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Daily Devotion

6/30/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Lysa TerKeurst

“Please Don’t Give Me a Christian Answer”


“Jesus wept.”
John 11:35 (NIV)


I love Jesus. I love God. I love His Truth. I love people.


But I don’t love packaged Christian answers. Those that tie everything up in a nice neat bow. And make life a little too tidy.

Because there just isn’t anything tidy about some things that happen in our broken world. The senseless acts of violence we hear about continually in the news are awful and sad and so incredibly evil.

And God help me if I think I’m going to make things better by thinking up a clever Christian saying to add to all the dialogue. God certainly doesn’t need people like me--with limited perspectives, limited understanding and limited depth--trying to make sense of things that don’t make sense.

Is there a place for God’s truth in all this? Absolutely. But we must, must, must let God direct us. In His time. In His way. In His love.

And when things are awful we should just say, “This is awful.” When things don’t make sense, we can’t shy away from just saying, “This doesn’t make sense.” Because there is a difference between a wrong word at the wrong time and a right word at the right time.

When my sister died a horribly tragic death, it was because a doctor prescribed some medication no child should ever be given. And it set off a chain of events that eventually found my family standing over a pink rose-draped casket.

Weeping.

Hurting.

Needing time to wrestle with grief and anger and loss.

And it infuriated my raw soul when people tried to sweep up the shattered pieces of our life by saying things like, “Well, God just needed another angel in heaven.” It took the shards of my grief and twisted them even more deeply into my already broken heart.

I understand why they said things like this … they wanted to say something. To make it better. Their compassion compelled them to come close.

And I wanted them there. And then I didn’t.

Everything was a contradiction. I could be crying hysterically one minute and laughing the next. And then I’d feel so awful for daring to laugh that I wanted to cuss. And then sing a praise song. I wanted to shake my fist at God and then read His Scriptures for hours.

There’s just nothing tidy about all that.

But the thing I know now that I wish I knew then is that even Jesus understood what it was like to feel deeply human emotions like grief and heartache. We see this in John 11:32-35 when Jesus receives the news that his dear friend Lazarus has died, “When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother [Lazarus] would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept.”

Yes, Jesus wept and mourned with His loved ones in that devastatingly heartbreaking moment. And the fact that He can identify with my pain is so comforting to me.

You want to know the best thing someone said to me in the middle of my grief?

I was standing in the midst of all the tears falling down on black dresses and black suits on that grey funeral day. My heels were sinking into the grass. I was staring down at an ant pile. The ants were running like mad around a footprint that had squashed their home.

I was wondering if I stood in that pile and let them sting me a million times if maybe that pain would distract me from my soul pain. At least I knew how to soothe physical pain.

Suddenly, this little pigtailed girl skipped by me and exclaimed, “I hate ants.”

And that was hands-down the best thing anyone said that day.


Because she just entered in right where I was. Noticed where I was focused in that moment and just said something basic. Normal. Obvious.

Yes, there is a place for a solid Christian answer from well-intentioned friends. Absolutely. But then there’s also a place to weep with a hurting friend from the depths of your soul.

God help us to know the difference.

Dear Lord, thank You for being there in my darkest time. I know You are real and You are the only one who can bring comfort to seemingly impossible situations. Please help me speak Your truth to those around me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


Romans 12:15-16a, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.” (NIV)


Proverbs 15:23, “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply--and how good is a timely word!”

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Daily Devotion

6/21/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Cindi McMenamin

“Finding Peace in the What-If Moments”


“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.”
Philippians 4:6-7a (NLT)

If ever I needed peace, it was that moment.

My 18-month-old daughter, Dana, was on the other side of the closed hospital door, being prepped for a bone marrow test.

Three days earlier she woke up from a nap with bruises all over her body. Her pediatrician discovered that little Dana’s blood platelet count was dangerously low. He had her admitted to a children’s hospital to see a blood specialist and take a bone marrow test to determine if she had cancer.

My husband and two friends were planning to wait with me during Dana’s test. But the specialist arrived at the hospital a day early and decided to perform the test immediately. The nurse whisked my sleeping daughter out of my arms and took her into the surgical room for the procedure--the insertion of a needle into her spine to extract marrow from her bone.

