Devotionals for the Heart: Why Jesus Christ wants us to focus on Him

Fixing our eyes on the One who gave His life for us
A devotional by Regina Marcazzo-Skarka

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”—Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

Hebrews 12:2 is one of two verses that I recite to myself most mornings before I get out of bed every day. I chose the verse as one to keep me grounded and focused on the one who saved me instead of the trials and sadness that sometimes drag me into a pity party and make me feel far from God.

Do I think Jesus Christ was happy about the race He willingly marked for himself to suffer and die on a cross? Jesus who lived a perfect, sinless life, was surrounded by two criminals and jeered at by countless people watching His crucifixion. To top it off, He was worn and in pain from being tortured and nailed to the cross.

But He did it because of the joy it would give him knowing that we would spend eternity with Him in glory. How can we live a life worthy of His sacrifice?

It is not easy or possible but praise God that we don’t have to. After all, we are saved by grace through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

As Christians, we take part in the lifelong sanctification process and are called to follow the path Jesus “pioneered” for us by focusing on Jesus and reflecting on what He did for us and how He lived while He was on Earth. Jesus not only died for us to save us from our sins; He gave us an advocate (the Holy Spirit) to live inside us and guide us while we are still living in this fallen world. Jesus gave us everything we need. I am grateful.

If you’re anything like me, it’s easy to get sidetracked and let the things of the world become a source of discouragement. We should try not to let our mind stray to negativity or sadness. Instead, we should strive to move forward, trusting God’s perfect will for us with the help of His Word (The Holy Bible), through community with other believers, and by using our experiences to help others. Sometimes we just need to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).

But how do we fix our eyes on Jesus when there are so many distractions and so much pain that we hear about every day via the news and other sources?

Feasting on God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and fellowshipping with other believers is important, as is praying without ceasing. Thinking about the lives of Bible heroes and the trials they endured can also lead to gratitude and wonder thanks to the power of God. Reading through the great faith chapter (Hebrews 11) in the Bible and remembering the lives of incredible men and women who obeyed God through trials and tasks that most of us could never imagine, is very inspiring—especially when we read that some of those people we read about in the Bible never saw the promised outcome on this side of Heaven.

I’ve often tried to figure out who amazes me more: Abraham who ventured into unknown territory then brought his son Isaac to be sacrificed, or Noah who appeared as a fool building a gigantic ark because God told him to in preparation of the flood God would send. Noah built the ark despite everyone thinking he was crazy because rain never poured out from the sky. And there are so many more true stories in the Bible about heroes of the faith who obeyed God without question.

Hebrews 12:1 begins with “therefore” which refers to the great faith chapter as a reminder of how well the heroes of Hebrews 11 trusted God even through intense adversity and how we should remember that faith and trust God as we navigate both hardship and good times.

I may not always like the race marked out for me, but I love the idea of running that race with perseverance and with gratefulness always remembering how Jesus, my Savior, died so that I could live.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

Thank You for your sacrifice on the cross and the pain you bore to save me. I praise You for filling me with the Holy Spirit and ask that I be reminded to seek Him in every decision. I pray that throughout my life I would grow in my faith and that I would live my life sharing You with those who do not know You. Help me to fix my eyes on You every moment of my day. Help me to show love to others like You showed love to me. Teach me how to live a life that shows a reflection of You in me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Hillsong Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “I Will Follow Christ” by Clay Crosse, Bebe Winans & Bob Carlisle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Fix My Eyes” by for King and Country. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Every Moment” by Forever Jones. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “Thank You Jesus for the Blood” by Charity Gayle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “Knowing You, Jesus” by Graham Kendrick. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “Everything” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #8: “Mercy Tree” by Lacey Sturm. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Regina Marcazzo-Skarka is a writer, a journalist, and a lover of Jesus Christ, her family, church, mission trips, travel and foreign languages. 

Having traveled to over 25 countries, her exploring the world has only just begun. She has also been part of numerous mission trips both domestic and international. She loves getting to know people, their languages and their culture. A life dream of hers is to speak five languages. So far, she speaks English, French, Italian and some Spanish. Her goal is to improve her Spanish speaking skills and to learn a language with a different alphabet, perhaps Arabic.

