Devotionals for the Heart: God cares about the desires of your heart

The Desires of our Hearts
A devotional by Hannah Benson

“You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

—Psalm 145:16 (ESV)

What desire do you have on your heart?

As humans, we naturally want so many things: a satisfying or well-paying job, a family of our own one day. Honestly, you could fill-in-the-blank with anything.

We know God loves to give us good things and bless His children, so at first glance, this verse might seem to contradict reality. After all, we don’t always get what we want when we want. Sometimes, we don’t get what we want at all. What gives?

Notice what this verse says: “[God] will satisfy the desire” not “God will give us everything we want.” It’s so hard to want something specific and be told “No” from God. Maybe you’ve been there or are still there. I get it. I’ve also been there. I often wonder why God says “No.” Why can’t I have what I want? And while we’re at it, why can’t I have what I want now?

The truth is, God is sovereign, and there could be a variety of reasons why He says no or makes us wait. If He were to give us everything we wanted when we wanted, then we would be the gods over our own lives, and we’d have no reason to trust Him. In other words, God would be a genie to us. Second, He could be protecting us from unseen harm. Other times, God might say “No” because He was better plans in store for us. Or maybe, it’s simply not a “No”, but a “Wait.”

I believe that God will give us the desire of our hearts if they are aligned with His will for us. If our wants are not aligned with His plan for us, then He will change our hearts to want what He wants. Even though it’s so hard to surrender our plans, God truly does know best. After all, His plans are for our good, to give us a future filled with hope, and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11).

As a young child, I had specific desires God laid on my heart, dreams that looked impossible to achieve. I prayed so hard every day, faith filling my heart, yet not seeing any answers to my prayers. Eventually, I gave up those desires to God, fully surrendering them to Him. It wasn’t until years later that God brought those dreams to life again, resurrecting what I’d laid to rest, and showing me that He does fulfill the desires of our hearts. It may not be in our timing (most of the time it probably isn’t), but the desires of our hearts are there for a reason.

And even if I don’t get what I want, I have found that whatever I want pales in comparison to the desire of knowing and loving Jesus. That, more than anything, is the deepest desire of my heart. Often, God will ask me to surrender a desire or a dream. Sometimes, it means truly letting go because it’s not His best for me, but other times, it’s because it’s not time yet. When my heart is “empty” and longs for something else, it’s then that God steps in and fills the void in my heart, reminding me He’s the only One who can truly satisfy me anyway.

Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV) says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

The desire of truly knowing and loving Jesus Christ and walking with Him will always be met.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Father God, it’s so hard for me to believe that You will fulfill the desires of my heart when there are so many unanswered prayers and unmet wants in my life. But I know, more than anything, that You are the ultimate desire of my heart. I know that desire will be met even if in life I don’t get what I want. Thank You for the truth of Your love! In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “The Secret Place” by Phil Wickham. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hannah Benson is a Jesus-follower who’s passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others. 

From the time she could hold a pen, she was writing. But it wasn’t until she was sixteen that she began to follow God’s calling to pursue writing seriously. Hannah is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). In addition to fiction, she also writes devotionals and has been published on other websites. Her prayer is that her readers leave deeply encouraged and more in love with Jesus.

When not writing, Hannah also enjoys being involved with local theater companies, with a primary focus on Biblical theater. She wants to show the love of Jesus through the creative arts.

You can read more of Hannah’s writings on her blog or on her Instagram where she strives to write content that leaves others feeling encouraged.

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Connect with Hannah:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hannah-Lynn-Writer/100073790792576/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlbensonwrites/

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Grace

God's Grace Holds Us Together
A devotional by Sarah Cole

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV) 

As a dog sitter, part of my job is finding compatible breeds for my dachshund Frank.

Last summer, I took a chance on Rufus, a 45-pound bulldog. Well behaved and sweet, Rufus seemed like a good fit. But Frank insisted on being the center of attention, and his jealous rage ignited an all-out war for my affection.

When Frank simmered down, I thought I had a handle on the chaos. But when Rufus rolled in the mud at the dog park, jumped in the kiddy pool, and then shook himself—an act that splashed water and dirt all over my new outfit, I had a had a temper tantrum. As pet parents watched me storm away, I felt powerless and ashamed of my weakness.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians, he had reason to boast (2 Corinthians 12). After he witnessed a vision of Heaven, God kept Paul’s pride in check by allowing Satan to afflict him with a “thorn in the flesh.” In his suffering, Paul surrendered himself to God, and his weakness became his greatest strength.

