Devotionals for the Heart: When your past is messy, God can still bless you!

God Bless This Hot Mess
A devotional by Cyndi Staudt

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 

– 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

I groaned in frustration as my Instagram opened.

“Again?” I asked to no one in particular.

Filling my screen was yet another picture of my friend off on some incredible adventure with the perfect pose in the perfect setting, the wind blowing perfectly through her perfect hair … it was, well, perfect.

In today’s social media world we get accustomed to seeing everyone with their beautifully filtered, seemingly picture-perfect lives and can often start feeling sorry for ourselves. Or worse, we jump on the bandwagon and spend an hour trying to capture the “perfect” selfie to post for ourselves, then spend another hour (or more!) checking our account repetitively to see how many “likes” our image has received. And if we are able to secure a comment, we’ve hit the social media jackpot. Comments like: “You look gorgeous!” / “I am so inspired by you!”/ “I wish I had your life.”

Acknowledgements like this would leave us feeling pretty satisfied with ourselves and allow us to completely forget the three hours of our life we just wasted and will never get back. Please somebody give this post a like if you can relate to any of this (just kidding!). We seem to have an addiction to making ourselves look like we have it all together. We rarely see people confessing their failures to the world on Facebook, posting unfiltered photos on “the gram.”

But our God wants us to be raw and real with Him. Romans 5:8 (NLT) tells us, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

Or as I personalize this verse, “Cyndi, while you were still a hot mess I came to rescue you. I am so crazy about you! I think you are to die for.”

God didn’t wait for me to have my act together to save me; which is good, because at this point, I’m not sure that will ever really happen. He wants us to come as we are and leave the perfection up to Him, because He has perfection mastered. One of my favorite things about the the Bible book of Psalms is seeing how King David laid himself bare before God – the good, the bad, and the ugly. And God called David a man after His own heart. I don’t know about you but I would love to hear God say, “Cyndi was a woman after my own heart.”

I believe if I’m going to hear that from my Savior, I have to realize that God loves me as I am – hot mess and all – and accept myself just as I am.

I was several years into my Christian walk when God revealed to me that my desire to hide the mess of my past was robbing Him of glory and preventing others from seeing where God had brought me from. I was sitting in my office at work one day when one of my co-workers came into our office and plopped down in her chair visibly dejected and distressed. It was her day off which made it even more surprising that she was there, so I asked her if everything was okay. She said she “had a lot going on at home and just needed to get away from it for a bit.”

Then she added, “But you wouldn’t understand because you’ve got your life together.”

In that moment, God spoke so clearly to my heart. “Cyndi, if you don’t share what your life was like before you met Me, people will never know what I can do or how much I love them.”

It was in that moment that I had a full understanding of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12. So I spent the next half hour sharing with my co-worker a glimpse of what my life looked like before I turned it over in complete surrender to Jesus Christ and how He helped me shed the shame of my past and trade it for a garment of righteousness that I will continue to wear until I meet Him in Heaven.

We tend to wear our (fake) perfection like a badge of honor when, in reality, we should be boasting about our weaknesses and the big God who helps us navigate them. Next time you are tempted to put on the happy face and pretend everything is “fine”, try instead crying out to God or admitting to a friend “I’m struggling.”

By walking in truth, you will come to know the freedom Jesus was talking about when He said, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NLT)

Let’s pray: Gracious God, we praise you for your love and mercy. Thank you for not requiring us to fix our failures before accepting us into your Kingdom. Help us to resist holding ourselves and others to unrealistic expectations of perfection, expectations that You never make of us. Remind us that as Your Holy Spirit works in us, You are looking for spirits that are surrendered to You, minds that are teachable and hearts that are tender to Your Word and Your will. Then give us the faith to believe You and the desire and dedication to obey. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Cyndi Staudt is a Jesus-loving, adrenaline junkie who is devoted to living her life for Jesus Christ until the day she is living with Him.

With a passion for cultivating a craving for God’s Word, her devotions and Bible studies are saturated with faith and hope to stir your soul to connect with God in deeper, more intimate ways. 

Through her writing she hopes to ignite your desire to read God’s Word, invite your heart to experience God’s love, and inspire you to live your live life “souled out” to the One whose love has no limits.

Connect with Cyndi on Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/souledoutcyndi/

Devotionals for the Heart: On being courageous and ready for change

Go Get It!

A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

–Joshua 1:9 (KJV)

My last devotional focused on Moses, the patriarch, who with the endorsement of God, led Israel out of Egypt. I focused on his use, in his latter days, of a leadership style that time had eroded.