Regina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with a minor in Romance Languages from City University of New York, Hunter College; a Master’s Degree in Journalism from New York University; and a Master’s Degree in Teaching Foreign Language from SUNY Stony Brook. Regina has studied in France. Regina has also studied, lived and worked in Italy.

She taught high school French and Italian for 17 years before retiring from teaching. Prior to teaching, she worked as a journalist, both freelance and as a staff writer for local Long Island, New York weeklies. She also spent two years as a United Nations employee in the Department of Public Information. She currently writes full-time for a weekly newspaper in St. Lucie County, Florida.

Regina is currently working on proposals for two books that she is writing.

She is blessed with an awesome husband of 34 years and two children, their spouses and three treasured grandchildren.

~*~
Connect with Regina:
Website: https://reginamarcazzoskarka.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipeoutworry/
Email: ginamarcazzo@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to choose our friends wisely

Why We Need to Choose Our Friends Wisely
A devotional by Leslie Bake

“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”—Proverbs 12:26 (NIV)

Who we spend our time with determines who we become.

Birds of a feather flock together. Those who share similar values are drawn to one another and will influence each other.

My social circle in sixth grade consisted of two girls. We will call them “Carrie” and “Grace.” In seventh grade, a friend I had known in elementary school transferred to my school. We will call her “Mary.” Grace came from divorced parents and her mother lived in another state. Carrie came from a turbulent home. The four of us always ate lunch together.

Eventually, our personality differences in our friend group emerged. Mary and I were academically better than the other two and she was better socially. By seventh grade, Mary and I were two peas in a pod. The summer before our eighth-grade year, she lost her mother to breast cancer. She drifted from me during eighth grade and spent more time with Grace. It made sense. They were both motherless.

I took her rejection personally because I lacked the maturity to realize what was happening. “Carrie” was furious at our four-some split and clung to me while demonizing the other two. I allowed Carrie to define me and followed her down an unfortunate path of bad choices during high school. During our sophomore year of high school, Carrie introduced me to her boyfriend, a short-lived relationship. I thought nothing of him at that time, but a year later, he and I landed in the same chemistry class.

As a junior in high school, I had yet to understand who Jesus Christ was or my identity in Him, even though I followed my parents to church on Sundays. Does any average American teenager know who he or she in Christ? Does he or she spend time reading The Holy Bible? Social relationships at that age are defined less by religious values and more by academics and extracurricular activities.

This guy and I dated, but for all wrong reasons and then said “I do” for wrong reasons. He mocked the Lord and I wanted to change his beliefs so that he would honor the Lord. That didn’t work so well.

We followers of Jesus need to remind ourselves in any stage of life and relationship forming that, as Scripture says in Psalm 1:1-2 (NIV), “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” We will live blessed, joyful lives if we form deeper relationships with those who are also believers.

We need to walk away from the wicked. We need to remove ourselves from the company of those who mock the Lord. We must not walk in step with the wicked or entertain those with hardened hearts toward the Lord. They have no intention to repent to God and ask forgiveness for their sins. They enjoy their sins.

Does this feel judgmental? Perhaps stay in bad relationships because we think: What if they feel rejected? What if we make a bad impression? What if this costs us a job? If we are studying and meditating on God’s word, we will not want to be in the company of mockers or the wicked.

Our job as believers is to influence others for the Lord, not to allow others to influence us with their deception, false beliefs and bad attitudes. How do we discern if our time with those who don’t know the Lord is benefiting them or hurting us? It’s either one or the other.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in discerning who to spend time with and who to avoid. Clarity will come when you have spent enough time with the Lord because He may remove individuals from your circle of influence. Godly friends will encourage you to draw closer to God rather than hinder your relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit in you will attract other righteous people and repel those with less than pure motives. It’s not a popularity contest. It’s protecting your peace.

Some of us have a tendency to form toxic relationships based on our own neediness and dysfunction. That’s why our relationship with Jesus Christ must be our top priority. Everything else in our lives flows from this source of our Savior’s unconditional, pure and enduring love for humankind.

The challenge, then, is to develop the discipline of consistent study and meditation. That’s not so easy, even for those who are actively pursuing a deeper relationship with the Lord. In an age of sound bites, headlines, Instagram reels, and social media scrolling, meditating requires reading, thinking, and reviewing what we are learning in God’s Word (The Holy Bible). It also means praying about how we must change and grow so we will live how God lead us and wants us to live.