We can learn a lesson from this Bible story because when we experience victory, our pride often keeps us from admitting we need God’s help. Yet Jesus understands our weaknesses, and instead of holding them against us, His grace holds us together.

Merriam-Webster defines grace as “unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification.” As an extravagant act of mercy, Jesus Christ went to the cross to pay the penalty our sins deserve (1 Corinthians 6:20). His resurrection made it possible for us to have a relationship with Him and His spirit within us changes us into His likeness (Philippians 2:13). When we’re tempted to beat ourselves up for falling short, we must remember that God’s wrath was satisfied by the beating Jesus took for us.

If you’ve reached a boiling point and feel like giving up on yourself, Jesus won’t give up on you. He died to give you victory, not defeat (1 Corinthians 15:57). So, instead of living in shame and regret over your weaknesses, let Him empower you to overcome them. He lived a perfect life, so you don’t have to! If you’re a perfectionist like me, there's no better news than that.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, the battle between my flesh and spirit has left me discouraged and defeated. When I’m tempted to try and fix myself, You gently remind me that your grace is enough to enable me to finish strong. You walk alongside me, making me more like Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for your extravagant love and grace when I need it the most. You are my strength when I’m at my weakest, and I rejoice in You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Everything Falls” by Fee. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Sarah Cole’s interest in writing began in grade school when her poem was published in the local paper. Since then, she has written for her college newspaper and two community newspapers where she wrote restaurant reviews and articles for their ‘best of’ spread.

Her experience as an administrator in the marketing field gave her the opportunity to write ads for a local business journal.

After a 20-year detour and a three-year season of adversity, God reignited her passion to write. Two divine appointments later, the short story she wrote about her father appeared in the St. Paul Almanac, and a short story about her cocker spaniel Gigi was published in Mysterious Ways by Guideposts. She believes her adversity was worth the lessons God taught her.

Sarah's devotionals have been published in David C. Cook’s The Quiet Hour and Devotions, The Secret Place by Judson Press, and Pray a Word a Day by Guideposts. Her short story will be featured in an upcoming book, Too Amazing For Coincidence, also to be published by Guideposts. To this day, Sarah smiles, pinches herself and gives God all the glory.

When she's not writing, she's enjoying her hobbies that include dog sitting, watching cooking shows and taking day trips.

~*~
Connect with Sarah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smittyc65
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@SarahCo45835279
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.cole.52 

Devotionals for the Heart: When springtime brings hope to your heart

The Unfolding Hope of Spring
A devotional by Joy Beless

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.”

—1 Peter 1:3-4a (NIV)

I love the Spring season! I love this season so much that I have my desk situated in front of the windows just so I can watch spring unfold. There is a predictability to it—knowing which trees will leaf and bloom first. Sunny yellow daffodils pop up to greet the bleak winter days. Like unfolding a letter from a dear friend whom I haven’t heard from in a while, so does my view come to life and color. What is happening in nature mirrors my soul—an awakening to a living hope, through Jesus Christ.

For Christians, resurrected life, like spring, is a gift from our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead as witnessed by over 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:6) over a period of 40 days before ascending to Heaven (Acts 1:3). As followers of Jesus, we too will live with Him in resurrected bodies in Heaven one day. This gave Peter’s readers of his letter great hope during the persecution they endured as Christians. And it gives us great hope today to know that our lifetime on this earth is not all there is.

But it is possible to experience the “living hope” today that mirrors springtime and new life surrounding me. To step into the freedom we have as God’s children, forgiven and deeply loved. To receive Christ’s invitation to come and rest in Him, as a child would with a loving father. Keeping in view Christ’s teaching and scriptures that remind us of Heaven, with no tears and no pain, as we navigate life (Revelation 21:4).

I have lived through “winter” seasons of life that were difficult with grief, conflict, and no hope. Discouraging and exhausting, with seemingly unanswered prayers, the days loomed dark and gray. One such season for me was an intersection of intense caregiving and grief with other family needs. My father and aunt for different reasons both ended up in side by side rooms in a skilled nursing facility. For my aunt, she passed away after a few difficult months but for my father, it began a crisis-oriented three year journey of care. Caring for those you deeply love on a slow journey of decline while juggling your everyday responsibilities takes a toll on your own emotional, physical and spiritual health.