He and his nation of wanderers were at an inflection point where the course of history would change. The angry, punitive outburst at the people and his display of unmitigated, rebellious violence disqualified Moses as the leader for the next phase of God’s plan. Moses went to the mountain top, viewed the Promised Land then died.

Before dying, Moses masterfully executed the four polarities of transition: succession planning, the peaceful transfer of authority, institutional change and generational shifting. This process involves intersecting continua. On the vertical axis is remembering and forging. The horizontal axis includes dreaming and executing.  

The 27th chapter of the Bible book of Numbers tells the brief story of the ordination of Joshua to lead Israel. Before his departure, at the behest of and in the presence of Divinity, Moses meets with the High Priest Eleazar, in the presence of the entire encampment. The census had determined a tribal population in excess of 600,000 people. They were all assembled. Before them all, Moses put his hands on Joshua and administered a commissioned to him as the new, God chosen, Leader. In that moment, Moses publicly passed his magisterial authority to Joshua. Joshua humbly but confidently enveloped the mantle of leadership.

The roles, responsibilities and authority of the new leader was public, uncontested, undeniable and unassailable. I am not sure how many days or months went by between that public transition of authority and the departure of Moses. We know that he preached the book of Deuteronomy before he left. But with dignity, honor and unabated health, he left. He did not die because he was 120 years old. His task on Earth was completed. God was transitioning him to life at another level. He was ready.

Joshua was ready too. He had served Moses faithfully and boldly, even in the face of disappointment. Moses recognized his time to step down. Joshua had used 40 years of apprenticeship to prepare to step up. In those 40 years, God, Moses and the people saw that the “Spirit was in him.”

Optimal generational shifts and corporate change require people who are spiritually prepared to embrace the inevitable change and willingly inhabit their roles within the change. So, Moses climbs a mountain and Joshua assembles the people on a plain near the Jordan River.

It is here that the Divine voice counsels Joshua and each of us, by extension, to “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

If you are my age, you still have much to offer, but, you should consider pouring some of your experience, wisdom and authority into some younger people within whom is clear evidence of the Spirit of God.

If you are young and beginning or midstream in your development, practice and hone your faith in God, fidelity, loyalty, competence and courage. Don’t rush to power and prominence. However, when your turn comes, don’t shirk the mantle. God will not allow it to fall upon you without giving you adequate preparation. When the inevitable events occur for which there is no adequate preparation, trust that God is with you and will deliver your success.

As you embrace your challenges for today, like Joshua did, forge forward. Rehearse the visionary principle; that as long as you remember how God has led you, there need be no fear of where or how He will lead you now. Whatever your role or job, go get it! With the presence and strength of God, claim the territory that He has enlarged and prepared for you today.

~*~
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 Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md.

He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees: a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in 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.

You may connect with Chaplain Anderson via email at this address, psanderson75@gmail.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Courage

Choose to Be Courageous!
A devotional by Patricia Russell

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

–Matthew 14:27 (NLT)

Courage is a character trait we are all growing in. There is no timeline for reaching capacity. Joshua was told to “Be strong and courageous” in that moment and it would be a mindset he would have to walk in daily and grow in as the situations presented themselves.

We will be given opportunities where we need to choose to “be” courageous. Our Heavenly Father is so patient with us! In Matthew 14:13-21, we read of the event where Jesus Christ fed 5,000 people! You know it didn’t take five minutes for the team to feed all those people and pick up all the leftovers and garbage, not at all. But Jesus took the food (five loaves and two fish), blessed it then God made a way for the food to feed everyone to the point of fullness. There were even leftovers (twelve basketfuls of broken pieces, the Bible says)!

Another lesson in being strong and courageous is in taking time to go to a quiet place to be alone with God. During His time on Earth, Jesus did this daily. He always pulled aside to talk to His Father. That was His first priority that He always kept in order. He never missed an appointment with his Father.

After feeding the 5,000 people, Jesus instructed His disciples to get in a boat and cross to the other side (Matthew 14:22) of the lake while He sent the (fully fed) people home. While the disciples were out in the boat, a storm raged around them. The Bible says that they were “fighting heavy waves” (Matthew 14:24). All you boat lovers would just love the thrill of this but others like me would be wearing their lifejacket and holding on.

