Devotionals for the Heart: When it is time to listen to God and pray to Him

Time to Listen
A devotional by Melissa Henderson

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”

—Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

Throughout the year, my email inbox is filled with ways to cultivate a relationship with God. The ideas include but are not limited to reading the Bible in a year, studying devotions for the weary, notes on ways to find joy in life, educational information about beginning healthy eating programs, and advice on how to “start over” in various parts of daily routines. These all flood my computer.

I appreciate the guidance and wisdom of people, but I’ve made my choice. I’ve decided to be still and make time to listen to God. As a writer, I need to check emails and phone messages several times each day. When I start my day by thanking God for His blessings, I find comfort and peace. When I start my day by reaching for the phone or sitting in front of the computer and scrolling instead of focusing on God, I’ve noticed how my body reacts in different ways.

Sharing time with God first thing every day before I touch technology brings me peace and comfort. Does that mean I won’t have troubles during the day? No. God has told us that we will experience trials and suffering. But we can face those troublesome times knowing that we are not alone. God is always with us.

I have a note taped to my computer that says, “PRAY FIRST”. That note reminds me that in all areas of my life, I should go to God first. There is a different outcome when I try to handle things on my own. However, when I seek God first before trying to figure everything out by myself, I find answers and peace.

Noises of the day can try to overshadow what God intends for my life. I must be intentional in how I share time with God. Those moments with the Lord bring refreshment and renewal. When we read the Bible, we can see that Jesus Christ took time to listen to His Father (God). Often, Jesus would go away from the crowds to pray. Other times, He prayed aloud while people listened. Both examples show that Jesus knew the importance of listening to God. From retreating to a mountainside to be alone with His Father or sharing God’s message to a crowd on a hillside, Jesus listened.

Taking the time to listen to God can deepen our relationship with the Father. As we pause, pray, and listen for His Word, we are showing respect, honor, and love for God. In those quiet moments of listening, we may find answers to prayers. When we commit ourselves to God, we can rest in His promises.

In my daily prayers, I ask God for wisdom, discernment, and revelation. I wait and listen. God may provide answers quickly, or God’s response may come at another time. Either way, as I take time to listen, I rest in knowing I am not alone.

As I write this message, the house is quiet. Pausing, I listen. God speaks through nature. The rain tapping on the roof creates a beautiful melody. The cardinals, chick-a-dees, finches, and downy woodpeckers sing while visiting the bird feeders. A neighbor rides by in their vehicle. The sound of the car engine leaves as quickly as it came. Today is a quiet day in this neighborhood.

After Winter Break, school resumes. People who have day jobs will travel to work in the morning. Life will become busy for many people. I pray that in the midst of busyness and daily activities, may we remember to take time to listen to God. Start the day with prayer. Pray throughout the day. End the day with prayer. Those simple acts can bring us closer to God.

Let’s Pray: Father God, we give thanks for the opportunity to be still and listen for Your messages. Thank You for the sounds of nature and the beauty of creation. Please help us to remember to listen and rest in Your promises. We ask for wisdom, discernment, and revelation in every situation. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “People Need the Lord” by Steve Green. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Speak” by Bethany Music. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Award-winning author Melissa Henderson writes inspirational messages sometimes humming with humor. With articles, devotions, and stories in print publications and online, Melissa shares her love for God and life. Some of the inspirations for her writing come from family life. 

Melissa and her husband Alan have been married for over 46 years. Their son Mike, and daughter-in-love Christine have blessed the family with two precious children: Rowan and Eden. These precious souls bring laughter, love, and many funny experiences, which can often be found in Melissa’s writing. The family motto is “It’s Always a Story with the Hendersons”.

Melissa is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter, AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), CWFL (Christian Writers for Life), and many other organizations.

Melissa’s books for children include Licky the Lizard and Grumpy the Gator.

Melissa serves in Christian ministry as an Elder, Deacon, and Stephen Minister.