However, the winter seasons of life cause me to depend on Jesus in ways I never would have. Experiencing His mercy in small moments, His presence filling my soul through a song or scripture gives sustaining strength to walk through the long days of despair. Taking time to be alone with God, resting and leaning into the comfort of the Holy Spirit brought healing and hope back into my life. It was like a daffodil braving the chilly early spring days. Receiving counsel through grief healing groups and meeting with a spiritual director breathed new life and new seasons of purpose and strength. Like a barren tree in the cold, my roots of faith grew deep. I experienced God in an intimate, but quiet way to endure the season. I no longer had answers but knew I was not alone in the journey. And neither are you.

Lean into the Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised and dwells within you. Talk with God about the situations that seem hopeless. Look for that small “bud of color”, despite the circumstances.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

You are the source of our “living hope” when we are discouraged and disillusioned. We praise you for the miracle of resurrected life, both within our souls and one day, reunited with you in heaven. Encourage us in difficult seasons. Remind us of our “inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:4). We thank you that this existence on Earth is not all there is. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Seasons Change” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Joy Beless is a worshipper of God and lover of people.

A practicing Spiritual Director, she is a speaker for retreats and conferences and facilitates guided solitude retreats at the family ranch in North Texas.

A seasoned worship leader and songwriter, she frequently weaves worship, God’s Word and spiritual practices together. She is a chapel provider for a shelter for the houseless and a certified Grief and Trauma Healing Facilitator. Serving at global retreats for Kingdom-minded women delights her soul.

She has written for Global Trellis and Missio Nexus. She connects God’s Word with the reality of our daily in all the ups and downs.

Joy is married to Roger. They live in Coppell (Texas). Joy is called "JoJo" by her nine adorable grandchildren. She enjoys the outdoors and encourages flowers to grow in the Texas heat.

~*~
Connect with Joy:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joy.beless
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joy.beless/
Website: www.joybeless.org

Movie Review: The Hopeful

My Review of The Hopeful (movie)

Today, I have another movie review for you and a giveaway contest at the end of this post! Momentum Influencers Network asked me to watch an early screening of a new movie they are promoting: The Hopeful.

Here’s the synopsis of The Hopeful with words from Momentum:

William Miller’s faith is in ruins. After miraculously surviving a fierce battle in the War of 1812, Miller questions why God spared him. His search for wisdom leads to an astonishing prophesy: The world is going to end!

The Hopeful unfolds as a story of a man burdened with the knowledge of Christ’s return. Miller’s message resonates with some—even as it is scorned by others. When a young woman named Ellen Harmon listens to one of his sermons she is transformed. And through her witness the message begins to take flight. The preaching grows beyond prophecy and develops into a more holistic vision for how Christians should live and worship.

We see blossoming the seeds of a new global movement of faith—the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Hopeful is the true story of a community whose lives were transformed as they learn what it means to truly wait for Jesus. This sweeping drama, set in 19th century New England, invites audiences of all ages to imagine how hope can change the world.

~*~

Now for my review:

The Hopeful is a movie that was inspired by real-life events.

Bill Lake plays the role of William Miller who survives an attack on the battlefield that should have resulted in his death. He’s astonished and curious to know why he’s still alive. So he turned to studying God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and this begins his journey of faith as the Holy Spirit leads him to all truth according to Scripture. However, he misunderstood some of his readings that convinced him Jesus Christ was going to return in 1844 to take His faithful followers home to Heaven. Passionate about his discovery but conflicted, Miller was reluctant to share this idea as well as other teachings that were more accurate. It took his wife to convince him to share it. But once he starts sharing it, the news spreads like wildfire as he travels to preach about it.

A young lady named Ellen Harmon (later married to James White and known as Ellen G. White) listened to one of Miller’s sermons and her life changes forever when she realizes that God is not only a Judge, He is Love. And it is His Love that inspires Ellen to tell the world about Him through her own writing and speaking inspired by God who gives her visions that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is known by such as the health message (practicing a plant-based diet, daily exercise and lifestyle choices that promote optimal health for the human body) and the keeping of Saturday as Sabbath (based on Exodus 20:8-11).

Tommie-Amber Pirie played the role of Ellen G. White who was an American author and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Pirie’s acting skills are superb! She stayed in character throughout the entire film and portrayed Ellen with grit, grace and elegance.