If you’ve ever been out at sea then you know when the sky looks blurry and the wind is blowing then you can start “seeing” things if you’re not careful. Well, Jesus in His own let-me-surprise-you way walked out on the water toward the boat. His disciples weren’t sure what they were seeing and thought it was a ghost. Jesus knew that they were terrified and shouted, “Don’t be afraid, “Take courage. I am here!”

Peter got himself together and yelled back, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” Jesus replied, “Yes, come.”

Peter heard Him say “Come” and decided to put his faith in action. He got out of the boat, fixed his eyes on Jesus and started walking on the water, toward Him. The Bible says in Matthew 14:30, “But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink.”

Peter represents all of us in this story. You know how it goes: We venture out of our comfort zone, and take the risk to do what we are called to do – afraid. But our minds are made up and our eyes are set on our goal, so we start to move toward it. Then out of nowhere comes a distraction in the form of a discourager, naysayer, bad news report or family member telling you you’ll never succeed! It is then that we have two choices: We can acknowledge, listen and agree with the distraction by changing course. OR we can choose to push past whatever form the distraction has come in and keep moving forward.

It comes down to a CHOICE. Courage is a CHOICE. You get to choose! Peter chose. He got out of the boat, started to move fearlessly toward His Savior but moments later, he became distracted and started sinking. The good news is that Jesus reached out and saved him! He did not let Peter go under the water and drown.

Not letting this teachable moment go by without applying it to help His student, Jesus as the Master Teacher, kindly admonished Peter for having “so little faith” then asked him, “Why did you doubt me?”

Let me just say this, if you got out of the boat, don’t stop. You picked up your pen and notepad to write or you turned on your computer and started to type that book. Good choices! Now, don’t stop. You started that business – don’t stop. You started speaking – don’t stop.

Whatever it is you have finally grabbed the courage to start, and you know this is what God called you to do, keep going and don’t stop. You can do this!

Here are some thoughts to help you keep pushing forward and stay courageous:

· Pray to God

· Study God’s Word (The Holy Bible)

· Read biographies of people who could have given up but didn’t

· Surround yourself with people who are growing

· Write your goals and post them so you can see them

The only ones who win and get the prize are those who endure to the end. So, arm yourself with a winning mindset, fix your eyes on Jesus Christ and move forward! When you stay focused on your Savior, you will not sink!

Let’s Pray: Father God, thank you for reminding me that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Just as You were with the disciples in the storm, I believe You are with me now. I will be bold and courageous today. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia Russell is a speaker, worship leader, author, certified life coach and songwriter.

Her gifts have been shared internationally with audiences to encourage, empower and share life lessons through words and songs. She has sung on national television broadcasts and shared the stage with several respected speakers. Over her 30 years in ministry, she has been a featured artist in musical cantatas locally and the United States of America.

Patricia had the honour of leading worship at the kick-off event for the 2006 the “Just Give Me Jesus” Toronto Revival with Anne Graham Lotz who is the eldest daughter of Billy Graham, a well-known American evangelist.

Patricia serves in ministry along with her husband Rev. Wayne Russell. Together, they have served as guest hosts on a local early morning call in program called “Nite Lite Live” that formerly aired on the CTS Television Network. They have two adult children Raquel and Benjamin.

Patricia has recorded two CD’s: “Lord I Trust You” and a live recording “Draw Me Nearer.” She is also an author. Her first book is titled Lord I Trust You: Words of Encouragement. It is meant to further encourage and share life lessons as a result of her cancer journey. She is a co-author of a #1 bestseller book titled Crushed Diamonds Still Sparkle, and she has compiled the recent #1 bestseller book titled Stronger Resilience.

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Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/patrussellsings
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrussellonline/
Email: patrussellsings@gmail.com

Romantic Reads: For the Love of Joy

The Story Behind the story For the Love of Joy by Janet W. Ferguson

When I started writing my novel The Art of Rivers which dealt with the very difficult topic of addiction, I had no idea I’d have the character of Davis Donnelly practically jump off the page with personality.

He was only planned to be a minor secondary character in that story who was a year sober and living in a sober living house. But his wit and his faith and hilarious sayings were such a blessing to me as I delved into such a sad topic to research and address. I believe this character was God’s gift to provide a bit of humor and relief both to me and the reader. He also showed up in the next novel Star Rising as a witty and encouraging friend to the heroine. At that point I knew Davis had to have his own story next.

