Devotionals for the Heart: How God taught me to lead my children to Jesus

It Begins with Me
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.”

—Luke 2:52 (NLT)

It seems like yesterday I was holding my newborn sons in my arms.

Now as I am reminiscing, they are both school-aged children. So much has happened over the years that it seems like a blur. I am thankful that my husband and I took countless photos of them and that their milestones are recorded in journals and photo albums.

More important than photos, videos, journals, and scrapbooks are the moments spent with my sons in prayer. My husband and I started praying for our sons while they were still in the womb. We knew that God had something special in store for us and we wanted to be sure that their lives were in line with their Creator.

When our sons were born, we prayed right there in the delivery room, and we continued to pray with them every morning and every night. While they are sleeping, I sneak into their rooms and quietly breathe a mother’s prayer over my sons. I ask God to protect them from evil as they develop, and to grant them wisdom, favor and discernment to make the right decisions in life. I pray that God will show my sons their purpose in this life and that one day my sons will whole-heartedly receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Even now, I can see the results of my prayers. I was so proud and at the same time humbled when both of my sons decided to get baptized at church. When I hear the comments of teachers who are pleased to have my sons in their classroom, or when I am told that my sons are responsible for their age, or they have caring attributes and are well behaved among their peers, this lets me know that my prayers from over the years have come to fruition.

Recently, it occurred to me that I should be praying just as fervently for myself and the life that I am leading as a parent. Praying over my sons is a necessity, but what kind of example would I be if I am not covered in prayer? I cannot effectively make a disciple for Jesus Christ if I am not an effective disciple myself.

As a parent, I have quickly learned that children will do what they see more than what they are told. I can tell my youngest son not to throw an object in the house, but he is taking mental notes as I unconsciously toss my shoes into the closet. As trivial as this may seem, it equates to circumstances on a larger scale later in his life such as the words I speak, the way I treat others, my attitude in my home, and my relationship with God. I pray that as my sons grow into men and that they will pattern their lives after Jesus. I also pray that when my sons look at me, they see Jesus living in me and working through me.

The most important element is the legacy that I will leave behind to my children: A life devoted to Christ. I am so glad that Christ covers me and stands in the gap where I fall short. It begins with me.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, I thank You for the privilege of being a parent. I ask You for wisdom and discernment as I raise my children to be Your disciples. May I not be a hindrance but an example of Your love. Lead me as I lead my children. I dedicate our lives to You. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

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Song of Reflection #1: “Legacy” by First Call. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Standing in the Gap” by Babbie Mason with Helen Baylor and Cindy Morgan. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Lead Me Lord” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir with Elizabeth Goodine. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey.

 

 
She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood. Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God and she is currently working on another devotional book.

This is Angela’s sixth year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where her words were featured in a book, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy, that was published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was featured in Living Unbroken, which is another publication produced by Proverbs 31. Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking.

Angela is a life coach for mothers. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. She works to help them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela is also the host of “The Angela Anderson Show”, a virtual talk show that launched in April of 2023 on YouTube and Facebook. The show is designed for mothers who want to pursue their dream while managing family life. The audio version of the show is also available as a podcast on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and more.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 21 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 13) and Ryan (age 8). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family.

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Connect with Angela:

To connect with Angela, you can follow her on Instagram (angelanderson1104), Clubhouse (@angelize), and send a friend request to her on Facebook.

Subscribe to Angela’s YouTube channel @The Angela Anderson Show and follow the show on Spotify. Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: 

www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

You can also like and follow her Facebook author page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God.

Devotionals for the Heart: God sees every injustice that you experience

Should I Stay or Should I Go?
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.”—Genesis 31:13 (ESV)

I tirelessly worked four years in a place where I felt unseen and not appreciated.

No matter how hard I worked, my new supervisor did not recognize my efforts, nor did she follow through on the wage increase or bonus that was due to me.

I could not understand why she was purposefully treating me so unfairly. I wondered if I should stay or if I should go. I started applying to other companies and interviewing for other jobs, but my co-workers convinced me to stay. It wasn’t until my sixth year that upper management stepped in on my behalf and noticed the inequity. Finally, my salary and bonus were properly reflected in my paycheck, but at what cost?