Stephen MacDonald played the role of James White who was Ellen’s husband. I like how the producers told their love story. I also appreciated seeing how applying the health message saved his life after he suffered a stroke and enabled him to live many more years in good vitality.

Even though Miller was wrong about the date of Christ’s return (Note: The Bible says in Matthew 24:36 that only God knows when He’s sending Jesus Christ back to Earth to take His faithful followers home to Heaven), I thought it was inspiring to see how that great disappointment led to a movement that birthed the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Overall, I think this film deserves five stars! Everything about it was well-done, engaging, inspirational and educational. I hope you will see it in theaters on April 17 or April 18.

~*~

More words from Momentum:

Buy tickets to see The Hopeful in theaters only on April 17-18, 2024.

Watch the trailer for The Hopeful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QkLDug4d7s

Buy tickets to see The Hopeful in theaters:
https://www.fathomevents.com/events/the-hopeful/

Follow The Hopeful on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realhopestudios/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realhopestudios

Watch Jean’s interview with Kyle Portbury (director of The Hopeful):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsI6LH7EsSQ

Visit the official movie page for The Hopeful:
https://thehopefulmovie.com

~*~

Final Notes:

Momentum Influencers Network would like to give a $10 Amazon gift card to the winner of this giveaway contest! Please note: This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only.

Here is the Giveaway Contest link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8dcb68c495/?

Disclosure: Many thanks to Hope Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review.
Opinions are 100% my own. 

#TheHopefulMIN #thehopefulmovie #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Devotionals for the Heart: What car trouble taught me about trusting God

Car Trouble Taught Me about the Goodness of God 
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.” 

—Psalm 69:16 (NIV)

When we’re in a season of affliction or trouble, crying out to God for help is a natural response for most people. Enduring relentless pain or scorn can be unbearable at times. Excruciating at others.

King David wrote Psalm 69, and he knew trouble. He knew hardships, running, enemies, pain, affliction, and he knew the mercy of God. It is what makes this Psalm so relatable.

There are three attributes of God’s character he calls on in this one verse: goodness, love and mercy. It reminds me of another Psalm written by King David. Psalm 23:6 (NIV) says, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

God’s goodness is beyond measure and something inexplainable with mere words. His goodness passed before Moses when he was in the cleft of the rock (see Exodus 34:6). The Lord’s goodness is so great, He had to hide Moses. Only then could Moses glimpse God’s goodness.

Have you felt the goodness of God before? Have you felt His Presence so powerful and real that you felt enveloped in His love? How did it make you feel? Overwhelmed? In awe? As if you were standing on holy ground?

There are times in my life when I have felt His goodness and I was left in awe because of it. These moments are powerful in that they left me without a doubt of His being in my life, in the here and now and in my moments of deep desperation.

On a recent trip out of state, we had five hundred miles to travel on a lonely two-lane highway for much of the time. Not more than three hours into our trip we experienced significant truck engine issues—so much so, we had to backtrack 45 miles to get help as it was the nearest town with nothing being ahead of us for many, many miles.

We were desperate, we needed saving, we needed help and we needed it fast. We needed God to show us His mercy in this situation, His guidance and His goodness. And He did. Multiple times over. Before we knew we needed a solution, it was there. Before we could worry, He had an answer.

As the day wore into evening, and we were again experiencing more engine troubles, we cried out to God for His mercy. As we drove along the desolate stretch of highway, with my husband driving, I was praying out loud for God’s mercy because we had nowhere else to turn. No town was ahead of us, no town behind us. It was pitch dark outside, late and getting later, colder and darker. We cried out for His goodness to follow us, to lead us and for His mercy to sustain us. He did just that. When we were tempted to worry, God reminded us of His goodness. When we were tempted to take our eyes off of Him and onto the desolate road in front of us, He reminded us our help was found in Him, and Him alone. When we were tempted to turn around and go back, He reminded us we needed to God forward in Him, not backwards. With the Lord’s complete guidance, we did in fact make it to our destination, intact.

As we put our trust, hope and hearts upon the Lord, we experienced His peace, His grace and His love. We were so thankful for this demonstration of God’s presence in our lives in real time and in our very real moment of desperation.

The Bible says in Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV), “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is truth. God’s peace does guard our hearts and minds. He keeps us in peace and places protection found in His Presence around us so we cannot falter. And it is good. So good.