~*~
Connect with Melissa:
Website: https://melissaghenderson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaHendersonAuthor
Twitter: https://x.com/mimionlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissahendersonauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ahenderson312/

Devotionals for the Heart: Listen

Listen to God 
A devotional by Erin M. Handley

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

– Romans 8:14 (NIV)

As Christ-followers, we strive to fulfill our purpose. To do so, we must take the necessary steps to get us exactly where we should be. We know the destination, but we don’t know how to get there. As many of us have learned, we listen to God to use Him as our GPS. We know His instructions ultimately guide us to the ordained steps specifically created for each individual.

Sometimes on this path, the steps ahead seem obvious. It is a straight path and God’s directions are clear. But sometimes we find ourselves at a crossroad, and suddenly we can’t hear His voice anymore. The path is no longer obvious, and the GPS seems out of range. At this crossroad, a decision must be made. We fear making a choice without direction as it could put us on the wrong path which would ultimately keep us from reaching the destination of fulfilling a purposed-filled life.

Have you ever found yourself in this pickle?

On a ‘spur-of-the-moment’ grocery trip, I realized I needed pickles. I made a beeline to get them first so I wouldn’t forget. I grabbed a jar but felt compelled to get two. I wrestled with rationalizing two jars of pickles. Why? Do I need two? What’s the purpose of getting two jars?

Here I was, standing in the middle of the aisle having an internal dialogue…about two jars of pickles. I convinced myself that I didn’t need two jars and walked away.

When I reached the end of my grocery list, I felt like I needed to go back for a second jar of pickles. At this point, it was comical that this second jar of pickles was so significant. I went back, grabbed the second jar, and headed to checkout.

My arms were so full of groceries, I had to put them down so I could begin checking out. After placing the groceries down, the only thing left in my arm (which would be the first thing I would scan) was the first thing I grabbed when I walked in. Pickles. I went to scan the jar but couldn’t find the barcode. I stood there entirely too long looking for the barcode, and eventually had to ask for assistance. The cashier was just as perplexed as I was about why the jar didn’t have a barcode on the label, but quickly reminded me that I had a second jar of pickles.

For the next twenty minutes, I focused on this ‘wrestle about pickles’ I just experienced. At that point I was conflicted by feeling like I was in a season where I wasn’t hearing Him like I did before, but in this moment, He wanted to take the time to talk to me about pickles. It was then that I was reminded that sometimes His voice doesn’t always sound (or look) how we anticipate that it should. He speaks to us. He never stops speaking to us. But we have to be comfortable with the fact that sometimes His voice doesn’t appear in the way that aligns with how we choose to hear to Him. His voice doesn’t always fit our method of listening.

We have to be willing to lean into Him and become in tune with the various ways He may choose to communicate with us. In order to be in tune with God’s voice, sometimes we have to properly adjust our posture. When we adjust our posture to be in tune with God’s voice, we force our flesh to become quiet as we allow our ‘spirit man’ to take the lead. In the flesh, many of us have become accustomed to hearing from the Lord in only one way.

When the Holy Spirit that lives within us is allowed to facilitate that commune with God, the Holy Spirit will draw our attention to whatever the Lord choose to use to speak to us – be it a book that is about the exact season you find yourself in at that moment, or a song that ministers to your soul in a moment of despair, or maybe it is a conversation with a stranger who answers the prayer you prayed moments before you met them for the very first time. He will speak to you in any way He knows will get your attention. Make sure you listen for the message and not solely rely on hearing the messenger.

Let’s Pray: Father God, thank you for loving us and allowing us to be in your presence. Thank you for speaking to us and doing so in a personal way that we cannot deny experiencing you. Father, we pray that even amongst chaos and confusion that we are able to hear your voice and recognize your presence. We pray that when we feel like we can’t hear your voice, that your presence become more obvious than the audible voice we have trained our hearts to respond to. We pray that we become more in tuned with how you choose to commune with us so that we adjust our posture appropriately to hear exactly what you want us to receive from you in that moment. We ask all these things in Jesus’s Name. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

With an ever-growing desire to continually learn the Word of God and present teachings based on Biblical principles, Erin M. Handley is committed to her calling of teaching and inspiring others to ‘be more by doing more.’ With this in mind, Erin mentors young women and appreciates seeing the growth and change in the lives she impacts. 

