Devotionals for the Heart: Miracles can happen when you praise God

Power in Praise
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

—Psalm 150:6 (ESV)

In my early 20s, I didn’t fully comprehend the power of praise until I was in desperate need of God’s divine intervention on my behalf.

I was a new drama teacher on a three-year provisional teaching license, since I had been unable to pass the math section of The Praxis, the state teacher’s exam. Math and I have a love-hate relationship. I avoid it at all costs. Yet, I had been forced to take the math section three times because each time I missed the passing score by one point.

When I discovered the state had gone to a composite scoring system (combining scores for writing, reading, and math), I was elated. This meant I could take the reading section again and, by increasing my points, I could offset the math deficiency. I needed to score three points above my previous reading score to make it work.

For months, I studied the guides to The Praxis reading test. The night before the test, I knew I had done all I could do to be ready. One study guide even said not to study anything more the night before because the likelihood of absorbing anything new was low. So, I tried to relax, but my mind raced with worry. What if I didn’t get the extra points I need? I had run out of time to take the test again. This was my last shot.

Everything I tried to use as a distraction didn’t work. So, I opened my Bible and prayed. I went to the Book of Psalm and I found comfort in Psalm 18:6 (ESV), “In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.”

Psalm 18 is King David’s address to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies. As I meditated on the Psalm, it hit me:

Whenever David had a problem, he prayed, worshipped, and then, he praised God. He praised God in every circumstance. In the highs, the lows, the sufferings, and yes, even the pain. He is our example of a true worshipper with a heart after God. So, I followed his example. I put on my praise and worship music and for several hours I sang, danced, wept, and praised my God.

The next morning I rose, refreshed and renewed, and took my final reading test. The rest was up to God. Weeks later, I got a notification that my scores were ready. During my lunch break I made the call. When I heard the score I couldn’t believe my ears. I had passed! Not with just three extra points, but seven above that!

Seven is God’s number of completion. I felt in my spirit that not only did He give me what I needed, but because I had taken the time to praise him despite the outcome, he honored his word in Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV), that says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Don’t miss the most important part of those verses! He is able to do according to the power at work within us. What ignites His power within us is praise.

No matter what your situation, there is power to face it, endure it, overcome it, and change it through your praise. I guarantee it! I encourage you to take the leap of faith forward with praise. Praise Him through your tears, heartache, stress, or sorrow. As David declared in Psalm 150:6 (ESV), “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”

Praise is power. And God’s power will overcome for you! Praise the Lord!

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for working on my behalf as I seek You in my need. I praise You with all that I have and all that I am. I praise You on the mountain and in the valley because You are worthy of all praise in every circumstance. There is no one like You, God. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.”

If you’re not sure how to praise, the song below is an excellent place to start.

Song of Reflection: “Psalm 150” by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter, and theatre director/producer currently residing in Northern Virginia. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is a member of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program, ACFW, ACFW Virginia Chapter (Treasurer), The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint. 

Mirachelle is passionate about awakening creativity and the gifts of God in everyone. Her first historical fiction novel is set during WWII, inspired by her time studying theatre education in London, England. She loves horses, cats, dogs, and all things peppermint!

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Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirachellecanada/
Email: mirachelle@mirachellecanada.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Here's what Christianity is really about...

Is Christianity about Love?
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“The worst thing about Christianity is the other Christians. They’re just so judgmental.”

Blatant criticism of my faith, like the sentence above, is something I see all the time on social media, and it’s getting worse. I’m quickly discovering how unpopular it is to be Christian. Many people assume Christians are “intolerant” and that we’re part of some cult with a distant or arrogant God who “lets bad things happen.” All of this is false, and it would be laughable if it weren’t so terrible.

Not that Christianity has ever been super popular. We were called uncool goody-goodies when I was a teen. But today, it’s different. It’s like the criticism has ramped up in new, wildly inaccurate ways. For some, our faith is synonymous with hate, which is the exact opposite of the truth.

The truth is that Christianity is rooted in love. Love is the very essence of God. But the world doesn’t seem to understand this right now. We need to change that. Love has God at its core. As scripture tells us, God “is love” (1 John 4:8 ESV). Love isn’t just being nice to other people. It’s also caring for them and showing mercy, listening and walking alongside another person so they do not feel alone.

But what do you do when the very notion of Christianity triggers a knee-jerk negative reaction in someone else? How can we counter the false messaging?

I think the best thing we can do is simply model the love of Jesus Christ. Jesus said people will know we his disciples if we have love for one another (John 13:35).

You can interpret that in a few ways. On one hand, maybe it means how we treat everyone, period. On the other, maybe it means by how we treat other Christians. I am not certain. But Jesus also said the most important commandment is to love God with all our heart and mind and soul, and second is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). He emphasized love so much throughout his ministry that I interpret “others” as expansively as possible. I’d rather err on the side of love than exclusion.

Christian love is something the world really needs to see in obvious, extraordinary ways right now. We should never change our faith to please the world or cave to culture. But we need to remember the world is filled with a lot of lost people who need to know Jesus, even people who think they don’t want anything to do with Christianity. And Jesus said we are to go and make disciples of all nations, spreading the Gospel everywhere (Matthew 28:19-20).

Love is the best way we can do this. There are so many ways to love other people, and love doesn’t necessarily mean being nice and accepting. In explaining how to show our love for him, Jesus taught Peter that we are to feed his lambs and tend his sheep (John 21:15-19).

Here are a few ways that we can love others:

1. We can care for their basic needs—food, water, shelter, healthcare, whether that is donating money to an organization that does these things or volunteering ourselves to actively feed, build or repair houses, or provide medical care.

2. We can make sure other people know that the table is open to them. God’s church is a welcome space for seekers and believers alike. Let people know your church is a safe place. They can come to Jesus better when they know they are wanted. Sometimes it might take a while for them to decide, but as the old-fashioned saying goes, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Kindness and love are far more attractive to people seeking and unsure. It doesn’t mean you need to water down the truth, but let God’s Word speak for itself. Do what Jesus did and point toward the Father and encourage people to draw closer to him. They will figure out on their own what that means.

3. We can listen to people. Spend time with them even if their views are completely different or seem wrong or even evil. Hear what they have to say. You don’t need to offer your opinion or advice unless it is requested. If someone can trust you enough to talk with you and share things with you, that is often a steppingstone for questions and, ultimately, changes of heart.

4. We can guard our words. Be kind when you speak about other people. To use another old saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Don’t gossip or spread stories or even talk too much about sin (that is, obey Jesus and don’t point fingers per Matthew 7:3-5). We all know sin is wrong. But when we talk too much about sin, it makes sin the focus when we all know God is most important. Jesus Christ is the only solution to sin. He’s the only one who can change someone’s heart. We are all lost without him.

These are just a few thoughts. Do you have others?

Together we can counter evil by spreading the message of love—the love that is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior—far and wide.

Let’s Pray: Lord, help me reflect your love in the world in my thoughts, actions, and words. Help me draw others to your saving grace by modeling your love so all can see. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Love One Another” by Steve Green. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Each One Reach One” by Babbie Mason. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. 

Last year, she released an Advent devotional for those seeking true closeness with God, which you can find at https://www.jessicabrodie.com/advent. Learn more about Jessica’s fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. She has a weekly YouTube devotional and podcast. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, 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.