Are you needing His goodness, love and mercy in your situation? Why not cry out to God and allow Him to pour them over you and leave you in His perfect peace?

Let’s Pray: Father God, You are amazing and Your goodness, love and mercy are what I need, now and every day. Forgive me for when I have allowed myself to fret when I should have gone to You immediately. I am here, asking for Your goodness to follow me. Your love to chase me. And Your mercy to envelope me. I praise You for all You do. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children and one brand new daughter-in-love, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served in the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the United States of America to raise their family.

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 23 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s.

Whether it’s singing in our church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than eight years, a Bible study writer for two years, and a devotional writer for about one year.

Kerry Sue writes about finding God’s Sovereignty in our pain and suffering.

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Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/

Devotionals for the Heart: Surrender

The Way of Surrender
A devotional by Jamie De Silvia

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”—Mark 14:36 (NIV)

I had very little church background when I gave my life to Jesus Christ on Valentine’s Day in 1988. With a great deal of curiosity and determination, I set out to learn all that I could about the One who had saved me. Oh, how I yearn to share with my 16-year-old self the insights and wisdom I've gained since then about walking with Jesus.

I would tell her not to worry so much about her sin, that Jesus went to the cross knowing she would make a million mistakes, both deliberately and unintentionally. I would assure her that our Heavenly Father is carrying her in His hands, not holding her at arm's length in disapproval. I would warn her against wasting years of her life trying to please God by performing in her own strength. I’d tell her that transformation isn’t her job—it’s the Holy Spirit inside her who will accomplish it. I would take her hand, look her in the eyes, and tell her that the answer to every problem and challenge is simply surrender.

Today, I understand what I could not comprehend on that special day 36 years ago: The most important thing for me to practice is letting go of control and putting my full trust in the Lord. It took me a long time to come to this realization because many things are easier than surrender. Worrying, performing, controlling, planning, and analyzing are all easier than surrendering. Jesus Himself showed us when He was pleading with God in the Garden of Gethsemane, how agonizing it can be to lay down your own will and accept God’s will instead.

Surrendering to the Father’s call to the cross was likely the very hardest thing that Jesus was required to do. Laying down His life and saying yes to God caused Him to feel “deeply distressed and troubled” and his soul was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Mark 14:33-34). This agony was not just about dying. Jesus knew that saying yes to God meant surrendering control over the present moment and the outcome—as well as His body, His voice, His ministry, His disciples, and His life.

According to Mark 14:36 (NIV), Jesus called to “Abba, Father” because God was the only One who could help Him. He professed his faith and trust when He said, “Everything is possible for You.” He still asked for an alternate path when He whispered, “Take this cup from me.” And finally He surrendered with these words: “Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Knowing how difficult this was for Jesus gives us two helpful insights. The first insight is that He understands how hard surrender is to do. Jesus knows that surrender can feel like suffering, and even He wanted to suffer less. He knows it will take a lot of practice for us to learn to let God choose the cup that we drink from, surrendering all other alternatives as He did.

The second insight is that if true surrender pushed Jesus to His limit, how much more will it push us beyond our limits? I am here to testify that we absolutely cannot do it in our own power. We need Jesus to hold our hand and provide the willingness, determination, and power to lay down control of our lives and our will.

Beloved, Jesus sees how hard it is for you to let go. He knows the fear and grief that accompany surrender. He understands your questions and concerns. Share them! Invite Him into your wrestling and then ask Him to help you say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Let’s Pray: Lord, I confess to wanting my own way so much of the time. Open my eyes to see the daily situations that allow me to practice yielding control. Jesus, show me the way of surrender. Teach me to trust in the Father as You did when You were here on Earth. Have Your way in me. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I Surrender All” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jamie De Silvia is an author and speaker from Southern California with a passion for helping women connect with the heart of God. She hosts the “Pressing In” podcast.

She has authored two devotional books: Come Hear the Song of the Shepherd (a 30-day devotional journey through Psalm 23), and You Shall Be Praised (a 40-day devotional offering a fresh perspective on Proverbs 31).

You can find her on Instagram and Facebook daily, offering encouragement to help you draw closer to Jesus Christ.

Jamie is married with two adult daughters and a teenage son. She is also a homeschooling mom who enjoys oil painting, playing games with her family, and savoring a good chai latte.