I sank down to the floor on the other side of the door and prayed. “God, this test did not take You by surprise. Neither did whatever is going on in my child’s body. Thank You that You are in that room with her, and You are right here with me, too. Please give me Your peace and the assurance that You are in control.”

We all know what it’s like to feel helpless when someone we love is in need.

We’ve all asked what-if questions, like …

What if it’s cancer?

What if we lose her?

What if I can’t get through this?

Worry seems like the most natural thing to do in these situations. But there’s a reason God’s Word tells us to pray instead: “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand” (Philippians 4:7a).

As I sat on the floor continuing to pray, I waited for the screaming and crying behind the other side of the door that never came. Dana slept through the entire procedure even though no anesthesia was used. She was still asleep when they handed her back to me 25 minutes later.

The next morning, Dana was fitted for a little padded helmet to protect her head from bruising, and we were sent home to await the test results.

A week later, word came that the bone marrow test results were normal. Dana had a condition where the child usually recovers anywhere from six months to five years. After two more weeks, the specialist informed us that Dana had experienced a complete recovery. He’d never seen a child recover so quickly and so thoroughly from this disease as she had.

Today, Dana is a perfectly healthy 23-year-old college graduate. I don’t call her medical scare a nightmare. Instead, I refer to it as the defining moment in which God built my confidence in Him and taught me that it is far better to pray than to worry.

I’m grateful for that experience so many years ago because it taught me that I am not, nor have I ever been, in control of my daughter’s health, life or destiny. It also showed me where peace is ultimately found: Not in pleasant circumstances or the feeling that “all is well” in my child’s world, but in the palm of God’s hand as He allows whatever He will to come her way and mine.

Finally, it gave me an experience to look back on and build my confidence upon whenever I begin to worry, doubt or fear for an event in my child’s life--or my own.

Lord, thank You that nothing takes You by surprise and nothing touches my child’s life--or mine--that hasn’t first passed through Your loving hands. You are more than capable of caring for every what-if question that tempts me to worry. I trust You with what is closest to my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (NIV)

Matthew 6:27, “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” (NASB)

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Daily Devotion

6/20/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Alicia Bruxvoort

“Does Prayer Really Change Anything?”


“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
James 5:16b (NLT)

Our coffee mugs sit empty, but we still cup them in our hands as if the warm porcelain between our fingers might anchor our wobbling souls.

The clock pushes hard toward the school day’s end, and we know we’ll soon be collecting kids in the carpool line. But for now, we linger in the coffee shop, two women sharing the mess of life over a table dotted with crumbs.

My throat swells with a lump of tears, and I can’t think of anything to say. Words feel like a paltry bandage for the open wound my friend has revealed.

Her marriage is flailing, and her hope is too.

Drizzles of despair roll down her cheeks, and my stomach churns with empathy. I know of the soul aches that throb loud at night and the pangs of disappointment that hover somewhere just beneath the heart in the waking hours.

I want to fix those lifeless eyes, but mere words can’t rebuild the shards of a shattered union. So with a whisper, I offer the one thing that has saved my marriage a dozen times from landing in the give-up-and-walk-away grave--

“Could we pray?”

My friend fiddles with the ring on her finger, then divulges her doubt: “Do you really think it will change anything?”

The weight of her honesty steals my breath.

And suddenly a poignant memory flashes into my mind and pushes me through the years …

I’m 9 years old again, curled up in a ball of trembling misery, with no words to explain my pain. I just know I feel broken inside because of that girl who teases me on the playground.

“I don’t want to go to school anymore,” I tell my mom who’s perched on the edge of my bed.

She nods in understanding but doesn’t endorse my plan to flee. Instead, she murmurs, “Let’s pray for her.”

I lift my head off the soggy pillow. “Do you really think prayer will change anything?”

I wait for my mom to assure me that prayer will, indeed, transform my foe into a friend. But she just wraps her arms around me and sits long in the silence.

Finally, she exhales a jagged sigh and says, “Honey, I can’t guarantee that prayer will change her heart, but I know it will change ours …”

The whir of the espresso machine echoes off the walls, and my friend shuffles in her seat, her question dangling between us.