Some relationships were never meant to be long term. The Lord brings relationships into our lives for a season—sometimes to test us, other times to minister to us. Proverbs 12:26 also reminds us that the righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Carrie and I kept in contact during my undergraduate college years. She did not attend college. During a challenging period of my young adult life, she disappeared and I haven’t heard from her in 30 years. Grace disappeared after high school graduation. Mary lives in the Midwest, and I live in the southeast, but we message each other regularly and giggle like we’re in seventh grade again. Our “feathers” never changed.

The Lord also taught me a hard lesson in that first marriage: Don’t ever date or marry someone who does not already honor the Lord. Walk away from the wicked and don’t look back. I hope you can learn from my mistakes and make better choices for your own life as you strive to live for Christ.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help us make wise choices in who we surround ourselves with, who we choose to spend time with and who we date and marry. Help us to develop a hunger for Jesus as our Savior, first, before our relationships with humans. Help us make You a higher priority, even if that results in loneliness. Thank You, Lord, that You remain a safe place for us. Your unconditional love and faithfulness for humankind is endless. Thank You, Lord! Protect us from anyone trying to manipulate us into a friendship that benefits only them and leads us away from You. Build our circle of friends, Lord. Bless us with true friendships with people who genuinely love You and love us in a healthy and safe way. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Friends” by Michael W. Smith. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Safe” by Alisa Turner. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Friend of God” by Israel Houghton & Churchome Music. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “How Beautiful” by Twila Paris. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Leslie Bake grew up Lutheran in Des Moines, graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with an undergraduate degree in English, and with a new understanding of what a relationship with the Lord could look like. 

She spent a few years reporting and editing in small town journalism and then began pursuing a master’s degree at Iowa State University in teaching English to speakers of other languages. Then she got married and later went through a divorce, which deepened her relationship with God and transformed her life.

Leslie taught English as a second language for three years at Kansas State University, then returned to writing and earned a master’s degree in creative non-fiction in Pittsburgh. Her memoir will eventually be published. It details the process of how the Lord created beauty from the ashes of divorce.

Pittsburgh is also where she met and married her second husband. They are now the parents of two wonderful children—one in fifth grade and one in first grade.

Leslie and her husband make their home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Leslie has been a stay-at-home mom for the past 11 years and actively growing her writing career alongside her two growing children.

She now maintains a monthly blog of her own and is working toward expanding her writing ministry on Substack. Her heart’s deepest desire is to help others connect with God through writing.

~*~
Connect with Leslie:
Substack: lesliebake.substack.com
E-mail address: Leslie.bake@yahoo.com

Devotionals for the Heart: What roadwork construction taught me about God's plan for our life

When We Are Under Construction
A devotional by Colleen C. Howard

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

—Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Lately, most places I go there’s construction.

Signs are screaming these words: Road Work Ahead.

Giant flashing arrows and orange cones litter the neighborhood. I find these setbacks annoying and inconvenient, especially during rush hour.

Since I can’t avoid it, there are only three options: Stay at home, rent a helicopter or follow the signs. The first option is not practical, and the second option is definitely not in my budget. By process of elimination, I have no other choice than to take the detours, plan for the extra time, pack my patience, and follow the signs.

In the current technological culture, I often wonder why the construction process moves at such a glacial pace. Like an enormous iceberg taking years to melt, I feel it’s been going on forever. So, I did what any reasonable person would do: I opened my laptop and clicked on Google, where all roads lead to a conglomeration of information.

This is where I found the step-by-step process for road renovation, which sounds a little like how God has been working in my life over the last few years.

Here is a concise overview of the process:

1. Pre-plan traffic patterns then create detours

2. Demolition of the road

3. Debris removal

4. Level the ground

5. Pour and smooth out the asphalt

6. Wait for it to dry

I believe these steps have a lot in common with how God renews and refreshes us as He renovates our lives to be more like Jesus Christ. If we were to use the roadwork construction process and apply it to our lives, here’s what it might look like:

#1: Plan. God has a master plan, and He’s in control of the traffic in our daily lives. He puts up the necessary road signs and lets us know when it’s time to take the detour. I’m convinced that His plan is better than mine.

#2: Demolition. Sometimes we have to tear things apart to build them back up. This can happen with a renovation project or even a relationship. We must confront the mess before we can ask God to show us how to straighten it out.