There is a story in The Holy Bible that reminds me of my former situation. It is about a man (Jacob) who worked tirelessly so he could marry a woman (Rachel) was the love of his life (Genesis 29). I would imagine that Jacob felt the same way I did because Jacob worked for 14 years of faithful, self-sacrificing work to his employer (Laban who was Rachel’s father), only to be cheated out of an honest wage. The first deal Jacob agreed to was to to work for free seven years to marry Rachel. But Laban deceived Jacob and gave him Leah (Laban’s older daughter) instead of Rachel. Jacob had to work another seven years to marry Rachel.

When circumstances began to escalate even further, God gave Jacob the direct instructions in our key verse to leave and return to his home. Clearly, it was time for Jacob to go. Interestingly, this was not the first time that Jacob was prompted by God to leave. In the previous chapter, Genesis 30:25, Jacob told Laban that he and his family were leaving to go back to his home. Laban convinced Jacob to stay, and Jacob delayed his departure. Even though Jacob was being treated unfairly by Laban, Jacob became comfortable with the conditions to the point that he did not want to obey God.

God allowed the threat to Jacob’s family to increase to ensure that Jacob would not delay any longer. Keep in mind that Jacob’s family was never in danger because God was protecting them, but the threat had to seem real enough to get Jacob’s attention and force him to act. Finally, Jacob gathered his family, packed his belongings, and ran from Laban.

Sometimes God gives us clear instructions for our lives, but for some reason, we delay instead of obeying Him. Unfortunately, we will stay in the same situation from which God is trying to deliver us. When God attempts to get our attention, it is then that we realize it is more painful to stay than it is to go. Sometimes God must push us out of our current situation to prove to us that it would be more beneficial to change, and more harmful to remain the same.

It is important to note that even in the middle of Jacob’s earlier decision to stay, God showed favor to Jacob and blessed him with Laban’s livestock, even after Laban cheated Jacob out of his wages. In other words, Jacob was paid what he should have been paid in the first place. God restored Jacob’s wages and made him whole! Laban was not pleased that Jacob somehow outwitted him and Laban’s attitude toward Jacob began to change for the worse. Unlike Laban’s change of attitude toward Jacob, God’s attitude toward Jacob never altered.

In Genesis 28:15, God reminded Jacob that He was the same God who made the promise at Bethel: to never leave him or forsake him, and to bring Jacob safely back to his homeland. God was with Jacob, protected him, and did not allow Laban to harm him. We can trust that God will always keep His promises. He will never leave us or forsake us. He is the same God yesterday, today and forever!

Furthermore, just as God saw how Laban was treating Jacob and then intervened on Jacob’s behalf, God sees every injustice in our lives and in time, He will allow us to rise above those who wish us harm. And for that, we can be thankful for such a loving God who cares about our well-being as we follow his plan for our lives.

Let’s Pray: Father, I thank You for your guidance and your protection in all of my undertakings. You are such a good God and You are worthy of all praise. Continue to lead out in my life as I follow Your divine plan. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “On Time God” (Music Video) | Woman Evolve Worship x Abbie Gamboa x Chandler Moore. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood. Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God. She is currently working on another devotional book.

This is Angela’s fifth year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where her words were featured in a book, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy, that was published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was featured in Living Unbroken, which is another publication produced by Proverbs 31. Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking.

Angela is a life coach for mothers. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. She works to help them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela is also the host of “The Angela Anderson Show”, a virtual talk show that launched in April of 2023 on YouTube and Facebook. The show is designed for mothers who want to pursue their dream while managing family life. The audio version of the show is also available as a podcast on Spotify.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 19 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 11) and Ryan (age 6). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:

To connect with Angela, you can follow her on Instagram (angelanderson1104), Clubhouse (@angelize), and send a friend request to her on Facebook.

Subscribe to Angela’s YouTube channel @The Angela Anderson Show and follow the show on Spotify. Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

You can also like and follow her Facebook page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God.

Devotionals for the Heart: How fasting and prayer helped me land a new job

How Fasting and Prayer Changed My Life
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”—Mark 9:29 (KJV)

“Effective next month, your job will be eliminated.”

I did not hear anything else my boss said after she uttered those words. I was under the impression that I would be in that particular position at work until I decided to leave, but in this case, my job was leaving me.

I started praying very earnestly about what to do and I began to complete applicatiaons and send resumes to available positions on-line. Even after all of those efforts, nothing seemed to work. No one was returning my calls, no one was responding to my emails, and no one seemed interested in my resume.