While she sincerely enjoys mentoring and speaking to young people, she is most passionate about educating and empowering women from various stages of life about biblical womanhood and how to live out those principles in today’s world.

For over 15 years, Erin has worked with youth and adolescents in the fields of mental and behavioral health, education, and ministry. 

When reflecting on her experiences in ministry and non-ministry settings, her most memorable encounters have been those that allowed her the opportunity to teach the Word of God in a way that is most relatable to the audience she served in that moment. She has enjoyed writing since her youth, but only recently felt the call to share her writing with the world.

With an undergraduate degree in English and a graduate degree in Ministry and Pastoral Counseling, Erin M. Handley has been fortunate to be able to leverage her gifts and her passions throughout her career in Education. 

Aside from reading, writing, and mentoring, Erin enjoys dancing, interior design, cooking, and most other activities which allow her to utilize her creativity.

Devotionals for the Heart: Safety

God is our safe place
A devotional by Alexis Newlin

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run to it and is safe.” 

– Proverbs 18:10 (ESV)

Do you have a need to feel safe in your life? Is that need preventing you from taking steps of faith in your Christian walk with God? Here’s how I handled one aspect of this need to feel safety in my life.

I struggle very much with the fear of being hurt by another person, whether it be a friend, spouse, sibling, stranger…I do not want to get hurt. Because of this fear, I often try to put myself in situations where I won’t experience hurt and I won’t try to connect with a person unless I can feel completely safe with them.

I told one of my friends this while out to lunch one day and she told me these wise words:

“That’s a lot to put on a person – feeling safe with them. It’s an impossible request to meet. Only God is your safety. No one on this earth can fulfill that. You may need to repent to God for this, for seeking safety in someone other than Him.”

Bam! My eyes were opened. SAFE. That’s it! Not feeling safe was the root of my fear. If I didn’t feel safe, there were a lot of things that I would refuse to do outside of this situation.

I had to feel safe and secure before taking action in many areas of my life. So after realizing this, I took this new information to God. We went on a journey to find out where my holding on to safety higher than anything else came from. This is what we found:

As a child, my environment was unpredictable. It was not always safe. As I grew older, I vowed to always have a safe place and have those around me that I considered safe. It became an idol. What I called being cautious was actually me being fearful. Yikes.

God then had me look up the definition for safe from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Here is what I found to define the word safe: free from harm or risk : UNHURT 2a: secure from threat of danger, harm, or loss 3: affording safety or security from danger, risk, or difficulty 5a: not threatening danger : HARMLESS 6a: not likely to take risks : CAUTIOUS b: TRUSTWORTHY, RELIABLE.

I look at this definition and to me, being safe on this earth almost seems impossible. We encounter things and people that could harm us every single day. There is no way that we can go one day without encountering some sort of physical, emotional or mental harm.

I was honest with God, telling Him: “I am trying to grasp the concept that you God, are my safe place. That you will protect me and keep me from harm. Many painful things happen every single day. How are you keeping me safe if I get hurt?”

It is so beautiful when God answers.

This is what He said to me and it redefined my definition of safe:

I use your pain to grow you. The injuries you encounter help you grow stronger and stronger each and every day. How do you grow without trial?

A flower must work in order to bloom. It must break its way out of the seed, and then plow through the soil to get to the water and sunlight it needs just to bloom. When it blooms, behold, there is all manner of things that can and will destroy the flower – too much rain, not enough water, too hot, too cold – yet it still blooms.

You are to bloom no matter what you encounter. When trials come, when you feel afraid or face danger, when you feel unsafe then I, God, will be there. I will be a safe place. I will stand beside you; hold you up so you do not fall.

Despite what comes, I am your safe place.

This sent me on a quest to study everything the Lord says about His safety and protection. I found so much. I keep finding verses that show how He has protected us and continues to protect us. Words like, refuge, stronghold, strong tower, shield, shelter, secure and fortress describe our Father and the beautiful things that He does for us if we run to Him. Some of my favorite verses from this study are:

Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run to it and is safe.”

Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

Psalm 28:7 says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song, I will praise him.”

This has been such a beautiful journey to take with the Lord and a journey that I am still walking. It was hard to admit that at times I do not feel safe with the Lord. But, had I not admitted it, I would still have this barrier between God and me. God will do anything to let us know how much He loves us and cares for us.

Although there are times I don’t feel it, it gives me comfort to know that His protection and love for us is splashed all over the pages of His word. God is, and will always be, my safe place.

~*~
Author Bio:

Alexis is a 36-year-old lover of Jesus, loose leaf tea, roller coasters, writing stories and going on adventures. Originally from Marietta, GA, Alexis now resides in Fresno, CA. 

You can always find Alexis outdoors enjoying a walk in her neighborhood, scoping out the newest food truck, hanging out with friends or planning her next trip.

Her church, The Revival Center, and family mean the world to her. They have supported her through the loss of her mother and her own cancer diagnosis.

Alexis enjoys encouraging others by reminding them not to look at what they see, but to always look to God, who is working in the unseen.

Alexis currently writes for several online ministries and launched her first podcast – The Brave Podcast – in January 2020.

~*~
Connect with Alexis:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apeachincali/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/apeachincali
Podcast: http://thebravepodcast.buzzsprout.com
Website: www.apeachincali.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When God speaks, will you listen?

What Did He Say?
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 3

When I was young, my favorite Bible story was about the little boy Samuel. Dedicated and mentored at the behest of the national prophet Eli, Samuel dutifully served. Day in and day out, even at night, if necessary, he attended the needs of the aging and blind prophet.

Then, it happened. Samuel heard the voice of God! It being a new experience, Samuel misinterpreted the voice of God. He thought that Eli was beckoning him. Quickly, Eli understood what was happening and told his young mentee that the next time he heard the call, to respond by saying “Speak Lord for thy servant heareth.”

When God spoke again, Samuel responded appropriately. Samuel and God had a conversation. In the morning, Eli (the old prophet to and through whom God had spoken and led a nation), asked of the boy Samuel, “What did He say?”

Eli and God had already talked about some things. When Samuel shared the vision, it was confirmation of what God had already told Eli. He and his sons would not live to establish a prophetic dynasty in Israel. Samuel was the heir, apparently. It soon became evident to all of Israel that Samuel was the anointed prophet for the new era.

Throughout the Bible are stories of God speaking to individuals and others asking what He said. Moses had that experience. When God appeared to the Israelites as they transitioned from slavery to nationhood, His presence overwhelmed the populous. They asked Moses to speak with God and then tell them what He had said. The Israelites knew when Moses had spoken directly with God because his face would shine. They would gather to hear from him what God had said.

Elijah, the Tishbite prophet, also talked with God. After his zenith experience at Mount Carmel, he descended to the nadir of his career while hiding in a cave. God spoke to him there and directed that he move to the brook Cherith. He heard God again while at the brook. He was told to find an apprentice—that would be Elisha.

Elisha, like Samuel, attended his prophet faithfully. He learned a lot by seeing and doing what his mentor directed. Soon he and all of the other prophets knew that Elijah was going to be taken away by God. They asked Elisha several times if he was aware that a transition was coming. He was. He stuck with Elijah all day. Before the moment of transition Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted. The younger man responded, "I want to be twice as powerful as you have been."

Elijah promised that if Elisha was present and saw him taken, God would grant his request. Elisha was present and God did not disappoint. Even though the other prophets knew what was to happen, when Elisha came back across the Jordan alone and visibly empowered, they still wanted to go looking for Elijah. But God had delivered to them another leader with another mandate.

What did He say? By delivering Elijah’s mantle to Elisha, God declared that Elisha would be twice as prolific as his mentor had been.

Biblical expositors have attributed 14 major miracles to Elijah. In his lifetime Elisha’s miracle count was 27. But the promise that he would have twice the prominence and power of Elijah was not to be frustrated. God has promised that His word will not return void, but shall be accomplished and prosper in its purpose. (Isaiah 55:11).