#3: Debris. Once demolition begins, there will be debris. But what do we do with the garbage, rubble, or trash we no longer need? Often, when we renovate, there are broken shelves, nails and dried paint. It makes sense to dispose of it. In the same way, we must reject and remove old hurts, bitter memories, and embrace redemption when we decide to forgive others or ask for their forgiveness.

#4: Level the ground. The ground serves as the foundation for the asphalt and if the ground isn’t level, the road won’t be either. If this step is skipped this could cause drivers to lose control of their vehicle. The same applies to our faith walk. We must look at everything through God’s eyes.

#5: Pour and smooth out. With Jesus Christ as the foundation of our faith, He pours into us, smooths out the bumps, equips us for the road ahead, and asks us to follow.

#6: Wait. Most of us dislike waiting. Imagine if vehicles were permitted to travel on a construction site that wasn’t ready, or if we ignored the detour signs. The same danger awaits when we wrestle with waiting, fighting to get past it when God wants to teach us something through the journey. God wastes nothing, and He uses the wait-time for our good and for His glory.

The purpose of the detour signs is to guide me to the safest path. God has been showing me the sweetness of slowing down in everyday life. Now, I take more time to notice my surroundings. I do this by speaking with the neighbors on my morning walks instead of rushing by and noticing the beauty of God’s world that surrounds me.

When I listen for God’s voice, He shows me parts of my life where I need to slow down so I can keep moving forward. God has a master plan, and He builds a firm foundation on which you can stand.

Acknowledge Him as the master planner of our lives. Accept His plan: Do the demo, clear out the debris, level the ground, and wait for Him to lead the way.

Let’s Pray:

Dear God,

How great it is to trust in Jesus Christ as the ultimate builder! He lays a foundation of faith in our hearts and draws us into a closer relationship with Him. When we acknowledge Him as the master planner of our lives, we will be able to live abundantly and rest in Him. We give gratitude to the King of Kings and stand on His firm foundation. Thank You, Lord!

In Jesus’ name, 

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Thank God I Do” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “The Church’s One Foundation” by Rouchelle Liedemann (soloist) and Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Wait on the Lord” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Just the Beginning” by Kurt Carr (feat. Vonnie Lopez). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “I Know the Plans (Audrey’s song)” by Damaris Carbaugh. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “Trust His Heart” by Babbie Mason. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Colleen C. Howard is a follower of Jesus Christ, educator and writer. She lives with her husband in the Arizona desert where the sunsets are spectacular, the summers are relentless and the winters are a little slice of Heaven. 

Colleen earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. This degree opened opportunities to write science curriculum, develop district programs, work with Arizona teachers, community leaders, and more. With NASA Grant funding, she was also able to work with teachers all over the country and expand their knowledge of teaching science as a collaborative effort.

Over the last few years God has placed a strong desire in Colleen’s heart to shine a light on God’s presence throughout ordinary days and encourage women in their faith walk with Him. Although some days bring trials and others bring joy, Colleen believes that if you fix your eyes on Jesus then you will see the heart of God.

Colleen’s writing has been published in the following online publications: Living By Design, Her View From Home, Inside Out Worldwide, Inkspirations, and in anthologies like From Ruins to Restoration, Mountains Moved: 45 Devotions of Bold Faith, and The Miracle of Prayer. She is a monthly blogger for Dressing in God’s Love.

~*~
Connect with Colleen:
Website: authorcolleenchoward.com

Devotionals for the Heart: What to do when you feel overwhelmed

Putting the Overwhelm on a Shelf
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”—Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

Have you ever been so stressed out, overwhelmed, and anxiety-filled that you thought you were going to go mad with the turmoil?

I’ve been there! A lot of us have. My daughter recently started attending college as a freshman. I can only imagine how these kids feel having to deal with living in dorms and having all this freedom and yet also having to keep up with classes and not become overwhelmed.

Then there are the people who have just lost a job or a spouse, or been hit with a horrible health diagnosis, while life piles up around them. I imagine people living in nations overrun by war, famine, religious persecution, or political hostility. People who must worry about how to provide for their families in the midst of this turmoil. And then there’s the overwhelm many of us deal with just in regular, everyday life—the constant pressure of work and bills and family and responsibility. Maybe you’ve become weary in hearing all that talk about work-life balance, the need to be purposeful while also just getting through it all. It becomes overpowering at times and can make you feel like you’re drowning in the ocean.