At the same time, a friend of mine who did not know anything about my circumstance approached me about fasting. There were people already doing it on Mondays and I was asked to join them in this exercise of faith. At that point in my life, I had never tried fasting for a whole day. The thought of it was unappealing to me so I declined, but something kept tugging at my spirit. I was in a desparate situation and nothing else was working. I felt like Heaven was locked in silence. I just wanted to do something to get God’s attention, so I decided to try fasting without telling anyone, including the friend who invited me to do this on Mondays.

After the first Monday of fasting, I had a meeting with someone who I thought would be able to assist me with finding a job. Unfortunately, that person could not help me, but she set up another meeting for the following Tuesday with someone else who could. I fasted the Monday before, praying for a good outcome from that meeting. When I finally had the meeting, I was instructed to send my resume. I was not thrilled at the idea because I had been sending resumes everywhere with no results. I sent the resume anyway and by that Friday, I received a call from a recruiter who scheduled an interview with me and a hiring manager for the following Tuesday.

On the Monday before the interview, I fasted again in preparation for the interview on Tuesday. By the time I was done with the interview, I was invited to a second interview that Friday over lunch. By the end of lunch, I was offered a position with higher pay and benefits, and a start date in June—the same date that my current position would be eliminated.

It's easy to look at this situation and automatically believe that fasting was the reason why my prayers were answered. However, it is important to understand that fasting and praying are not intended to manipulate God into getting our own way. Instead, fasting and praying aligns us with God’s will for our lives and prepares us for the work He is getting ready to accomplish in our lives. By fasting and praying, I thought I was getting God’s attention, but He was One who was getting my attention.

The exercise of fasting was more than just self-discipline for me. It allowed me to stretch my faith by just being open. I was introduced to a greater spiritual focus as well as a more profound experience of God’s presence in my life. Through fasting, I cultivated a deeper and more intimate relationship with God, and I built a stronger and more resilient faith.

I will never forget how God showed up for me in that moment. I truly believe that some things in life can only come about by fasting and prayer. This testing of my faith allowed me to overcome obstacles and achieve breakthoughs in areas where progress seemed impossible. I encourage you to be willing to do what God impresses you to do in order to reach that next level of faith in your relationship with Him.

Let’s Pray: Father, I believe that You can do all things, and these things will happen in Your time. Help me to exercise more faith and to be open to whatever is required of me so that I can have the level of intimacy that You desire. I give You my heart and my mind. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “When God’s People Pray” by Wayne Watson. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood. Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God. She is currently working on another devotional book.

This is Angela’s fourth year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where her words were featured in a book, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy, that was published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was featured in Living Unbroken, which is another publication produced by Proverbs 31. Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking.

Angela is a life coach for mothers. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. She works to help them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela is also the host of “The Angela Anderson Show”, a virtual talk show that launched in April of 2023 on YouTube and Facebook. The show is designed for mothers who want to pursue their dream while managing family life. The audio version of the show is also available as a podcast on Spotify.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 19 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 11) and Ryan (age 6). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:

To connect with Angela, you can follow her on Instagram (angelanderson1104), Clubhouse (@angelize), and send a friend request to her on Facebook.

Subscribe to Angela’s YouTube channel @The Angela Anderson Show and follow the show on Spotify. Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

You can also like and follow her Facebook page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God.

Devotionals for the Heart: The truth about why it takes time to heal

It Takes Time to Heal
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”—James 1:2-3 (NLT)

When someone is ill or undergoes surgery, the popular response is often: “Get well soon” or “I wish you a speedy recovery.” When your friends or loved ones are down on their luck, an encouraging response might be: “Praying you get through this hard time fast.”

These phrases may seem like the right thing to say in the moment, but have you ever considered that maybe it isn’t the right thing to say? Our hearts are in the right place, but do we really know what we are praying for or asking God to do?

For example, according to WebMD (Broken Bone Pictures: Signs Your Broken Bone Is Healing), a broken bone can take anywhere from four to 12 weeks to heal—sometimes longer. The first few weeks are probably the most painful as the body starts the process and there is inflammation. The next few weeks start the development of cartilage and fibrous tissues to bridge the gap in the broken bone. It is not until about the eighth week when the bone just starts to harden, offering a little more support. For a full recovery, it still takes several more weeks or months, and sometimes years.

Another example is that a virus can take a week or two before it passes through the body. Medications may help you feel better, but the virus must run its course. In the meantime, your body needs rest and hyrdration in order for your immune system to fight off the infection completely.