Elisha was so anointed with the power of God that his 28th miracle occurred after he died. The Bible book of 2 Kings 13:21 tells the story of a group of Moabites who were burying a dead friend. During the funeral, they saw a group of men from another tribe. Rather than risk a violent encounter, they hastily cast the corpse into the sepulcher of Elisha. The story says that when the new corpse touched the bones of Elisha, that the man was revived and stood on his feet. Imagine that!

The lesson here is that when God speaks, His word lives. His word brings life to our existence. Chances are great that God has spoken to you a time or two. Did you hear Him? Did you listen? What did He say? Did you do what he said to do? It may not be too late! If it is too late for a former vision, God still speaks! I believe that if we are His and we humbly ask, He will speak again. If He does, when He does, will you listen?

Listen for the word of God in your life. Then be clear and prepared to answer the most meaningful question after epiphany moments: What did He say?

~*~
Author Bio:

Chaplain Anderson served for 20 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Over 26 years of active duty, he was promoted through the ranks from Seaman Apprentice (E2) to his final rank as Commander (O5) in the Chaplain’s Corps. 

Prior to his Naval career, Chaplain Anderson pastored in the Allegheny East and Potomac Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. His undergraduate preparation for ministry was completed at Columbia Union College (WAU) in Takoma Park, Maryland. He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees–a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, a Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and a Masters of Sacred Theology in Religion and Culture from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Anderson also completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also holds certifications in Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Civil Mediation, Alternative Workplace Dispute Resolution, Temperament Analysis, Marriage Enrichment, Workforce Diversity, and is a certified Life Coach.

Devotionals for the Heart: Tammy tells us why we should "put on love"

Choose Love
A devotional by Tammy Karasek

I have a favorite passage of scripture that draws me back like a magnet, Colossians 3:12-17 (NASB). I’ve written many dates beside these verses, times when I have been moved by the words. In this chapter, Paul encourages us, as believers, to put on the new self and gives us the instructions to do just that.

We should set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. No, we aren’t to ignore what is going on in the world, but we are not to partake in those worldly practices. Instead, we are to put aside the old self, such as immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed (verse five) as well as anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive speech (verse eight).

Paul then tells us what we should put on as new creatures in Christ on a daily basis. The expression put on actually means to assume, to adopt. He says we are to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. This explains that as believers when we step boldly into faith with Jesus, we are to put on this new self and live in a way that shows Jesus to those around us. Yes, even the guy who cut you off while driving the other day!

This is an ongoing process, one we must practice doing each and every day. It’s not an automatic BAM!, you believe in Jesus so now you possess all these qualities. We live in a sinful world, and sin is always lurking at our door. Therefore, we must make a conscious effort every day to become a person who strives to live in a way that honors God in our words and deeds.

Since this is the month of February which most of us consider the love month, I saved verse 14 for last. Not because it’s not as important as those above — quite the opposite.

"And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." 
~Colossians 3:14 (NASB)

When we choose to put on love, we show the love the Father has shown us, love that is unconditional, everlasting, and immeasurable in its depth. Is this easy? No. But when we strive for this, God honors that. This then is where the end of that verse comes in to play. When we put on love, the uniting bond of perfectness or completion in our faith makes us more like the image of God that we were created to be. 

Take a moment and read Colossians 3:1-17 for yourself and see how the Lord will speak to you today. Let’s choose to put on love, not just because it is February — the love month, but also because we should do this every day, every month. I’ll pray this for you. Will you pray for me, too?

~*~
Author Bio:

You’ll find Tammy seeing humor and causing laughter in every aspect of life. Tammy’s past filled with bullying and criticism is the driving force of her passion to always encourage others and share with them the Reason to smile. 

She’s been blissfully wedded to her college sweetheart, Larry, for 36 years, mom to their grown daughter, Kristen and wrapped around the paw of a little puppy named Hattie.