It’s time for us to put the overwhelm on a shelf and trust that God is going to see us through it. This is all easier said than done, of course. Still, the metaphor of turning all that stress mess into a tangible item and placing it on a shelf, is a powerful one for me. I first learned how to do this about a decade ago when my young daughter who is diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, was being helped by a wise counselor who said exactly that: Visualize putting it on a shelf. Take all the stuff swirling through your mind, all the fears, and imagine taking it in your hands, putting it in a box, and just sticking it on the shelf. “Tell yourself you can always come back to it later,” she counseled. “Later you can take it out and deal with it if you really want to, but right now the best thing you can do is just put it on the shelf.”

Her counselor’s wise advice resonated with me on the soul level because it’s exactly what Jesus Christ spoke about in The Holy Bible. He taught his followers in chapter six of the book of Matthew not to be anxious about our daily needs, for God will provide for us just as he does for the birds. There’s no point in worrying because it won’t add even an hour to our lives. Rather, we need to fix our eyes upon God’s Kingdom—that’s our real priority.

“Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble,” Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 (ESV). It’s a message repeated throughout Scripture: Do not fear. Trust the Lord.

Fear is not just concern for your mortality; it’s also that burning, soul-crushing worry about how we’re going to get through a situation, the sort of worry that consumes us, getting in the way of everything else. That sort of fear can be paralyzing. It becomes a wall between us and the Lord.

Maybe we think worry is harmless. Maybe we scoff, “How can I not worry?” But if we realize the wall it builds—the wall that stands between us and our Creator (God), how it interferes with joy and hope and God’s purpose for us—it might make it easier to stuff that fear in a box and put it on the shelf so we can focus on the truly important.

I’m not sure who needs to hear this today. Perhaps we all do. I know I certainly do. But I hope you’ll name the worry in your heart, visualize putting it in a box, and set it aside. When you strip it of its power over you, the Lord replaces that space with more than you can imagine.

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, some days it all seems like too much. My mind swirls with the press of it all. Help me surrender and lean on You, to have true faith that You are sovereign and will get me through anything in front of me right now. Help me to be still and know in the depths of my soul, in the entirety of my being, that You are everything, You have all the answers, and there is nothing on this earth that outweighs this. I love You, Lord. Help me, I pray. I give all of this to you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “No Fear” by Jon Reddick. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Everything” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. 

Her two Christian contemporary novels, The Memory Garden and Tangled Roots, are Amazon bestsellers and her third novel, Hidden Seeds, is out now and is a top release. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. 

She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism.

Devotionals for the Heart: A simple solution for when you feel anxious

What to do when you feel anxious
A devotional by Patricia Russell

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

—Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

“I find myself getting so anxious these days and I don’t know why!”

This was the cry from a dear mother, we’ll call her Victoria, who I had spent a few hours visiting. She was feeling overwhelmed and anxious. I assured her that everything was going to be alright. I could not lessen her fears, but I offered hope. My response came from my own personal experience because I’ve been there too. I know that distressing feeling as if you’re about to drown in a rush of drowning emotions like the rising wave of water.

“Stop,” I told Victoria. Because when our thoughts begin to spiral, our natural instinct is to rush ahead. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is stop. Pausing to take a breath. Consciously feeling our breath move through our lungs and slowly releasing it gradually changes the direction those anxious thoughts want to take us. This simple action can shift the direction of our anxious thoughts. It may sound unusually simple, but it still works.

This stress-reducing response is a practice we can use daily, not only when we are feeling overwhelmed. I have learned to have a strategy in place knowing it’s not if, but when those moments arise. When we study the life of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we see how He responded in times of crisis. Think of Him in the wilderness. His body and soul felt weary from fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus was emotionally and physically depleted, but His spirit was very much alert. The devil appeared to him at this weakest point and tried to tempt Jesus several times. But each time, Jesus responded, “It is written” and spoke what was already deep-seated within Him: Scripture. The Word of God (The Holy Bible) was Christ’s weapon to fight the torment from the devil that was meant to get Him to sin and therefore fail His mission to save the souls of humankind (John 3:16-17).

We can follow Christ’s example by having that resolve to resist the devil and respond to temptation with Scripture, but we need to prepare for these battles through reading God’s Word, praying to Him and meditating on His Word. Are we consciously preparing for those moments of temptation, anxiety and frustration?