If we rush the recovery process, it actually does more harm than good. You will not recuperate properly in order to sustain yourself in the future to fight against further sickness or disease. In a case of a broken bone, you will not gain enough strength to be restored to a place of proper functionality. You may also risk breaking the bone again. It takes time to heal.

Fortunately for me, I have never broken a bone, but I can remember becoming ill and wanting to recover as quickly as possible. I caught the flu from a friend who told me the illness lasted about two weeks. I was determined to get well in less than a week. I tried my hardest to build my immune system, and I remember going back to my daily routine when I should have been resting. Before long, I relapsed and I became even more ill than when I first started. Although I felt better, my body was not fully recovered and I pushed myself into another bout of illness.

Many of us want to rush through the unpleasant parts of life, not understanding that those same parts of life are building our patience and our endurance. Without the hard times, some of us would never recognize our need for a Savior (Jesus Christ). The trials in our lives make us stronger. We develop our character that make us fit for the Kingdom.

I remember there was a time in my life when I was involved in an unhealthly relationship. When I finally had the courage to leave that relationship, I remember feeling hurt and alone. At the time, I didn’t realize that this period of solitude was also a period of healing. I learned more about myself, and I allowed God to shape me into the person that He called me to be. Eventually, I met and married a man who is now my husband of almost 21 years. The brokenness and healing process had to take place to prepare me for the next phase of my life where I experienced wholeness, and then I was ready for a marriage relationship. If I had met my husband any sooner, I would not have been ready for the relationship.

Let’s not rush the healing process. Instead, let’s learn how to endure, knowing that by God’s grace, we will benefit from all our struggles in the end.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, Thank You for the trials in my life. Although I may not appreciate the process of going through difficult times, I am grateful that You promised to bring me out stronger. Thank You for your abiding presence through it all. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Beautiful Day” by Jermaine Edwards. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Count it All Joy” by Bebe & CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood. Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God and she is currently working on another devotional book.

This is Angela’s fourth year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where her words were featured in a book, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy, that was published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was featured in Living Unbroken, which is another publication produced by Proverbs 31. Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking.

Angela is a life coach for mothers. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. She works to help them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela is also the host of “The Angela Anderson Show”, a virtual talk show that launched in April of 2023 on YouTube and Facebook. The show is designed for mothers who want to pursue their dream while managing family life. The audio version of the show is also available as a podcast on Spotify.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 19 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 11) and Ryan (age 6). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:

To connect with Angela, you can follow her on Instagram (angelanderson1104), Clubhouse (@angelize), and send a friend request to her on Facebook.

Subscribe to Angela’s YouTube channel @The Angela Anderson Show and follow the show on Spotify. Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

You can also like and follow her Facebook page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God.

Devotionals for the Heart: How to rise above the troubles of this world

You Have Wings
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”—2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)

My college roommates and I usually stay in touch by viewing each others’ posts on social media. Sometimes the posts are photos of family and friends, a weekend trip, or a fun vacation. Other times, the posts include words of wisdom or a humorous meme. Whatever it may be, we are sure to read each one and add our own comments to the post.

Recently, I read one of my college roommate’s posts that received some attention from other viewers. The post was: “To all of the geese and seagulls I see dead in the street…YOU HAVE WINGS!” In other words, it’s difficult to understand why a bird would get struck by a vehicle, when a bird has the ability to avoid the vehicle by flying high above or far away from the vehicle. In this case, didn’t the birds know they had wings? Didn’t the birds know that wings are their superpower to escape whatever comes their way? Some people agreed with the post and some laughed at it. As for me, the post caused me to stop in my tracks and think about the underlying meaning.

God has given us everything we need to live a godly life and He has provided us with precious promises so that we can partake in everything He has in store for us. (2 Peter 1:3-11). But are we using those qualities and promises to better ourselves and others?

For the times when you feel like the walls are closing in on you, and the trials of this life are too great to handle, remember that this world may offer tribulation, but God has overcome the world (John 16:33). You have wings!

Perhaps you are tempted by an addiction or a habit that you cannot seem to break. Remember that there is no temptation beyond what you can bear, and God will provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). You have wings!

When you feel unnoticed, alone, dejected, and unloved, remember that God loves you with an everlasting love and nothing can ever separate you from that love (Romans 8:35-39). You have wings!

