be able to stand. These things will help us tap into a power beyond ourselves.

2. The battle isn’t against our child and their choices.

It often feels like the battle is against our child. Boy does it ever! But, in reality, the battle is against Satan’s schemes.

There will be some battles we face with our kids that seem impossible to win.

Because Satan twists truth. He hides consequences. He blinds reality. He has schemes perfectly designed with our weaknesses in mind.

Therefore, we have to battle Satan. He’s the real enemy here. And because we are Jesus girls, we hold the power for victory in our prayers and praises to God.

3. The battle is taking place in the heavenly realms.

Oh how I want to fight my kids’ battles with what I can see. But that simply isn’t enough.

So, I must fight with the only thing I have that can reach into the heavenly realm: my praises and prayers. Praises for who God is and prayers for Him to remove Satan’s influence in a situation. If ever I’m tempted to doubt how powerful praises and prayers are in battle, a quick read of 2 Chronicles 20:1-27 soothes this mama for sure.

I hope you’ll take some time to sit and read it today too. It’s an amazing story of God’s people feeling overwhelmed in the face of a vast army, but when they began to sing and praise the Lord, their enemy was defeated.

Prayers to God and praises for God release the power of God.

The things that bridged the gap between them feeling powerless and experiencing victory were praises and prayers. And it’s the same way for us.
I can’t fully explain it. But I can proclaim it. Our prayers and our praises are powerful and effective.

Yes, being a mom is really tough. But we aren’t alone. God understands this struggle of parenting children who get off track.

And since God, the perfect parent, has dealt with this since the beginning of time--I think His is the best advice around.

Father God, thank You so much that You have perfectly equipped me to do battle for my children. Today I lift my prayers and my praises up to You, believing for a mighty victory in their lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


Psalm 144:1, “Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” (NIV)


2 Chronicles 20:15b, “This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’” (NIV)

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Daily Devotion

5/11/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries

Lynn Cowell

“Move When You’re Moved”

“They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.”
Exodus 36:3 (NIV)

I couldn’t stop the tears flowing like a stream down my face. Crying in church … I’m OK with that. But when you start that shaking-and-I-can’t-stop bawling thing, well, that can be downright embarrassing.

Our pastor was preaching on--of all things--giving. Giving! Is that something to really get so emotional about? Though it has been a long, slow learning process for me, through the generosity of my husband, I’ve learned what it means to be a generous giver.

So why was I crying?

The Lord was pressing on my heart to give and give generously to someone who was hurting. Sitting there in church, it was as if the Lord allowed me to experience the pain they were feeling, the hurt they were going through in a very difficult time. That pain and weight was heavy in my chest as if it were my own.

But that’s not all that was going on. God was speaking to me to give. See in our family, I leave it to God to speak with my husband on this issue. Greg, the generous one. Greg then shares with me where God is leading his heart, and we give.

It’s not the other way around.

Except on this day.

Walking out of church, I was still visibly upset. Then fear set in. I started to feel nervous about telling Greg what I felt the Lord was nudging me to do. I had no reason to be anxious, yet I wanted to back out. I began trying to convince myself, It’s just your emotions talking. Calm down. This nudging will go away.

But no; that’s not what the Holy Spirit had in mind.

Before we reached home, I got up the nerve to talk to my man. And as I knew he would, he said yes.

This is where the bad news comes in.

For two months I wrestled with it, not taking the steps to give as I felt prompted. I had my excuses. It’s complicated. I don’t want to offend them. I let those uncomfortable feelings settle back in my heart again. I let them tell me what to do.

In Exodus 35, there was a need in the Israelite community, and God told the people: “From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering …” (Exodus 35:5a, NIV).

Everyone who is willing. I got that part down. I am willing.

It’s the next part that gave me the push I needed: “and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work … ” (Exodus 35:21a, NIV).

They weren’t just moved; they got moving.

I wonder if you’ve ever been like me, or maybe you’re in that place now. You heard a stirring sermon, read a convicting verse, listened to a compelling story and you felt moved by God.

But. You. Haven’t. Moved.

Me too.

It’s wonderful for us to feel God’s presence, to sense His stirring, but that’s not enough. We can’t just be moved, we have to get moving. We have to follow through in obedience. That’s where the blessings come in.

I love the way this account of giving in Exodus wraps up. I’ve yet to see anything like it in the church today. The skilled craftsmen doing the work of God went to their leader and essentially said, "Enough! We’ve got enough!"

"And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work" (Exodus 36:6b-7, NIV).

I finally moved forward in giving the way the Lord had directed me. I’m also learning that when it comes to obedience, it is important to not just obey, but obey immediately. Before my heart leads me in the wrong direction or my thoughts begin to analyze the situation. I’m not getting it perfect every time, but with the Holy Spirit’s help, I am making progress.

Lord, we need Your help to move us when we are moved. Holy Spirit, give us faith, courage and bravery to go and do what You are stirring in our hearts, for we know that obedience to You will bring blessings from You. In Jesus’ Name,

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (NIV)

1 Samuel 15:22, “But Samuel replied: ‘Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’” (NIV)

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Daily Devotion

5/10/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries

Tessa Afshar

“How God Can Heal a Daughter’s Heart”

“‘Daughter,’ he said to her, ‘your faith has made you well. Go in peace.’”
Luke 8:48 (NLT)


My father passed away several weeks ago. There are a lot of lessons to learn when you watch your daddy die.

I’ve learned, deep in my soul, where words can’t reach and only experience can teach, that death is the enemy. Yet I’ve also learned to be utterly grateful that Jesus has overcome death. One day, I will be with my father in the mystery that is heaven, and I’ll hold his perfect body, and we will wonder what tears are.

But there is one more lesson I’ve had to learn in a new way as I watched my daddy die. I’ve learned to come face-to-face with the fact that I am a daughter.

I may be a wife, I may be a writer, I may work in ministry, people may rely on me for wisdom and help. But none of this changes the fact that I am also a daughter. At the core of my being, I carry the blessings and wounds of being my father’s daughter.

That’s true for most of us. Whatever it has meant to you to be a daughter is recorded at the roots of your soul. Somewhere in your head, you still think of yourself in these terms: cherished, loved, encouraged, acknowledged, accepted, protected, worthy, wanted, or abandoned, rejected, put down, criticized, judged, neglected.

Whatever your father thought of you is how a part of you still thinks of yourself.

Daughter.

There is a story in the Gospels about a woman who has been sick for 12 years. She has suffered from a bleeding disease, and no physician can help her. She is broken and devastatingly alone.

There are two more things we know about her. We know that Jesus heals her and her body stops bleeding the moment her hand touches His dust-stained robe.

And perhaps, more importantly, we also know that Jesus calls her “daughter.” In fact, she is the only person in all of the New Testament whom Jesus calls daughter.

When you read her story carefully, it seems that in addition to bleeding outwardly, this woman’s heart is bleeding inwardly from a different kind of wound.

A father wound.

A father’s rejection or absence, his neglect, abandonment or scorn. We don’t know how she has been hurt any more than we know the modern diagnosis for her physical bleeding.

We just know that in a culture where fathers show up to advocate for their daughters, she comes to Jesus alone, in secrecy and shame. There is no father to appeal on her behalf.

And Jesus, looking at her, perceives the lack. Recognizes the wound. And He chooses to heal it.

“Daughter,” He calls her. And with that one word, He claims her as His own. It is as if Jesus is saying, “You have Me to father you now. You have me to take care of you, love you, cherish you. Everything good in a father that you missed, you will have in Me. I will be your father.”

With that one proclamation, all the lies, shame and hurt attached to her experiences as a daughter are healed. Jesus has the power to restore the daughter inside us, to make us whole where our fathers, despite their best or worst efforts, failed us.

After my father passed away, we found a picture of me as a little girl in his favorite briefcase. He used to carry that battered old thing on every trip with him. Through the years, there I was, forever captured in the photo as a 5-year-old, forever close to Daddy’s heart.

In real life, my father couldn’t always be there for me. I knew from the day I was born that he loved me. But he was a busy man, and he didn’t always have time to spend with me. When I came to the United States, we were separated from each other for years. I was fatherless, even though I was loved.

All these separations left their mark. A throbbing bruise that can’t be banished with human strength.

What I have found, though, is that Jesus can overcome these wounds. Daughter, He calls me, and I know we will never be separated. He is never too busy for me. I will never be abandoned. One day, I will be with my earthly daddy in heaven. Until that day, I will have the perfect love of my heavenly Father to make me whole, make me daughter.

Dear Jesus, thank You that You have called me daughter. Thank You that You desire to teach me what it means to be cherished and protected. Please restore my heart today, and help me to trust You to be the Father I need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


1 John 3:1a, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” (NLT)

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