Let’s look at another example found in the Bible story about King David. As a youth, David was anointed to be the next king. He boldly chose to face a literal giant, Goliath, and struck him down using a slingshot and a stone. He did this to make God’s name great but was not ready for what would follow. The people praised him by saying, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7 NIV). They heralded the great success David had over their current King Saul. This drove Saul into jealousy, and he wanted to kill David.

The Bible tells us of a time when David was playing a lyre in the presence of King Saul who then tried to hurl his spear at David, hoping to pin him to the wall (1 Samuel 18:10-11). But David escaped him. Can you imagine the confusion, fear and anxiety that began to sweep over David? He had to run for his life. He went from being a hero into hiding because Saul continued to try to kill David.

We have many passages of Scripture to show us David’s emotional health during this time. Psalm 55:1-3 (NIV) says, “Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me, and I am distraught because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger.”

David cried out to God because he needed answers. His thoughts were going wild. God is not afraid of our honest cries for help. He heard David’s cry then and He hears our cries now. Like David, we need to stand on God’s faithfulness.

Feelings of anxiety and overwhelm may come in waves. Consider tracking them. Notice when they hit. Is it in the morning activity, in the evening or while doing certain activities? When the waves roll in, open The Holy Bible and search for scriptures that talk about fear, anxiety, and burdens. The Psalms are great place to start because it reminds us that David cried out to God for help and God answered.

The Book of Psalms shows us that David always remembered the times when God had brought relief and strengthened him. It is those times of reflection that helped David to press on. The same is true for us today. When our thoughts start to spiral downward into depression and despair, we need to stop, speak to the Lord and stand on the truths we know about Him.

Remember how you experienced God’s help in the past. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God remains faithful. He will be faithful to walk with us in the happy moments as well as the dark days that will inevitably come our way but will come to pass. Be encouraged!

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, I’m so thankful that You are aware of the anxiety that we face at times. Those are hard days and I need You to remind me that your strength is made perfect in my weakness. I need to know You are near. Remind me of the truth found in Your Word. Help me to hold onto these truths as I walk through tough times. Remind me that You are with me through it all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Trust in God” by Elevation Worship (feat. Chris Brown & Isaiah Templeton). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Draw Me Nearer Medley: I Am Thine, O Lord / Draw Me Close” by Patricia Russell. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Press On” by Selah. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “He’s Been Faithful” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and TaRanda Greene. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “He is with You” by Mandisa. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “Through it All” by Andrae Crouch. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “Draw Me Nearer” by Meredith Andrews. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia is a worship leader, songwriter, speaker and compiler of her 2020 best-seller anthology "Stronger Resilience: Stories to Empower the Mind, Body and Spirit", as well as Lord I Trust You: Words of Encouragement to encourage readers and share life lessons during her cancer journey. 

Patricia writes, speaks, and teaches on the power of God’s Word to heal and empower you to become all that you are purposed for. She has traveled internationally and shared her gifts with audiences to encourage, empower and share life lessons through word and song. Patricia has sung on national television broadcasts and shared the stage with several respected speakers including Anne Graham Lotz and Rev. E.V. Hill.

Her greatest joy is being married to her husband, Wayne, for 34 years. Together they serve the community through their local congregation as well as providing premarital and marriage coaching. They have two adult children, Raquel and Benjamin. As a two-time breast cancer overcomer, Patricia coaches’ others to develop resilience and live life to their fullest.

Patricia has released two gospel music recordings: “Draw Me Nearer” and “Lord, I Trust You”. In March 2022, she launched her podcast “Becoming Resilient” which can be downloaded wherever you get your podcasts and also seen on YouTube.

When not reading or studying, Patricia loves to eat Thai food and spend time with “Lucy” – her daughter’s Yorkie-poo who has taken up room in her heart.

~*~
Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pat.russell.98877/
Email Patricia: patrussellsings@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to not neglect our physical body

Why God Wants Us to Take Good Care of Our Body
A devotional by Erica J. Hill

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”—1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NIV)

Honoring God is not just about praying and reading God’s Word (The Holy Bible)—it’s also about taking care of the physical body He gave us.