I glance at her wedding ring and answer with a sliver of truth I learned as a 9-year-old. “Prayer always changes something …”

Prayer may not always work in the way we expect, but prayer does work.


Our key verse promises, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16b).

Prayer’s no magic wand, but when we humbly place the cries of our hearts into the hands of our mighty God, something wonderful happens.

Prayer may not instantly fix our quandaries, but it will invariably affix us to our King.

My friend reaches across the table and twines her slender fingers through mine.

“Will you say the words?” she asks. “I don’t have any left.”

Closing my eyes to hide the burning tears, I begin: “Dear Jesus, we don’t know what to do with this mess, but we know You are in it with us …”

I’m not sure what to say, but I trust God hears the cry of my heart. And as we bow our heads over those empty coffee cups, we become more aware of the One who can fill the depths of our need with the riches of His grace.

And slowly, silently, hope swells.

Dear Lord, give me faith to pray even when I don’t have words to say. Help me see past the pain and look to You for ultimate hope and guidance. Lord, we know You are in the business of bringing dead things back to life, even marriages that barely have a pulse. Help me trust that You alone can change the God-sized problems in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


Romans 8:26b, “… We do not know how to pray or what we should pray for, but the Holy Spirit prays to God for us with sounds that cannot be put into words.” (NLV)

Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am with them.” (NLV)

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Daily Devotion

6/16/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Melissa Michaels

“Make Room for What You Love”


“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

As a young newlywed, I’ll admit one of my worries was kind of ridiculous. Don’t laugh, but my fear was that paramedics or firemen or neighbors would show up at my door without fair warning.

Not that I feared the help or the friendly visit. Rather, I was worried I wouldn’t be prepared. I wanted to have at least a moment’s notice to clear the clutter and put my lipstick on before I had to swing open the door.

I was often frustrated because I couldn’t make our home the sanctuary I wanted it to be. Since home is where we do the holy work of loving God and caring for our people, it should feel like a place of refuge and safety, a place of peace.

But so often I just felt overwhelmed. The daily dishes, clutter, responsibilities, busy schedule and the desire for order--mixed with the resulting chaos of having no clue how to manage it all--weighed on me.

I couldn’t seem to get myself organized, let alone organize my home or manage anyone else. Sometimes it felt like my shining accomplishment when my kids were little was getting everyone out the door with pants on! It was all too much: the piles, the clutter, the dishes, everything.

Considering my fear of being unprepared to answer the door, imagine the night I asked my husband to call 911 because I thought I was dying. I felt like the room was closing in on me and I couldn’t breathe. I shut my eyes tightly and tried to calm myself down while we waited for help. Who had time to prepare or put on lipstick? Not me!

I’m relieved to say I lived (and, ironically, the paramedics didn’t care about the clutter or the lack of lipstick). Panic attacks are no joke, but the good news is I learned something from that stressful time. God reassured me He didn’t need me to manage everything, just what He’s called me to do.

Part of that faithfulness was me learning to let go of things that added unnecessary stress or chaos in my life and home. I got serious about clearing out the clutter so I could create a more peaceful sanctuary. Out went the stuff that overwhelmed me: the busyness, the hurry, distractions or idleness, disorganization, perfectionism or any other roadblocks to peace.

Thank goodness perfection isn’t the goal! Different seasons of life bring change to our home, and change brings the need for continual refinement. Loving people well is messy business! God gives us grace when we open the door to welcome people, whether we feel fully prepared or not. As today’s key verse reminds us, God offers mercy in our weakness and strength for our weariness.

Disorder in our home life brings so much stress because we try to hang on to more than we can handle.

I learned that I find more peace when I let go of the clutter and focus on the joy of being a faithful steward of the life and home God gave me.

Dear Lord, help me to place my trust in You even at times when everything around me feels out of control.Help me to let go of what clutters my perspective so I can find joy in creating a sanctuary. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (NIV)

Proverbs 24:3-4, “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” (NIV)

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Daily Devotion

6/10/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Amy Carroll

“Choosing Joy on the Way
to Grouchy-ville”


“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

One recent morning, I woke to a strange reality. Instead of my usual sunny “Good morning, world!” reaction to a new day, for no good reason I felt dread and anxiety the moment I opened my eyes.

