Devotionals for the Heart: How God taught me to lead my children to Jesus

It Begins with Me
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.”

—Luke 2:52 (NLT)

It seems like yesterday I was holding my newborn sons in my arms.

Now as I am reminiscing, they are both school-aged children. So much has happened over the years that it seems like a blur. I am thankful that my husband and I took countless photos of them and that their milestones are recorded in journals and photo albums.

More important than photos, videos, journals, and scrapbooks are the moments spent with my sons in prayer. My husband and I started praying for our sons while they were still in the womb. We knew that God had something special in store for us and we wanted to be sure that their lives were in line with their Creator.

When our sons were born, we prayed right there in the delivery room, and we continued to pray with them every morning and every night. While they are sleeping, I sneak into their rooms and quietly breathe a mother’s prayer over my sons. I ask God to protect them from evil as they develop, and to grant them wisdom, favor and discernment to make the right decisions in life. I pray that God will show my sons their purpose in this life and that one day my sons will whole-heartedly receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Even now, I can see the results of my prayers. I was so proud and at the same time humbled when both of my sons decided to get baptized at church. When I hear the comments of teachers who are pleased to have my sons in their classroom, or when I am told that my sons are responsible for their age, or they have caring attributes and are well behaved among their peers, this lets me know that my prayers from over the years have come to fruition.

Recently, it occurred to me that I should be praying just as fervently for myself and the life that I am leading as a parent. Praying over my sons is a necessity, but what kind of example would I be if I am not covered in prayer? I cannot effectively make a disciple for Jesus Christ if I am not an effective disciple myself.

As a parent, I have quickly learned that children will do what they see more than what they are told. I can tell my youngest son not to throw an object in the house, but he is taking mental notes as I unconsciously toss my shoes into the closet. As trivial as this may seem, it equates to circumstances on a larger scale later in his life such as the words I speak, the way I treat others, my attitude in my home, and my relationship with God. I pray that as my sons grow into men and that they will pattern their lives after Jesus. I also pray that when my sons look at me, they see Jesus living in me and working through me.

The most important element is the legacy that I will leave behind to my children: A life devoted to Christ. I am so glad that Christ covers me and stands in the gap where I fall short. It begins with me.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, I thank You for the privilege of being a parent. I ask You for wisdom and discernment as I raise my children to be Your disciples. May I not be a hindrance but an example of Your love. Lead me as I lead my children. I dedicate our lives to You. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

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Song of Reflection #1: “Legacy” by First Call. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Standing in the Gap” by Babbie Mason with Helen Baylor and Cindy Morgan. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Lead Me Lord” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir with Elizabeth Goodine. 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.

This is Angela’s sixth 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 her words were featured in a book, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy, that was published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was featured in Living Unbroken, which is another publication produced by Proverbs 31. Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking.

Angela is a life coach for mothers. 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. She works to help them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela is also the host of “The Angela Anderson Show”, a virtual talk show that launched in April of 2023 on YouTube and Facebook. The show is designed for mothers who want to pursue their dream while managing family life. The audio version of the show is also available as a podcast on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and more.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 21 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 13) and Ryan (age 8). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family.

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Connect with Angela:

To connect with Angela, you can follow her on Instagram (angelanderson1104), Clubhouse (@angelize), and send a friend request to her on Facebook.

Subscribe to Angela’s YouTube channel @The Angela Anderson Show and follow the show on Spotify. Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: 

www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

You can also like and follow her Facebook author page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God.

Devotionals for the Heart: True Peace

Peace in the Middle of the Storm
A devotional by Erin M. Handley

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”– John 14:27 (NIV)

Inhale serenity. Exhale peace.

As you breathe in and close your eyes, you are able to see yourself in the place that brings you the peace you are needing in that moment. It may be somewhere in nature—in the woods, on a beach, or near a lake. Or it may be in a room that is still and free from all distractions. Being in this place allows you to center your thoughts and your emotions. While in this place you find a new sense of tranquility.

When you open your eyes, you are faced with the reality that brings anxiety, despair, and feelings of defeat. This real-life experience is what elevates the urge to ‘press pause’ on everything that is going on around you. While you are not able to control everything that happens externally, you are able to control how you think, feel, and behave in that moment. Many of us can attest that these are the moments that often require taking an internal retreat to find a moment to rest, reset, and rejuvenate. It’s also safe to say that many of us have settled with seeking the peace in the midst of the storm.

What happens when we change the narrative to this story?

In John 14:27, Jesus Christ says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” There have been many times that we are faced with what the world has given us, and we do walk away troubled and afraid. But it is important to remember that when Jesus delivered this message of encouragement to His disciples, He did not specify which disciple this message was for. He was answering a question that was posed by one of the disciples, but the response was directed to all of His disciples.

The great thing about it is that if you have accepted Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior, then you are a disciple, too! So, when the scripture says that He gives the peace to you and leaves the peace with you, then you don’t have to go and seek the peace in the midst of the storm. You already have it.

There are others who have not taken that step to accept Jesus into their heart, and that’s okay. We know it can be a daunting process when you don’t know what the process looks like. It is even more worrisome when fear and doubt force them to address that they don’t know what is required of them if (and when) they do take that step. This is another situation that can cause anxiety, despair, and feelings of defeat. This is why everyone needs to see tangible examples of the peace that already exists within their storm.

If you are a person who has not asked Jesus into your heart and would like to, say this prayer: "Dear Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God and that You died for my sins and rose from the dead. Because of the sacrifice You made for me, I accept you as my Lord and Savior and ask that You forgive me of my sins and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I know that through You and Your works, I am a new person in you. In Your Name I pray. Amen.”

Be sure to connect with other followers of Jesus Christ who want to walk with you on your faith journey as a believer in God.

In closing, remember: God equips all of His disciples to be the peaceful in the midst of the storm. The next time you find yourself in that difficult situation and wanting to retreat and find the peace, remember that God can calm your anxiety and give you a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). Only He can speak “Peace be still” (Mark 4:39) to that raging storm and stop it, all the while keeping you safe. Because of Jesus, it is possible to have peace in any storm. Life may be spinning out of control but you can still have peace because you have Jesus.

Let’s Pray: Lord, it is comforting to know that no matter how difficult the situations get, You will always nurture us, guide us, and comfort us. We also thank You for equipping us to do the things You have called us to do. We are thankful for the opportunities You orchestrate that are designed to lead us right back to you to seek refuge in you. It is in that refuge that we are reminded that You have equipped us to, through our relationship with You, bring the peace others are seeking in their moments of despair. This is what brings them all back to You. With the love, care, and intentionality You give us, all we can do is thank You and praise You for who You are. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

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Note from Alexis: Erin’s devotional message today reminds me of Laura Story’s song “Perfect Peace”. Listen to it here.

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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.