Too often, we prioritize convenience and comfort over care. We sit for hours binge-watching shows, scrolling through our phones, and ignoring the body's need for movement and strength. But if we truly believe that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, then caring for it is an act of worship. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NIV) tells us, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

When we neglect our physical bodies, we can sometimes find our energy and focus lacking as well. Not getting enough rest can make it harder to get up early and meet with God. Honoring our bodies doesn't have to begin with dramatic changes. Discipline may begin very simply: taking a walk, drinking more water, stretching, getting adequate rest, turning off the phone, preparing nourishing food, or consistently making time for movement. And when we add God into it, we are honoring our spirits as well. We can incorporate God into every walk, run, and workout—not only building our physical strength but our spiritual strength as well.

Ephesians 6:11 (NIV) tells us to “put on the full armor of God.” Let’s be real—armor is heavy. However, a soldier doesn’t show up to the battlefield unprepared. They go through rigorous training—what we call “bootcamp” today—to condition their bodies and minds for the weight they must carry. Training happens beforehand, repeatedly, until the body adapts. Similarly, we as believers carry burdens daily: the weight of our calling, the struggles of our families, and the challenges of standing for Jesus Christ in a broken world.

Like bootcamp, our faith walk with Jesus includes building physical strength through movement and discipline, spiritual endurance through prayer and Scripture, and combat readiness through spiritual warfare. We face trials. We lean on our community. We practice sacrifice. And through each of these experiences, God is developing our endurance. One workout cannot build strength, just as one morning of prayer cannot sustain an entire spiritual life.

Consistency doesn't mean we never miss a day or never struggle. It means we keep returning. It means choosing to spend time in God’s Word when we would rather scroll, praying when we don't feel particularly spiritual, and continuing spiritual habits even when immediate results aren't visible. We shouldn't wait until the crisis comes to develop discipline. We can pray consistently before the diagnosis, conflict, loss, temptation, or disappointment. We can study Scripture before we desperately need to remember what God said. We can strengthen our bodies before life requires stamina from us.

There will be mornings when we don't feel like exercising. There will be evenings when prayer feels difficult. There will be seasons when spiritual growth seems slow. Just as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV), “I discipline my body and keep it under control.” Discipline says, “My feelings don't get the final vote.” We aren't doing this just to win, but to give God the glory.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (NIV) reminds us (I am quoting part of these two verses, not all of it), “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” We may have difficult days, slow seasons, and moments when we need to begin again. But we can continue moving forward, trusting God to strengthen us along the way.

Following Jesus invites us into a life of growth and faithful obedience. Let’s honor God with our soul and our body. Move your feet in prayer. Stretch your faith and your limbs. Train for the fight. Not because we must prove ourselves, but because we want to steward well what God has entrusted to us.

And when we stumble, we don't have to stay there. His grace gives us the freedom to begin again. We don't have to get everything right. We can simply return to what matters, trusting God to meet us in the small, faithful choices we make each day.

The goal isn't perfection. It's faithful preparation. One prayer. One step. One healthy choice. One act of obedience at a time. And with God beside us, we can keep showing up.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for making my body a temple of Your Holy Spirit. Forgive me for the ways I’ve neglected this gift. Teach me to care for my body with the same intentionality I give to my spiritual life. Help me train like a soldier—strong in faith and firm in body—so I can carry the armor You’ve given me with grace and endurance.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “The Battle is The Lord’s” by Yolanda Adams. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “The Battle Belongs to God Praise Medley” by Nathaniel Bassey. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “I Will Follow Christ” by Clay Crosse, Bebe Winans & Bob Carlisle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Be the One” by Al Denson. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Erica J. Hill is a wife, mother, and proud grandmother living in Georgia. 

With a career spanning both elementary education and higher education, she has served as an elementary and middle grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher and now works as an administrative assistant in higher education. Currently pursuing her master’s degree in Instructional Technology and Media Center Specialist, Erica’s love for learning and teaching runs deep.

Raised in the Southern Baptist tradition, she has faithfully served as a Sunday School teacher and now as one of the youth directors at her church. A lifelong writer at heart, Erica once set her passion aside to pursue other career goals—but recently felt God’s undeniable tug to pick up her pen again, this time to write for His Kingdom.

She is currently working on her first book, Worthy. Whole. Woman. It is a devotional that she hopes will be an encouraging resource created to uplift and empower women—especially women of color—to walk confidently in their God-given identity.

