Devotionals for the Heart: When you feel like you are fighting battles alone

You Are Not Fighting Alone
A devotional by Dr. Jessica B. Turner

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

—Exodus 14:14 (ESV)

Think about the last time you felt wronged.

Perhaps someone said something about you that wasn’t true or maybe you were looked over for a promotion when you were the most qualified. Whatever the situation was, I would think it’s safe to assume that your reaction wasn’t to be silent. Instead, I would guess that you became more vocal, possibly even rudely opinionated, as a response to the discrimination. I know I would because there are enough examples in my past where that was my default.

I felt unjustly treated and so I made it my focus to make that known along with why I was correct. Looking back, I realize I let my flesh take over. My need to defend myself was an attempt at preserving my pride. I had to come out as the “right” party to come out on top no matter the cost. It was always about me. My ego. My efforts. My image.

I forgot that God was ever in the picture because I often forgot to invite Him in. It wasn’t until I really began to study God’s Word (The Holy Bible) that I understood I am never alone, especially when in the middle of a fight. The Lord will fight for me and He will fight for you!

Yet, sometimes that looks quite differently than what we picture. Instead of raising our voices, it’s choosing to bite our tongues. Instead of pressing for retaliation, we pursue peace. Taking such an approach goes against our natural state. It requires the Holy Spirit and offers us an opportunity to walk in the fruit of the Spirit.

But how does one fight in such a manner? By remembering who God is and trusting that He is fighting alongside you. He will go before you and make a way. He will send people to speak on your behalf. He will expose lies that need to be brought to light to restore your name. All while you remain silent.

What a beautiful promise to stand on when it feels as if the world is against you! Rest assured, my friend, even if it is, our Lord has already won!

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that I am never fighting alone. You are always by my side and focused on what is best for me. Help me to walk in the fruit of the Holy Spirit when faced with conflict so that I can be a witness to Your power and love. I love You and I trust You. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Battles” by The Afters. Listen to it here.

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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/

Christmas on My Heart: Wish Upon a Star by Tabitha Bouldin

Warriors and Worriers

A devotional by Tabitha Bouldin, based on her book Wish Upon a Star

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

~Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV)

Warrior = A brave or experienced fighter

Worrier = A person who is experiencing persistent mental uneasiness

It’s interesting that two little letters can change the entire meaning of a word.

I don’t have all the answers for my life, but I do know one thing: God calls each of us to be warriors. Notice the definition of warrior: A brave or experienced fighter.

How do you gain experience? Do you want the honest truth? You gain experience by going through battles, again…and again…and again.

Some people are born warriors, some people seem to have some innate gene that keeps them moving forward when everything else tells them to give up. But if you ask them, I bet they tell you that they fight against the desire to worry.

Sometimes, the drive to worry overwhelms even the staunchest warrior. The Bible tells us to not be afraid, which is slightly different from worry, but they are close siblings. What we have to remember is: God will never let anything happen to us without His approval. Yes, we will have hard times. Yes, we will suffer. But we have the ultimate promise that it will all be worth it in the end.

It is so easy to worry. Even when we try not to, the desire to languish in our problems is a persistent thought. So how do you overcome worry? Put on the full armor of God and go into battle! It’s easy to say, right? But is it easy to do? Not so much. Going into battle requires trust, and faith, and the desire to do God’s will. That is the armor of God. Clothe yourself in His substance.

A battle is not always what you expect it to be. Sometimes, a battle might be nothing more than not losing your temper. Other times, the battle might be understanding why something unspeakable has happened to ourselves or someone we love.

This is where we find the main character in Wish Upon a Star. Bryce Masters lost his wife, Molly, during childbirth and is raising their daughter, Anna, alone. After six long years, he is finally returning to the place where he grew up. Worry threatens to overwhelm Bryce when Anna reveals her wish for a mother. With the move home, reopening the town bookstore, and caring for Anna, how is Bryce going to fulfill Anna’s wish? Does he even want to? Molly was the love of his life. His heart has no room for another.

Bryce must sacrifice his will and let God have control. Only then does he have a chance to overcome his fears.

God has given each of us free will. We can choose the type of person we want to be. Change is not easy, nor was it ever meant to be. If change were easy, then life would not be what it is today. I am a worrier by nature, but a warrior through endless trials and sheer determination as I pray for strength to overcome my own downfalls.

Worrying never does us any good. All it is capable of is taking us further away from God. We should cast our cares upon Him and leave them there. If you’re like me, that is a struggle. I can toss them away, but it’s like fishing…I keep a line on them so I can drag them back to shore and worry over them some more. The Bible says, “Be strong and of a good courage” and that is exactly what I want to be.

Don’t choose the worrier path. Choose instead to be a warrior.

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Author Bio:

Tabitha Bouldin was born, raised, and still lives in the same small town in middle Tennessee. 

A member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), she has been writing for nearly five years but only recently began publishing her work.

After working for ten years as a nurse, prayers were answered that gave her the chance to be a stay-at-home mom and the time to homeschool her two boys.

Her books are meant to encourage others through the trials of life. While the stories are fiction, they come from situations that many of us face. 

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Blurb for Tabitha's book (Wish Upon a Star):

Bryce Masters had everything he needed...or so he thought. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, would disagree. They were going home, moving back to Jingle Junction where Bryce would take over the local bookstore just in time for Christmas.

Losing his wife, Molly, during the birth of their daughter six years ago was tragic, but Bryce has no idea just how much it weighs on young Anna's heart until she confesses her deepest wish. 

What Anna wants for Christmas is a mother, but Bryce's heart is not ready to love again. Only God can give Bryce the desire to make Anna's wish come true. 

Only He can heal the hurt and open Bryce's heart to the power of love. But Bryce will have to be willing to listen. And when the perfect woman reveals a secret that could devastate them all, will Bryce be able to look beyond what was and accept what might be?

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Buy Tabitha's book Wish Upon a Star on Amazon

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Connect with Tabitha:
Facebook – www.facebook.com/tabithabouldinauthor
Twitter – www.twitter.com/tabithabouldin
Instagram – www.instagram.com/tabithabouldin
Blog – https://tabithabouldinauthor.home.blog

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Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

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