In my mind, he’d had a tough background where he’d ended up in foster care. I knew that he’d been in the military in Afghanistan and had an IED blow up and kill one of his friends which contributed to his alcohol addiction. But what I didn’t realize right away was that there was a woman in his in past that he hadn’t quite let go of—his ex-wife Joy. Then as she began to fully form in my imagination, she was just as much a hoot as Davis. They were two sides of the same coin. She is a tough country girl who can hunt and fish and give Davis a run for his money, and her quirky colloquialism certainly rival his.

When I planned to write this story beginning in January 2020, I had no idea what a crazy year 2020 would be. Writing romantic comedy while the news is reporting doom and gloom was a challenge, but I also believe perhaps that was God’s plan too. I don’t know about you, but I sure needed something to laugh about!

~*~
Author Bio:

Janet W. Ferguson is a Grace Award winner, FHL Readers Choice Winner, and a Christy Award finalist. 

She grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. 

She has served as a children’s minister and a church youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. She writes humorous inspirational fiction for people with real lives and real problems.

Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space.

~*~
For the Love of Joy (book blurb):

Is he married or isn’t he? 

Years ago, a Dear John letter and then an IED explosion overseas rocked Davis Donnelly’s world and left him unclear about his marital status. He’d signed divorce papers, but broken mentally and physically, he’d never bothered to find out if his marriage actually ended. 

Now that he’s about to start a new position as an outreach minister, it’s time to settle things once and for all. At the moment he tracks down his wife—or former wife?—she takes a tumble while chasing a little boy. Her son. And that’s when life flips upside down.

Joy Jennings Donnelly made her share of mistakes. But one thing she never considered a mistake was her child, and she’ll do anything to protect him. Even keep his paternity a secret.

When she’s suddenly injured with not a soul to help her or her son, Joy is forced to rely on the man who has the most reasons to hate her.

~*~
Buy For the Love of Joy on Amazon or Barnes and Noble
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Connect with Janet:
Website: https://www.janetfergusonauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanetwFerguson
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/janet-w-ferguson
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15138027.Janet_W_Ferguson

Devotionals for the Heart: How to survive loneliness and thrive

Gaining a new perspective by tapping into innocence
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Do you ever get lonely? I used to struggle with loneliness a lot, especially in my teens and twenties. It still rears its ugly head on occasion.

When God created the first man, He knew right away Adam needed a companion. As it says in Genesis 2:18 (NIV), “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” From Adam, God made Eve—a suitable companion, a woman to join with him as “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).

I imagine God knew Adam would get lonely with no “kindred spirit,” no fellow human to talk with and share life with. Sometimes, when we’re lonely, upset, or grumpy, a companion is exactly what we need too. Sometimes it takes spending quality time with another person to reset. Often, that’s a spouse or close friend, and it works great.

But we humans can all too quickly lure each other into our own negative mindsets. The “grumpies” can spread like a virus—even worse than COVID. Think about the times you’ve been in a cranky mood and spent time with a friend who loves to gossip. Maybe it’s a laugh at first, but soon you start to feel worse. Crankiness begets crankiness.

That’s when I’ve found spending time with those seemingly “immune” to the grumpies—little kids, cute baby animals, or super-positive ray-of-sunshine friends—can be a big help. The innocence of children can be a balm to many a soul. Perhaps that’s why Jesus was indignant when his disciples rebuked parents for bringing Jesus little children for a prayer.

“He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:14b-16).

Animals, too, can be the same kind of balm. They can sense pain, sickness, and sadness, certainly. But they have a beautiful way of coping with it: they seem to rest in it, accepting the moment with peace.

We can often learn a lot from animals. They were created prior to and independently of humans, given the blessing of God, and instructed to “be fruitful and increase in number” (Genesis 1:22). Clearly they are of value to God—He enjoys them! He made them!

Other people are great. But there’s a unique and treasured beauty to the time we spend with those whose hearts are not tarnished by the world. Spending time with children or animals helps refresh our souls and bring a new perspective on life. Their innocence, authenticity, and simple appreciation of life can be infectious in a very good way.

If you’re struggling in life right now—whether it’s a bad day or a rotten season in your life, whether it’s mental illness or just a temporary period of “the blues”—think about ways you can cultivate that perspective of sunshine and innocence in your life.

Even in COVID, there might be volunteer opportunities at shelters or ways you can serve in your church with young kids. And if not, consider a FaceTime session with a relative or friend with littles, or funny animal videos on YouTube.

Today’s topic, gaining a new perspective by tapping into innocence, is one of 10 included in the free eBook I created to help people shrug off their worries and center themselves in the Lord. Called A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed, the book is FREE for anyone who signs up for my weekly blog. Learn more and get your copy here. (If you are already a blog subscriber but haven’t gotten your copy, just email meand I’ll send it to you.)