Through her words, Erica blends faith in God, personal reflection, and practical wisdom to inspire women to heal, grow, and embrace the fullness of who God created them to be.

Originally from Atlanta, Erica now calls Macon County home, where she lives with her husband and children. In her free time, you’ll usually find Erica curled up with a good book, working on DIY projects, or planning her next travel adventure.

~*~
Connect with Erica:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leahsgrace2931/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahsgrace2931/

Devotionals for the Heart: When our garden needs to be pruned by God

Sometimes Our Spiritual Garden Needs a Little Pruning
A devotional by Alicia Searl

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”—John 15:5 (NIV)

When I was a young lady in college, I remember sitting in a small church, listening to the pastor explain this verse, and thinking to myself: Am I a true follower of Jesus Christ? 

At the time I didn’t think so. The loneliness I experienced in those years brought me to a place of longing to know who I was and who God really was.

Honestly, it’s a journey we must all face. However, if you have currently (or have ever) questioned your faith, it can be comforting to know that we have the Bible that gives us glimpses into the lives of Godly people that also encountered trials in their faith. Some doubted God, others denied Him, many drifted or went astray, and a few failed to see the purpose of this life. Thankfully, God’s Word (The Holy Bible) provides answers and delivers the hope we need to soothe our aching hearts and confused souls.

In John 15, Jesus Christ is teaching His beloved disciples one final invaluable lesson. As He dined with His friends for one last meal, He wanted to make sure they understood the importance of how much He loved them, but also how much they would need to rely on Him to mature in their faith.

Jesus, being the greatest storyteller, uses the illustration of a vine and branches to demonstrate the precious relationship with Him and their Heavenly Father (God). While He is addressing His disciples in this passage, it easily pertains to us as believers. Jesus refers to Himself as the vine, the sustainer of life. While referring to God as the gardener (John 15:1). Then Jesus implies that we are the branches, and God cuts off branches that do not produce fruit, while pruning others to produce more fruit.

As a girl who dabbles in gardening, I can tell you pruning is essential for growth and life. Some branches need to be completely cut off to help the plant survive, while others show signs of possible life and only need a good trim to help the plant thrive. God’s love for us is similar because He sees our potential as He shapes and molds us, pruning and cutting away things that don’t serve us, so that we can be more of a reflection of Christ.

If your faith is in question or you find yourself in a spiritual drought, go back to the basics and reclaim the truth out loud for your heart, mind, and soul to hear: God is our ultimate sustainer of this life and He exists in three persons: Father (Gardener), Son (Jesus Christ as the Vine), and Holy Spirit (our spiritual guide to tend to us as the garden). Allow God to do a great work in and through you to revive and awaken your faith!

The truth of the matter is that we cannot thrive and produce “good fruit” (Galatians 5:22-23) of the Holy Spirit without being “rooted” in Christ. Our personal connection to Jesus doesn’t allow us to just merely get by; it allows us to flourish and live this life abundantly. We are designed to connect intimately with Jesus. And through that connection we are reminded that we are chosen. We are loved. We are a friend of God.

Let’s Pray:

Faithful Father,

You are so very good to us! We are grateful that You tend to us in every shape and form—from the nature of our hearts to the foundation of our faith in You. Give us the ability to soften the soil in our spiritual gardens so that we can grow deeper in our faith walk with Jesus Christ and draw closer to You. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “The Garden (Acoustic)” by Kari Jobe. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Graves into Gardens” ft. Brandon Lake | Live | Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Friend of God” by Israel Houghton & Churchome Music. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Alicia Searl is a Christian author, writer, writing coach, and speaker who is passionate about sharing God’s Word to spread hope and healing. 

She has an educational background and a master’s degree in advanced literacy. She is a contributing writer for iBelieve, Crosswalk, Christianity.com, and Your Daily Prayer. She has authored two devotionals, a children’s book of grief, and several Bible studies and prayer journals.

Alicia enjoys helping new and aspiring writers follow their calling and pursue their God-given purpose and shares personal faith stories on her blog. Her heartfelt words and authenticity are portrayed in each of her literary pieces in hopes of bringing her readers a sense of understanding, comfort, and encouragement on their faith journey.

Alicia resides in Texas where her family is currently fixing up a tiny home in the Piney Woods in East Texas to spread hope, bring healing, and share God’s love with others.