Jeremiah 30:17 But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds declares the LORD.
1 Peter 5:10-11 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Jeremiah 30:17 will forever be close to my heart. God gave me this verse as I read my bible after I was injured last year in an accident that should have either killed me or left me with a severe brain injury. It was His sweet promise to me of His hand in my protection, healing, and restoration. God consistently used Scripture to give me what I needed at exactly the time I needed it. And it happened when I was broken, scared, vulnerable and desperate for comfort to know that everything was going to be okay. It was the beginning of God's consistent demonstration of His love to me through His Word as I began to seek Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.
God not only restored my mind and body, He restored my soul. I recently was walking with a friend, talking about God's undeniable Presence in my life this past year and a half. My friend saw me the day after the accident and has walked through life with me the following year and a half. She watched God heal me and restore me. My friend revealed a great point about restoration during our walk that I wanted to share...
When we restore something, like an old table, we have to scrape off layers of prior "stuff" that has accumulated throughout the years. Then, we can carefully restore the table and make it beautiful. But when we restore the table, it is never exactly the same way it was... it is better, changed and has a new life. God does the same thing for us when He restores us. He scrapes off the old layers of our "stuff" that hinder our life with Him. God makes us better. God makes us whole and new. He restores our soul.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for restoring me. Thank You for giving me my life with my husband and children. For that, I will always be so very grateful. I give You my life. I pray that You use me to help restore people You put in my path. Thank You for not only restoring my health, but restoring my soul and making me new. Amen.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Casting Out Fear
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. NIV
Matthew 8:26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. NIV
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. KJV
Over and over, Scripture tells us not to be fearful. We are to put our trust in our Heavenly Father who loves us, goes before us, and is with us in all circumstances. We are to trust the One who can calm our winds and waves -- our fears and worries. He is truly in control and we need only to trust in Him completely.
Yet even when we know these truths, we are human. Our fears can easily paralyze us. Yes, there are the healthy, cautionary fears that keep us out of imminent danger. But then there are the fears that hold us back -- fear of trying new things, what others will think, fear of failing, not being in control, stepping out of our comfort zone, and what I like to call the "what if" fears. Being afraid can keep us from walking on the path that God has prepared for us. These fears can also stop us from growing into our full potential in Christ.
When we feel fear washing over us, God wants us to turn to Him. Pray to Him. Trust in Him. Believe Him. Scripture specifically tells us our Creator has not given us a spirit of fear. Embrace and accept His gift of a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. Let Him cast out your fears.
Dear Heavenly Father, I try to trust You completely, but in my humanness, fear creeps in. And when that fear creeps in, I feel far from You. LORD, I pray that You gently remind me of Your promises and Your Presence. Remind me to put my Trust in You and to not be afraid, for You are with me in all my circumstances. Amen.
Matthew 8:26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. NIV
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. KJV
Over and over, Scripture tells us not to be fearful. We are to put our trust in our Heavenly Father who loves us, goes before us, and is with us in all circumstances. We are to trust the One who can calm our winds and waves -- our fears and worries. He is truly in control and we need only to trust in Him completely.
Yet even when we know these truths, we are human. Our fears can easily paralyze us. Yes, there are the healthy, cautionary fears that keep us out of imminent danger. But then there are the fears that hold us back -- fear of trying new things, what others will think, fear of failing, not being in control, stepping out of our comfort zone, and what I like to call the "what if" fears. Being afraid can keep us from walking on the path that God has prepared for us. These fears can also stop us from growing into our full potential in Christ.
When we feel fear washing over us, God wants us to turn to Him. Pray to Him. Trust in Him. Believe Him. Scripture specifically tells us our Creator has not given us a spirit of fear. Embrace and accept His gift of a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. Let Him cast out your fears.
Dear Heavenly Father, I try to trust You completely, but in my humanness, fear creeps in. And when that fear creeps in, I feel far from You. LORD, I pray that You gently remind me of Your promises and Your Presence. Remind me to put my Trust in You and to not be afraid, for You are with me in all my circumstances. Amen.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
I Will Be With You
Isaiah 43:2-4
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you,
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Sega in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you.
I am comforted by this Scripture. When storms and trials happen in our lives, it is very often our first reaction to think "why did this happen to me?" We are vulnerable, and our faith can be shaken. Notice Scripture does not say "if" we go through trials. Scripture says "when." But we have a powerful promise! God's promise is that He will be with us, protecting us and guiding us through. We are precious and honored in His sight. God loves us and He is with us -- through every trial and storm.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for your abundant love. I know that trials will happen in my life but I am comforted to know that You promise to be with me -- because You love me. Your love gives me courage and peace that can only come from You. Thank You for your constant, loving Presence in my life. Amen.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you,
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Sega in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you.
I am comforted by this Scripture. When storms and trials happen in our lives, it is very often our first reaction to think "why did this happen to me?" We are vulnerable, and our faith can be shaken. Notice Scripture does not say "if" we go through trials. Scripture says "when." But we have a powerful promise! God's promise is that He will be with us, protecting us and guiding us through. We are precious and honored in His sight. God loves us and He is with us -- through every trial and storm.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for your abundant love. I know that trials will happen in my life but I am comforted to know that You promise to be with me -- because You love me. Your love gives me courage and peace that can only come from You. Thank You for your constant, loving Presence in my life. Amen.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
His Treasure
Leviticus 26:12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This week, I am enjoying a blessed, restful family beach vacation. I was reading my morning devotional, sitting on a rocking chair, looking out at the ocean. I watched the waves roll in and enjoyed the early morning activity of people running along the beach, walking their dogs, and collecting the multitude of shells that the tide brought in. The first words in my devotional were: Learn to enjoy life more.