She’s the President of Cross N Pens Christian Writers and a member of ACFW. She will be published in the 2018 Divine Moments book – Cool-nary Moments.
~*~
Connect with Tammy:
Blog - http://www.tammykarasek.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/tickledpinktam
Email - tickledpinktammy@gmail.com

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Words of Faith: Sara Ella's story of heartbreak and hope

Brokenhearted Faith
A Words of Faith story by Sara Ella

“The Spirit of YHWH is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;” (Luke 4:18).

Let’s get real here. Because at this point in this year I don’t know how else to be. In some ways, this has been the greatest year of my life. My debut novel recently released, a dream come true. I had the opportunity to go to Nashville to see my friends, attend a writer’s conference, and visit my publishing house. My kids are thriving in homeschool and I’ve gotten to see my out-of-state family more than usual.

But, in many ways, this has also been, by far, the worst year of my life.

I won’t go into all the gory details. But I will say this year has shattered my heart in every way imaginable. I’ve experienced betrayal, loss, feelings of worthlessness, and depression, to name a few. It got to the point at which I felt my Creator had abandoned me. Why was He letting this happen? How could He watch as my heart was trampled, and beaten, and thrown away?

And then that still small voice whispered, “Read Job.”

Of course. I knew exactly what that meant. I knew Job’s story. I didn’t need to read it again to recall what that man went through. I ho-hummed my way to my Bible and opened it. Then I began to read. And here’s the verse that stuck out to me:

“. . . Shall we accept good from Elohim, and not trouble? . . .” Job 2:10.

Just wow. Isn’t it amazing how we can read something we’ve read before, but it has a totally new meaning when set in the current context of our lives? This verse was for me and it’s stayed with me through this horrible, no-good year. Because who am I to say I will only accept the best from my Creator? Am I not his child? And does He not put those He loves through trials only to make us stronger in the end? To sharpen our faith and draw us closer to Him? It’s all a matter of perspective, really. I can look at this year and think, “Wow. God must really hate me.” OR I can choose to “rejoice in all things” and praise Him for molding me. For allowing me this trial, which in the future could even turn into a ministry opportunity. My experience may help others. How can I not be grateful for that?

My heart is still on the mend. I’m healing, hour by hour, and day by day. But through it all, my Messiah has loved me. He’s held my broken heart in His hands and carried me through the storm. And that’s the thing, my friends. The storm. Because for the longest time, I stood on the shores of my situation, afraid to really go through it. But then my King nudged me and I felt Him asking me if I trusted Him to be with me in that storm. It took a while, but I finally stepped off the shore and into His arms. The waves chopped and crashed, my heart nearly drowned, but at last I am beginning to see the beautiful light on the other side. Not once has my Creator abandoned me. As broken as I’ve been, He’s kept me intact. Because that’s what brokenhearted faith is—giving your heart and life over to the One who heals the broken hearted. To the one who carries you through.

Are you experiencing a tragedy or heartbreak? Is your life a storm today? If you’re willing to share in the comments, I would love to pray for you.

~*~
Author bio: 

Not so long ago, SARA ELLA dreamed she would marry a prince (just call her Mrs. Charming) and live in a castle (a.k.a. The Plaza Hotel). Though her fairy tale didn’t quite turn out as planned, she did work for Disney—that was an enchanted moment of its own. 

Now she spends her days throwing living room dance parties for her two princesses and conquering realms of her own imaginings. 

She believes “Happily Ever After is Never Far Away” for those who put their faith in the King of kings.

~*~
Connect with Sara:
Website - http://saraella.com

Twitter - http://twitter.com/saraellawrites
Instagram - http://instagram.com/saraellawrites/
GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/saraella
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/joellesa
Tumblr - http://saraellawrites.tumblr.com
Facebook - http://facebook.com/writinghistruth

Google+ - http://plus.google.com/+SaraElla

Thankful Thursday: God sees every single tear

It's Thursday and I'm thankful that God sees "Every Single Tear". That's the title to one of my favorite songs performed by Scott Krippayne. But it's also a way that God spoke to me and comforted me last night.