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for the fresh perspective you enable us to enjoy through children, animals, nature, and others who can so quickly brighten any cloudy day. Help us remember that joy is not an emotion but the hope we find in Christ, but also help us understand that choosing happiness—choosing to banish negativity and learning to be content in all circumstances—is a step each of us can make each day. Thank you for walking with us in all things. Help us shine Your light in the world. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian journalist, author, blogger, editor, and devotional writer. For the last decade, she’s been the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, which has won 118 journalism awards during her tenure.

She is the author of Feed My Sheep: A 40-Day Devotional to Develop a Heart for Hunger Ministry (2019) and More Like Jesus: A Devotional Journey (2018) and editor of Stories of Racial Awakening: Narratives on Changed Hearts and Lives of South Carolina United Methodists (2018), all from her newspaper’s Advocate Press.

She is a seasoned speaker and contributor to Crosswalk, Christianity.com, and the United Methodist News Service, among many others. She has a weekly faith blog at JessicaBrodie.com and is part of the team at Wholly Loved Ministries.

Represented by Bob Hostetler of The Steve Laube Agency, she is seeking a publishing contract for her two contemporary women’s fiction novels, The Memory Garden and Tangled Roots. The Memory Garden won the 2018 Genesis Award for Contemporary Fiction from American Christian Fiction Writers, and Tangled Roots placed in Contemporary Romance at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2019.

Married, Brodie has four children and stepchildren and lives in Lexington, South Carolina.

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Connect with Jessica:
Website: https://www.jessicabrodie.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaJBrodie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicajbrodie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicajbrodie/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicajbrodie/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shiningthelightjessicabrodie/

Happy New Year 2021!

 

Devotionals for the Heart: New Hope

A New Year, A New Hope
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” –Daniel 2:20-21 (NIV)

The year 2020 is finally over. Met with so much hope and potential at the start of a new decade, its time in history will forever be marred with memories of great difficulty and global chaos. Yet, I humbly pray that all of us will remember and be grateful for the small joys and victories that did occur, and especially for the faithfulness of God that brought us through to its conclusion.

As I sat down at the beginning of this week to plan for the new year with my 2021 calendar, I felt an intense need to take pause and seek God. In my 2020 calendar, there were so many empty dates on pages and canceled events crossed out. I felt humbled to pray and ask for God’s discernment before putting any marks or reminders on the new, fresh days ahead. The Bible warns us about boasting of our plans for tomorrow. James 4:14 (NIV) reads, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

This verse implies how fleeting life can be if we don’t understand its importance – that each day we are given is meant for God’s purpose.

So, how can we achieve this daily purpose if we can’t be sure what each day will bring? After all, no one expected the events of 2020! I’ll be the first admit that I don’t always approach each day and pray as the writer James says we ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15). As I sought to discern the answer to this daily struggle, God showed it to me using the book of Daniel in The Holy Bible.

Daniel’s story is one of a faithful servant of God struggling to maintain his purpose in difficult times. He was part of a noble class of Israelites in Jerusalem when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took over the city and ordered that “young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified” would serve in the king’s palace (Daniel 1:1, 4). Daniel was living a “charmed life” one day and became a servant to his enemy the next.

He could have caved to the hopeless situation, but he “resolved not to defile himself” (Daniel 1:8) because Daniel knew his strength to resist and persevere could only come from God. So, to Daniel and his friends, “God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds” (Daniel 1:17).

Daniel remained faithful and unwavering in his beliefs, so God caused his superior to show favor and compassion to Daniel. This favor led to more favor, and more supernatural interpretation from God that helped Daniel interpret the King’s troublesome dreams which in turn, saved him and his friends from death (Daniel 2:24-48). Daniel sought God’s will despite all his circumstances and trials, and in return God honored him.

Today, in this first day of 2021, we are all standing on a precipice of new hope, dawned fresh, wondrous, and full of our potential with God leading the way before us. He is faithful, true, just, and righteous! He always wants the best for us. He’s planned the best for us. We have but to daily seek to partner with His will in our mind, body, and spirit. To be one with Him and expectant of His grace and mercy. 

Come what may, God promises to sustain us, save us, and redeem us! 

Happy New Year 2021!

~*~
Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter, and theatre director/producer from Northern Virginia, where she teaches television production at her high school alma mater.

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is an alumnus of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program.

Mirachelle is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, American Fiction Writers Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.

She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII.

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Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan