Devotionals for the Heart: We need to stay connected to our power source

Stay Connected to the Power Source
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”—John 15:5 (NKJV)

I recently purchased a new smartphone. The one I owned prior was somewhat outdated, and the battery was going bad. Each time I charged it, the battery life seemed to be getting shorter and shorter. Soon it only took an hour or two of use before the battery percentage was almost at zero!

Instead of throwing out the old phone, I allowed my youngest son to use it for the purpose of playing educational games that are designed specifically for children. His favorite game was constructing animal puzzles. The sound effects plus the celebration with balloons and confetti at the completion of the puzzle kept his attention for a good amount of time.

One day, I noticed that he was getting visibly frustrated. The phone appeared to automatically turn off right in the middle of his game. He brought the phone to me, and I tried to explain to him that the battery ran out of power, and the phone needed to be connected to the charger. He brought the lifeless phone back to the table where the charger was plugged into the wall. He plugged the phone into the charger and within seconds, the screen lit up and the battery percentage registered at one percent.

Although the battery indicator was still in the red, meaning the phone was not completely charged, the phone was still working just enough for my son to resume playing his game. He could see that the phone was on, but he did not realize that the battery was still extremely low. He excitedly removed the phone from the charger so that he could go back to the other room where he was playing his game.

I called out to him and explained that the battery did not have enough power and before long, he would have to put it back on the charger. But he left the room with the phone. He did not understand that he had not spent enough time connected to the charger so that the battery would have enough power to make it through at least one game.

Sometimes our lives are like this old phone. We run around trying to accomplish everything we possibly can, depleting our battery power into the red zone. So, we take a few moments out of our busy schedule to connect to God, the Source of our power. But before He can supply us with what we need, we disconnect from Him and try to continue in our own strength. Yet, we do not have enough power to operate effectively because we simply did not spend enough time connected to the Power Source.

We need to slow down and recognize that God is ready and waiting to pour out His power into us, if only we are ready and waiting to receive it. We must come to Him daily with the understanding that without Him, we are nothing. Let’s make a commitment to stay connected to Him!

Let’s Pray: Eternal God, we acknowledge that You are the vine and we are the branches. You are the source of our strength and You have a never-ending supply of power that we need from day to day. May we understand how important it is to stay connected to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Part of Your Story” (song) by Cheri Keaggy. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

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Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

Devotionals for the Heart: What to do when you face mountains in life

When Faced with Mountains
A devotional by Jessica B. Turner

“God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.” –Habakkuk 3:19 (ESV)

Do you ever feel as if you finally arrive at the top of the mountain only to realize what lies ahead is an even bigger, taller mountain to climb?

That is how I felt most of last year. When I could barely breathe after experiencing a loss through miscarriage, I was being asked to face yet another trial. And then another. Trials that I would have never imagined walking into, much less surviving.

If I’m being completely honest, there was a time during those hardships when I questioned if God really was there. I felt broken and empty. Betrayed and humiliated.

But then I remembered this scripture (Habakkuk 3:19). It had become my anchor since it was given to me the summer before. It was shared as a response to my story in which I compared obstacles in life to mountains. For months it served as a simple reminder that God is where my strength lies when things seem too big to face. That strength is often all I need to get through another day. I had forgotten that truth despite its impact in my life in the past. But once I remembered, I buried it within my heart to never forget again. When we fix our eyes on Jesus Christ, He enables us to encounter any mountain with the grace of a deer.

Can you picture it? Your struggle, your illness, your broken relationship—whatever your mountain in this season is. Picture it and then remember that the same God who created the sunset that takes your breath away is the same God that has vowed to give you the strength to face any obstacle this life may throw your way.

But even greater than that, He will invite us into a transformation that can only come through climbing that mountain. A foundation in endurance leading to a molding of character and the birth of a hope that this world cannot take away from us.

How encouraging is that? Not only are we climbing our mountains with the God of the universe by our side, we are doing it with the anticipation of a story only He can orchestrate. Good that only He can bring about. That alone is often the source of the strength I need to get through another day, another hour, another minute.

Don’t try to climb alone, my friend. We weren’t created to do so. He is waiting for you to call out. He is waiting to lift you up so you can take one more step.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, I thank you for who You are. That You are a God who is so powerful and mighty yet so in love with me that you will come to my aid at a moment’s call. I am that important to you. I am your beloved. Help me remember that as I face life’s mountains. Remind me that You are my source of strength and that there is great hope on the other side of my trial. I love you and I trust you. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

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Author Bio:

Jessica B. Turner is a wife, mom, and LSU graduate with a degree in veterinary medicine.

After practicing small animal medicine for six years, she traded in her stethoscope to become an online wellness coach, motivational speaker, and writer with a passion for mental health advocacy. This major life change was sparked after Jessica struggled with postpartum depression soon after she birthed her twin girls.

Along with Jessica’s career change came the discovery of who Jesus Christ really is and how He was the missing piece for her to be able to move forward from past trauma that she had suppressed for decades.

Jesus walked alongside Jessica as she underwent a transformation like none other. God transformed Jessica’s life from a broken mom who struggled with depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and PTSD from witnessing an attempted suicide, to using her experiences to make her a powerful vessel for Him. To this day, God enables Jessica to touch the lives of others through her often unfiltered, yet inviting, form of storytelling.

Throughout this process of refinement, Jessica has shared her life story with the world through her social media platforms, in-person events, blog posts, and podcasts. She values the gift of transparency and has discovered that what so many people need to know is that they are not alone. Jessica has walked in their shoes, and she wants the world to know that Jesus is walking with them as well.

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Connect with Jessica:
Website: www.jessicabturner.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicabturner/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicabturner/

Devotionals for the Heart: Finding God in the beauty of nature

Finding God in Big and Small Ways
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

For thus says the One Who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

— Isaiah 57:15 (ESV)

On a recent visit to California, my family and I were astounded by the grandeur of snow-capped mountain peaks, stunning electric blue lakes, vast Giant Sequoias, layers upon layers of lush ferns, and bubbling volcanic fields. Every day was an adventure to see which new turn in the trail would stop us in our tracks to stand in awe of God’s creative power.

On the last day we were there, we went to the Redwoods National and State Parks. Trekking down the gently curving path was a spectacular lesson in botany. Hundreds of Redwoods, along with much smaller trees, provided lovely shade and even shelter from a short spate of rain. A canopy of the Lord’s natural design served as our sanctuary.

Several signboards directed us to Big Tree just ahead. Almost 270 feet tall, and almost 70 feet around, Big Tree has lived for somewhere around 1,500 years. Surrounded by a deck, the tree is accessible to the hundreds of people who come every day to see this colossal reminder of our place in the world.

When I leaned over to touch the smooth-rough bark of the magnificent tree, I leaned back to look up. Suddenly overwhelmed by my own insignificance, all I could do was cry. God is our strong tower as Proverbs 18:10 reminds us. We look to Him to save us.

Just a few steps away another Redwood lay on its side, downed by wind or old age. It was almost halfway decayed, and much of the tree’s core spilled onto the ground in a trickle of sawdust. Such a sad, yet natural, part of God’s creation.

But out of the sawdust, fresh soil grew. A tiny plant drew sustenance from the death of the mighty Redwood above it. Its roots went deep, drawing moisture and life from the decay around it.

The tenacious little plant was adorned with dozens of tiny white flowers that were about the size of a pencil eraser. The petals of each blossom were shaped with small triangles. In number, they were seven.

Seven. Such a beautiful number, but as I knelt beside that fallen tree, it was a reminder to forgive—seventy times seven (as Jesus tells us to in Matthew 18:21-22). I looked up and surveyed my surroundings. Hundreds of those little flowers showed their lovely faces as far as I could see!

As I’ve thought and prayed about my experience that day, I understand now that God was showing me just a teensy glimmer of His majesty through His creation of Big Tree. In addition, He drew my eyes to see His message of forgiveness in a seemingly insignificant wildflower at my feet.

The Holy One, the King of the Universe, uses everything – even the smallest, most mundane things – to point us to Him. He loves for us to be amazed at His power, but He also demonstrates His love in myriads of ways. For me that day, He gently drew me to see His lesson. I needed to look up and to behold the creation given by my glorious King. And then it was time to look down, to go low, to be contrite, and to forgive seventy times seven—God’s number of infinity.

Let’s Pray: Father, please allow us to worship You in spirit and in truth, to acknowledge Your good and gracious love, and to be grateful for Your caring forgiveness and mercy. Please help us to do as You teach us, to forgive quickly, completely, and as often as we can. Help our forgiveness to be as fruitful as that little glen, growing daily with tons of Your seventy times seven. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

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Author Bio:

During this time of quarantine, Karen enjoys reading, writing, and connecting with friends and family via phone calls, texts, emails, blogs, live-streams, and video conferencing. 

She is grateful that the Lord has provided so many ways for humankind to stay in community, even when we are all hunkering down in our homes.

Karen says, “In this unprecedented time, we know that He has prepared us for such a time as this! To God be all the glory!”

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com