I was trying to sleep but failing because there was a lot on my mind and past wounds were hurting. As tears escaped my eyes, the words "He sees every single tear" started playing in my mind. It didn't take me much time to realize that those are lyrics from one of my favorite old songs. So I reached for my phone and looked up the song on YouTube. I set my phone down and let the music flood my mind, stopping my tears and bringing relief to my soul.

I know that God spoke to me through that song because when I say "old", it is really old. The first time I heard that song, I was in high school and I honestly had not listened to it since then! But now, as a grown adult, that song came to my mind. Only God, I tell you, only God does that! He knows that music is my love language and He often speaks to me through Christian/Gospel music songs. I always know when He speaks to me through music because He often whispers song lyrics to my heart or puts it on replay in my mind and these are songs that I usually have not thought of in years. But it's always right on time and the song lyrics speak to exactly whatever I'm going through. God is AWESOME! :)

"Every Single Tear" served as my lullaby last night and I soon drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face and no tears in sight.

I'm sharing this message with you today because I hope that it will help you whenever you're feeling down or crying over something that hurt you. I hope that you will take refuge and find solace in the fact that God loves you and He cares about every single tear. He wants to comfort you and He feels everything that you're feeling. He's the most understanding force in the universe! His heart of compassion for us mere mortals is amazing and oh so comforting!

May God bless you this Thursday, tomorrow and always! *Jeremiah 29:11*

Love,

Alexis

Testimony: What God Taught Me

Okay, it's almost midnight and I am sleepy but I had to get out of bed to bring this message to you. Here's my testimony:

I was lying in my bed, trying to sleep but not being successful because my mind was focused on all that's wrong with the world. My mind also started focusing on my own issues and experiences that were upsetting. I felt the frustration of feeling like God is silent and asking Jesus Christ why He continues to let these horrible things happen in this world.

It was to the point where I told Jesus (talking/praying to Him): Why am I here? What's the purpose of my life? I am not okay. I am NOT OKAY!

After five minutes of venting to Jesus Christ (through talking/prayer), my anger simmered and I was silent. It was then that I realized that a song was playing in my head. It was a song that I had not heard or thought of for months. But it was just what I needed as the opening lyrics played in my head. Guess what the opening lyrics to the song are? "It's okay to not be okay."

The song "Exhale" is sung by Christian music artist Plumb. It took me being silent and still to realize those opening lyrics were looping in my mind for what must have been at least two minutes only I was too upset to hear it. But when I became still and silent, God spoke to me through this song. He let me know that "It's okay to not be okay/This is a safe place."

Hebrews 4:16 tells us to come boldly before God's throne of grace so that we may find help in time of need. So my venting session was more like a bold and honest prayer to God and He answered me. He told me "It's okay to NOT be OKAY." God is not afraid of honest prayers. He invites us to be open and real with him (but still respectful because He is King of the Universe). His Son Jesus Christ knows our pain and He knows exactly what we go through because He lived on Earth and experienced our pain. *Read Hebrews 4:15. 

Only Christ truly "gets it" and He's for us! He is our Advocate and Mediator before the throne of God. When we pray, it's important to end our prayers to God with "In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen." *Read John 14:13-14 (KJV).

God cares all about you and He's there for you no matter what. I woke up when I realized that God just spoke to me through the opening lines of this song "Exhale" by Plumb and I knew that I needed to share this revelation with you. But before I got out of bed, God spoke to my heart with this thought, "Remember what I taught you in Montana?" Instantly, I remembered how God told me through the words of my insurance agent (after my car crashed) before she became silent in order to focus on processing my claim. Before she went silent to focus on it, she told me "Even though I'm silent, I'm still here." Those words spoke to my heart that day (about four years ago) and it still spoke to my heart tonight. Her simple yet poignant sentence reminded me that I serve a Great God who is always there for me, even when I feel like He's being silent.

Well, there you go! I'm being transparent in this blog post because I believe that this message that God shared with me, this lesson He taught me, is not just for me. Somebody needs to hear it. I hope that it will change your life (for the better). Always keep in mind Jeremiah 29:11. 

God bless you!

Love,

Alexis