Through the groggy lens of grumpiness I rolled over, grabbed my phone and read a middle-of-the-night text from a friend. The worrisome text only deepened my funk, so I shuffled downstairs before the sun had barely risen to try and find some hope in my coffee cup.

By the time my sweet hubby came down for breakfast, I was on the verge of tears. He wrapped his arms around me in concern and asked, “What in the world is wrong?”

“Nothing,” I sniffled. “Except a hundred little things.”

Guilt immediately tiptoed into my heart, because I have some friends dealing with truly catastrophic circumstances--an unfaithful husband, a cancer diagnosis, a missing loved one--and here I was crumbling to pieces simply because of a few minor problems. What in the world was wrong with me? Even though there was no big crisis, the weight of a list of little things had sunk my soul. Ever been there?

Recognizing my sorry state, I quieted my anxiety long enough to remember a favorite family saying: Choose joy!

In this circumstance, and maybe in yours today, we have a choice to make in the moment. We can either continue to let our day roll downhill, or we can intentionally take steps to turn our mood around. I don’t always make the right decision, but that morning I chose not to park in the pit of grumpiness. Instead I took some wavering strides toward joy.

  • I repeated to myself what Paul emphatically commanded God’s people to do in our key verse, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

  • I focused my mind on the Scripture I had read earlier. Even though it was noon before I realized that I needed to steer my wayward, negative thoughts, God gently whispered to my heart that it wasn’t too late to start fresh.

  • I took a short break to get out into the sunshine for a walk. Despite the fact that I felt like I didn’t have time for it, I knew I needed the exercise and vitamin D more than the check on my to-do list.

  • I reached out to a friend to tell her how much I love her. Initially, I began a text to ask for prayer, but on this day I decided it would be more beneficial to concentrate on someone besides myself.

In a few easy steps, I refocused my day and felt the gloom start to lift. I can’t tell you that I switched completely into cheery mode, but I didn’t stay stuck in Grouchyville, either!

This intentional act of choosing joy isn’t just Pollyanna philosophy. It’s actually Scriptural. Colossians 3:1-2 says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (NIV, emphasis added).

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things” (NIV).

God is so good! He not only offers us His complete and abundant joy, God gives us directions on how to choose it. Instead of allowing our emotions to determine our day, we determine our thoughts to shape our day.

He gives us the option, so let’s do it. Choose joy!

Lord, we thank You that You are the giver of joy. If we choose joy and ask You for it, You never fail to fill us. Thank You for such a wonderful gift! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

John 15:11, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (NIV)

Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (NIV)

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Daily Devotion

6/9/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Katy McCown

“Don’t Overlook This Important Relationship”


“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

I answered the door with a red, swollen face. My tears glistened, and I dared not blink for fear the waterfall that would flood my soul.

On the other side of the door stood my friend, Stephanie, with two smoothies.

One for me; one for her. Just a few minutes earlier, I had called her with the news, “It’s a tumor.”

With a growing bump on my baby boy’s head, we arranged to see a pediatric specialist. For most of his life we’d observed this spot on Elijah’s skull, but I still didn’t expect to hear those three words.

We scheduled surgery two weeks out and made arrangements for pre-op visits. But shockwaves rumbled through my soul. What about right now? I silently screamed. What do I do while I wait?

With my husband at work and family hundreds of miles away, my fingers quivered as I dialed Stephanie’s number. “Do you need me to come over?” she asked. At first I refused, but as the reality of going home to an empty house consumed me, I called her back.

She took my smoothie order and minutes after I walked through my door, she knocked.

The rest of the afternoon she sat with me. She didn’t do or say anything special. But she just sat with me.

She let me unravel and face my deepest fears. She listened to the cry of my heart. She supported me and believed in me, even when I was sure I couldn’t handle this.

A few years back as I read through the Bible, I moaned at the sight of my assigned text for the day. It was a list full of names I couldn’t pronounce and how many sons they had … and all their names.

It’s places like this in Scripture that I sometimes wonder, Why is this in here? I know all Scripture is inspired by God, but what am I supposed to do with this? Then, there it was.

In the midst of the list of King David’s counselors, advisers, army commanders and officials, God breathed this, “Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend” (1 Chronicles 27:33b, NLT).

In a “Who’s Who” text of all King David’s men, God named his friend.

This glimpse into the life of a man after God’s own heart challenges me to rethink my friendships. Sadly, in the busyness of life sometimes my friends fall to the bottom of the list. And we all know we never make it to the bottom of the list.

Too often my friendships go unnourished. It can even feel selfish to seek out time with them. An inner whisper suggests I’m skipping out on responsibilities or neglecting duties far more important than “girl time.”

But as our key verse reminds us, God wants us to “encourage each other and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11a). And to do that we have to prioritize each other from time to time.

Friendships might seem trivial or even optional, but in God’s design it seems they are as important as counselors and commanders.

A few weeks later, the surgeon successfully removed the tumor from our son’s skull and deemed it benign. In the following weeks, while our baby wore a bandage that wrapped completely around his head, a carousel of friends tended to us. They brought food, called to check on us and loved on our little patient.

They encouraged us and built us up.

What an important reminder to invest in our friends. Prioritize them and pray for them. And let’s start today!

Dear God, it’s awesome to consider Your purposes for friendships. Thank You for making me Your friend, through Jesus. Thank You for the gift of earthly friendships that sharpen me and challenge me to be more like You. Move my heart to love my friends the same way You love me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


John 15:15, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (NIV)


Job 2:11a, 13, “When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him … Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.” (NLT)

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Daily Devotion

6/8/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries

Glynnis Whitwer

“What’s a Good Father Really Like?”


“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:11 (NIV)

“I love watching her dance.”

I heard the catch in his voice, standing there at his daughter’s senior dance concert. We both knew these days of high school were coming to a close, and I knew how much our friend would miss them.

John’s pleasure in his daughter was evident. He was enthusiastic about everything connected with her dancing, from the practices to fundraising events to ticket sales at the concerts. He even seemed to enjoy the parts that most parents dislike, but because it was for his daughter, John was all in.

My father-experience was quite different. Dance wasn’t my thing, but singing was. From age 8 until just a few years ago, I was always involved with some kind of chorus, choir or band. And not once did my father hear me sing while he was alive.

To me it was normal to only have a mother in the audience. I guess I assumed men didn’t enjoy those types of “girl” events. But watching John these past few years has given me a different perspective on a father’s interest in his daughter. Standing there at that concert, I could almost hear God’s voice speaking about His pleasure in watching His daughters. And my heart overflowed in thanksgiving for a good Heavenly Father.

For so many years I defined my understanding of God’s interest in me based on my father’s interest in me. I knew my dad loved me, but it was limited by his background and personal experience. But God’s love is unhindered by any human experience or limitation.

Every day I come to a greater understanding of God as the perfect Father. It makes me feel treasured and softens the pain of what I didn’t have growing up. As I’ve sought to understand what a good Father is like, here are five things I’ve discovered in Scripture we can count on about our Heavenly Father:

1. He cares for and provides for our daily needs. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus vividly described to His disciples how God cares for the birds and the flowers and explained we are far more important to our heavenly Father than that. God cares about all our needs.

2. He’s merciful toward us. Mercy is withholding punishment for what we deserve. Although God allows natural consequences when we make wrong choices, our Heavenly Father shows lovingkindness rather than anger when we fall short. (Luke 6:36)

3. God hears our prayers and answers them. In Matthew 18:20, Jesus makes an incredible statement that shows God’s heart. He says when two or more agree upon something in prayer, God hears and answers.

4. He protects us. In Matthew 26:53, Jesus said His Father would send 12 legions of angels to save Him if Jesus asked. Psalm 91 says, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11, NIV).

5. God watches and waits for us when we turn from Him. Jesus told a story that modeled the Father’s heart for us. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the son decides to go his own way and squander his inheritance. When his life fell apart, the son realized his folly and returned home. Jesus described the father’s response, and it wasn’t “I told you so!” Rather God’s Word tells us that “while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20b, ESV). Then the father threw a party! Imagine!

No matter our situation with our earthly father, we can say with confidence we have a good heavenly Father who loves us with attentive devotion. He’s all in, and we never outgrow His care and provision.

So this Father’s Day, as we honor our earthly fathers, may we take some time to honor our heavenly Father. And I hope you hear Him whisper, “I love to watch you dance.”

Heavenly Father, my heart is full of love for You. Thank You for showing Your love for me in so many ways. I confess I haven’t always trusted Your love based on my earthly experience. But I want to experience You in greater ways every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


Isaiah 64:8, “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (NIV)

Matthew 13:43, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (NIV)

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Daily Devotion

6/7/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Gloria Furman

“There’s No Way I Can Do That!”

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Colossians 3:2 (ESV)

Have you ever looked at a verse from the Bible and thought to yourself, Ha! There’s no way I can do that!

Today’s key verse is one I’ve wrestled with over the years: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2).

At first glance, this one verse seems utterly out of touch with those of us who have to pay attention to everyday things on earth. Things like chasing curious toddlers, returning phone calls, adjusting quarterly budgets, watching the pot on the stove and shifting lanes while driving. How are we supposed to set our minds on things that are above when the things on earth are so urgent and necessary?

One reason I’ve struggled with understanding this verse is it’s too easy to take one Bible verse at a time and give it a cursory glance. When I read Scripture with that approach, I’ll seldom arrive at any conclusions the Author intended. I’ve learned to best understand the meaning of a passage, it’s important to understand its context.

The context for Colossians 3:2 is the rest of the argument, the rest of the letter, the rest of the New Testament and the rest of the Bible. In other words, because this verse is in the Bible, it is not utterly out of touch, but rather it is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. (See 2 Timothy 3:16.)

So let’s expand the context of that verse a bit. There’s a whole grand story behind Paul’s exhortation in Colossians 3:2, and we need to know that story in order to interpret the passage properly.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians, he often reminded his readers of the big picture. The first few sentences in Colossians 3 are a brilliant example of this big picture reminder.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4, ESV).

When Paul reminds us of what Christ has done in the past, is doing today and will do tomorrow, it makes exhortations like “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” resound with joy-filled simplicity and reliable sensibility. Remembering that we have died and risen with Christ, our lives are hidden with Him, and He’s coming back for us, will make it so much easier to fill our minds with thoughts of Him!

Understanding Scripture in context makes a difference. Even in the midst of our urgent, earth-based tasks, our minds can be preoccupied with Jesus--the beauty of His character, the astonishing mercy of what He’s done for us, His patient work in the world today and the mind-boggling reality of what He has promised to do in the future.

There are no more sweeter thoughts to entertain as we go about our everyday ministry of motherhood than thoughts of Jesus and the reality that is now in play because of Him.

Lord, there is no denying that motherhood is difficult at times and that the comforts the world offers us are useless and empty. We need You, Jesus, to help us see the big picture! And what a joy it is to see You’ve designed us to not only need You for our mothering work, but also as we labor to make disciples. Help us, Lord, to labor for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


Romans 6:8, “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” (ESV)


Colossians 3:3, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (ESV

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Daily Devotion

6/6/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Leah DiPascal

“When I’m Thirsty For More”


“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”
John 4:13-14 (NIV)

Have you noticed that water is becoming somewhat of a fancy trend?

Growing up I only had one option. Tap water.

That is, unless I was brave enough to drink from the river just outside our neighborhood or sip on rainwater as part of a school science experiment.

Today, grocery store shelves are lined with a plethora of water options: spring, mineral, flavored, sparkling … the list goes on and on.

Bottled water might be wrapped in snazzy labels. But the truth is, water in its most basic form is essential for living. And when you don’t have any, it quickly becomes the most valuable commodity, wrapped in fancy packaging or not.

I was reminded of this truth last week when our family went on a hiking trip through the mountains. Instead of getting an early start, we waited until after lunchtime and set out during the hottest part of the day.

I thought I packed enough water, but miles into our hike we ran out. As the sun beat down on us, and my mouth started to dry out, all I could think about was my need for water. And how I was determined to get some in order to quench my thirst.