~*~
Connect with Jamie:
Website: https://jamiedesilvia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiedesilvia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiedesilviaauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamiedesilvia
Email: jamie@jamiedesilvia.com

Devotionals for the Heart: What the Solar Eclipse Taught Me about Life

Reflections about the Solar Eclipse
A devotional by Aubrey Taylor

“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”—Revelation 21:23 (NIV)

Many Americans have been looking forward to this day, April 8, for over a year because of the solar eclipse. This is especially true in my hometown, which happens to lie directly in the arc that cuts from Mexico to Canada, where residents can view a total solar eclipse without having to travel.

With such an exciting moment upon us, I asked God to give me a few things to reflect on today. If you live in another part of the country, or another country altogether, I pray these meditations might still bless you.

During a solar eclipse, the moon’s shadow seems to blot out the brightness of the sun. It is amazing that something so much smaller than the sun can block out such great light. This made me think: How often do I allow small things to block out the light of God? Whether they are bad things or good things, do I allow them to linger in the forefront of my mind, dimming His light and casting a shadow in my life?

Of course, there are dark seasons in our lives that seem to fall over us though we have done nothing to bring them on. During an eclipse, the sun’s light is temporarily blocked by the moon, but it does not stay that way. The moon moves on, continuing in the path laid out for it from before time. Likewise, God moves seasons of darkness in and out of our lives at their appointed times.

The most exciting part of a solar eclipse is called “totality”, which is when the moon’s shadow completely covers the sun. This darkest moment is the only time at which the sun’s corona can be seen from Earth. It seems to me that in my own darkest moments, I get to know God in special ways that I never would have if I had lived continually in light and warmth.

My husband purchased special glasses for us to use to view the eclipse. Looking directly at the sun can damage the eyes. Likewise, God is so holy, no one can look upon Him and live. Yet one day we will see Him face to face. We will see Him as He truly is! According to 1 Corinthians 13:12 (KJV), “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” The concept of seeing through a glass darkly is the English rendering of a single Greek word; ainigma (from which we get our English word “enigma”). It means something that is obscured.

The part of the country I live in happens to be known for long, dark winters in which the sun is regularly obscured by clouds. We may go for weeks without seeing the sun. It is difficult and depressing. It can sometimes be hard to remember that the sun is even there! When I first began struggling with depression decades ago, I did not know that Jesus Christ would eventually bring me out. I had to live through a few of those seasons before I learned to trust that the darkness would end, and the Son (Jesus who is the Light of the world) would shine again.

One day, there will be no more dark clouds, no more eclipses, and no more night—there will be no sun, either! Revelation 21:23 (NIV) tells us that the New Jerusalem (God’s city), “does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”

So much anticipation and preparation has gone into this day. It has been estimated that 500,000 people will flood our area to view the eclipse today. Local hotels have been booked for months, road signs are calling for gridlock, and my family has been invited to three separate “eclipse watching parties.” Yet the spectacle will only last a few minutes. When we see Jesus Christ in Heaven, we will be in His presence forever. In light of that, let us ask God that we might view His return with still greater anticipation!

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus, thank You for the beauty of creation, the sun and moon which give us our seasons, and the way their predictable rotation reminds us of your faithfulness. I pray that Your light will never be eclipsed in my life, and that I will learn to look forward to Your second coming with greater anticipation. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “No More Night” by David Phelps. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Light of That City” by Allison Durham Speer. Listen to it here. 

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Author Bio:

The only child of a single parent, Aubrey Taylor filled her younger years by creating characters and writing stories. This ended around age sixteen when music, friends and part-time jobs began to fill her time. After that came college, work, marriage, and children.

It wasn’t until the world was beginning to come out of the COVID pandemic that God led her back to her love for writing, coupled with a passion she’d always had for history. It was time to start a new adventure!

Along with writing devotionals, Aubrey is the author of the German-perspective 20th Century Fiction series, Gott Mit Uns. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and three children. When she’s not writing or taking care of her home and family, she enjoys singing and dancing with friends from a German choir and a Bavarian folk dancing group. She is also a lover of Jesus Christ, The Holy Bible, history, German culture, tea, and cats!

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Connect with Aubrey:
Website: https://www.aubreytaylorbooks.com
Blog: https://www.aubreytaylorbooks.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aubreytaylorbooks/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aubtaybooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aubreytaylorbooks/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21846520.Aubrey_Taylor
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/aubrey-taylor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Aubrey-Taylor/author/B0973KWXV8