I thought about the difference between participating in the life God has planned for you, or sitting on the sidelines always watching life, but not experiencing God's abundance. Not necessarily material abundance, although God has promised to provide for your needs -- I am referring to a peaceful, spiritual abundance...
I believe God wants us to enjoy life. Specifically, to enjoy a life with Him. To walk with Him, not just watch Him from afar. To know Him. As you walk with Him, you will experience the depth of His abilities, treasures and power.
After spending my early morning quiet time with Him, I got up out of my rocking chair, grabbed my little bucket, and walked down to the beach, and participated in God's beauty -- collecting shells, taking in the vast ocean and enjoying the abundance of peace, treasures and beauty He has waiting for me.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You truly walk among us. I pray that my heart and my treasure will always be with You. Amen.
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This week, I am enjoying a blessed, restful family beach vacation. I was reading my morning devotional, sitting on a rocking chair, looking out at the ocean. I watched the waves roll in and enjoyed the early morning activity of people running along the beach, walking their dogs, and collecting the multitude of shells that the tide brought in. The first words in my devotional were: Learn to enjoy life more.
I thought about the difference between participating in the life God has planned for you, or sitting on the sidelines always watching life, but not experiencing God's abundance. Not necessarily material abundance, although God has promised to provide for your needs -- I am referring to a peaceful, spiritual abundance...
I believe God wants us to enjoy life. Specifically, to enjoy a life with Him. To walk with Him, not just watch Him from afar. To know Him. As you walk with Him, you will experience the depth of His abilities, treasures and power.
After spending my early morning quiet time with Him, I got up out of my rocking chair, grabbed my little bucket, and walked down to the beach, and participated in God's beauty -- collecting shells, taking in the vast ocean and enjoying the abundance of peace, treasures and beauty He has waiting for me.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You truly walk among us. I pray that my heart and my treasure will always be with You. Amen.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Dwell In The House Of The LORD
Psalm 27:4-5 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
What a beautiful, comforting, safe place to be. When we seek Him with all our hearts, we can have the undeniable joy and peace of being in His Presence. Being in the shelter of His love is exactly where I want to be.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You that when I seek You, I find you. You bring me into Your temple and give me shelter from storms that will come my way. And while I am in Your temple, drawing close to you by being in Your Word and praying to You, I experience the beauty of Your Presence. I pray that I will always dwell in Your Presence all the days of my life. Amen.
What a beautiful, comforting, safe place to be. When we seek Him with all our hearts, we can have the undeniable joy and peace of being in His Presence. Being in the shelter of His love is exactly where I want to be.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You that when I seek You, I find you. You bring me into Your temple and give me shelter from storms that will come my way. And while I am in Your temple, drawing close to you by being in Your Word and praying to You, I experience the beauty of Your Presence. I pray that I will always dwell in Your Presence all the days of my life. Amen.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
He Leads Us
Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God, may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalm 33:11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
I admit it... I like to be in control. I like to have detailed plans. In many situations, I am happy to say that I have become quite good at giving Him control, trusting in His will. But oh, it is so very tempting to grab that control back, to do my will, and follow my own "plans". Very often, there is a difference between His control and our control; His will and our will; His plan and our plan. While our plans can quickly go awry, His will is unwavering and steadfast -- on level ground.
Dear Heavenly Father, I used to think that You were only there to "help" me with my plans. But I have learned that You want me to follow Your plan; You want to teach me Your will. Thank You that when I am in Your will and following Your plan for my life, Your good Spirit leads me on level ground. I pray that I remain in Your perfect will, always. Amen.
Psalm 33:11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
I admit it... I like to be in control. I like to have detailed plans. In many situations, I am happy to say that I have become quite good at giving Him control, trusting in His will. But oh, it is so very tempting to grab that control back, to do my will, and follow my own "plans". Very often, there is a difference between His control and our control; His will and our will; His plan and our plan. While our plans can quickly go awry, His will is unwavering and steadfast -- on level ground.
Dear Heavenly Father, I used to think that You were only there to "help" me with my plans. But I have learned that You want me to follow Your plan; You want to teach me Your will. Thank You that when I am in Your will and following Your plan for my life, Your good Spirit leads me on level ground. I pray that I remain in Your perfect will, always. Amen.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Transformed
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is. His good, pleasing and perfect will.
We put false labels on ourselves. Sometimes we can point to a time in our life where we began to use that label to describe ourselves. The label begins to define us, and all too often, it sticks. And it holds us back from all that God had intended for us. We are in the pattern of this world, and we tell ourselves, "I've always been this way"... wishing we could change, but accepting this is "just who we are."
But God sees us differently. He sees who He created us to be. He sees who we could be if we would seek Him with all our heart -- if only we would let Him transform our mind and heal us. He removes the false labels we have stuck on ourselves and throws them far, far away. Let God remove your label and transform you into who He created you to be.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your will for me is good and perfect. I pray that You remove any false label that I have stuck to myself. I pray that You renew my mind, remove the old labels, and transform me into the person You created me to be. Amen.
We put false labels on ourselves. Sometimes we can point to a time in our life where we began to use that label to describe ourselves. The label begins to define us, and all too often, it sticks. And it holds us back from all that God had intended for us. We are in the pattern of this world, and we tell ourselves, "I've always been this way"... wishing we could change, but accepting this is "just who we are."
But God sees us differently. He sees who He created us to be. He sees who we could be if we would seek Him with all our heart -- if only we would let Him transform our mind and heal us. He removes the false labels we have stuck on ourselves and throws them far, far away. Let God remove your label and transform you into who He created you to be.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your will for me is good and perfect. I pray that You remove any false label that I have stuck to myself. I pray that You renew my mind, remove the old labels, and transform me into the person You created me to be. Amen.
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