Today’s key verse is from a story in the Gospel of John about a woman who also took a long walk during the hottest part of the day. You might know her as the Samaritan woman.

She was in need of water and taking necessary measures to get some. When she approached a well, she encountered Jesus, and the subject of water quickly came up.

Initially, Jesus asked for water, but as their conversation continued, He in turn offered her water. Not from a natural spring or the well she was using. Instead, Jesus offered the gift of living water.

“Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water … Anyone who drinks this [well] water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life”’ (John 4:10, 13-14 NLT).

Jesus knew this woman had made some poor choices. Life was difficult, and she’d developed a habit of looking to others in hopes they would meet her physical and emotional needs. It was a type of thirst she couldn’t seem to quench.

Maybe this living water would make her life easier? She had no idea this encounter with Jesus would change her life forever.

There may be times when we find ourselves thirsting for more--more recognition from others, more money in our checking account, more love from a spouse, more things to call our own.

We can embrace a trend of putting our hope into earthly possessions or certain people, believing they will quench our deepest desires. But the shallow water this world offers through its temporary fixes and short-lived fortunes will only bring us momentary satisfaction. Eventually we’ll thirst for more.

Like the woman at the well, Jesus invites everyone to receive His Living Water, which is the gift of His Spirit, along with forgiveness, redemption and grace.

He is the Fountain of Water, bubbling up within us, that gives eternal refreshment and strength for our souls. Only Jesus can fully quench our deepest desires and fill us with His overflowing love.

Are you feeling parched today? Like the woman at the well, open your heart and hands to receive all that Jesus wants to give you, so you never have to be thirsty for more again.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit, which is the Living Water that quenches my soul and satisfies my deepest desires. Fill me to overflowing with Your love and joy, so I never have to thirst again for the temporary things this world offers me. Let my heart spring up with Your hope and peace from this moment forward. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:


Isaiah 58:11, “The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.” (NLT)


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Daily Devotion

6/1/2016

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Proverbs 31 Ministries

Lynn Cowell

“You Are Loved No Matter What”

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
1 John 3:1a (NIV)

“Mommy, would you still love me if …”

At only 8 years old, my littlest one had begun to learn that some actions in life come with harsh consequences. She needed to know: If she really messed up, would I stop loving her?

All those years ago, I didn’t really think about this question my girl asked me. My heart is to love my children through anything they might experience, even if what they are going through is a result of a wrong choice they made. I assumed they knew.

“There is nothing you could do that would make me stop loving you,” I comforted her. In answering her question, I didn’t see this as a monumental moment in my daughter’s life. I was simply being her mom, reassuring her of my continual love.

It was not until a recent weekend, when my now 19-year-old girl told me just how important that reassurance had been to her: “Mom, I knew then that I could trust you forever.”

Her words caught me off guard. I had no idea that my then-little girl needed such strong reassurance, at such a young age. She needed to know she could trust my love.

I’ve learned I can’t assume my children know my heart as their parent. Our Heavenly Father didn’t assume we would know the depth of His great love either, so He tells us of its magnitude over and over and over again in His Word. Today’s key verse reinforces this simple truth that our hearts need to hear again and again: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a)

Once we make the exchange of our life for His, we are His children. God lavishly expends His love upon us in great amounts and without limit. The more we understand God’s great love toward us, the more we can trust Him with all things, similar to my little girl learning to trust me.

My love for my children is not based on how they behave or perform and the same is true for the love our perfect Heavenly Father has for us. No matter what, God’s love for us is constant. On the days we mess up completely and on the days we’re close to getting it all right, His love keeps pouring out to us. His love can then fill our hearts to overflowing so unconditional love spills over to those all around us.

Friend, have you encountered this great love God has and allowed Him to come in and completely change your life? If not, today is your day!

Oh Jesus! Thank You for Your never-ending love flowing to me every day. Please forgive me for my sin. I want to exchange my life for the new life You offer me. Help me take the steps I need to begin walking with You every day. Overwhelm me today with this truth and may Your love flow through me today, causing another person to see and experience Your unconditional love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

John 1:12, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (NIV)

Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (NIV)


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