In times of uncertainty, when you start to doubt your purpose and you wonder if your dreams will ever come to fruition, remember that God will finish the good work that He has already started in you (Philippians 1:6). You have wings!

God did not leave you here on Earth to fend for yourself. He is right there with you, especially when you feel helpless and hopeless. God has equipped you with what you need to succeed in this life. He promises to be your help and to restore your hope.

Just like those birds in my college roommate’s post, God has given us wings and He expects us to fly! Let’s make a commitment to use our wings and rise above the troubles of this world.

Let’s Pray: Father God, we thank You for granting us access to the qualities that will get us successfully through this life. Help us to honor You in all that we do by allowing You to use us to our fullest potential, as we lean on You and Your promises. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: "You Set Me Free" by Sandi Patty. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood. Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God. She is currently working on another devotional book.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking.

This is Angela’s fourth year as a guest blog writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “Devotionals for the Heart” blog series. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in Living Unbroken, which is also a publication produced by Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Angela is also a life coach for mothers. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. She helps them see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela is also the host of “The Angela Anderson Show”, a virtual talk show that launched in April 2023 on YouTube and Facebook. The show is designed for mothers who want to pursue their dream while managing family life. The audio version of the show is also available as a podcast on Spotify.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 19 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 11) and Ryan (age 6). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:

To connect with Angela, you can follow her on Instagram (angelanderson1104), Clubhouse (@angelize), and send a friend request to her on Facebook.

Subscribe to Angela’s YouTube channel @The Angela Anderson Show and follow the show on Spotify. Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

You can also like and follow her Facebook page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God.

Devotionals for the Heart: Jesus Christ Can Set You Free from Slavery to Sin

Freedom in Christ
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”

–John 8:36 (NLT)

The story is told of a group of animals who were tied to a wheel for a long period of time. With the wheel in the center, they slowly walked around in a circle, following each other, looking down at the ground.

One day, the animals were untied from the wheel. Each had the ability to walk away or even run if they wanted to; but each one just stood in place. After a while, they started walking in a circle and continued to follow each other, slowly walking around and around in a circle.

They were free, but for some reason, they did not realize it. Maybe they were so accustomed to living in bondage that they just continued to act like they were still tied to that wheel.

When we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts, He frees us from the bondage of sin. But even when we accept Christ as our Savior, we often put up a wall in our hearts. We strive to love Him with every fiber of our being, but sometimes there is failure to give Him all of us. There’s this notion that if we just maintain this last bit of space, we protect ourselves, and we’re free to be who we would just rather be. But true freedom is experienced when we give up, give in, and give ourselves over completely.

Many of us are in bondage, and we don’t even know it. We are slaves to the sin that entangles us. The worst part of slavery is to be a slave, and not even know that you are a slave. You’re not even seeking freedom because you think you are already free when you really are not.

How do we remedy this? Submit to God’s will and to His ways. God’s law is perfect, converting the soul. The law is not here to restrict you, it’s designed to set you free. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Stop resisting the Spirit and experience the freedom of God’s glory.

Seek His presence in your life. The Bible says in Psalm 16:11 (NKJV), “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Dwell in His presence. Let’s also read Psalm 27:4 (KJV). Scripture says, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.” Enjoy His presence. Remember: “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere” (Psalm 84:10 NIV).

God is ready and waiting to free us from the bondage of sin, but we have to take the first step so that we can experience freedom in Him.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, We need the power of your Holy Spirit to reign in our hearts so that we may be free from sin. Help us to let go of anything that keeps us away from You and hold on to whatever brings us closer to You. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Just for Me” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood. Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God. She is currently working on another devotional book.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking.

This is Angela’s fourth year as a guest blog writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “Devotionals for the Heart” blog series. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in Living Unbroken, which is also a publication produced by Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Angela is also a life coach for mothers. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. She helps them see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela is also the host of “The Angela Anderson Show”, a virtual talk show that launched in April 2023 on YouTube and Facebook. The show is designed for mothers who want to pursue their dream while managing family life. The audio version of the show is also available as a podcast on Spotify.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 19 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 11) and Ryan (age 6). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:

To connect with Angela, you can follow her on Instagram (angelanderson1104), Clubhouse (@angelize), and send a friend request to her on Facebook.

Subscribe to Angela’s YouTube channel @The Angela Anderson Show and follow the show on Spotify. Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

You can also like and follow her Facebook page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God.

Devotionals for the Heart: Life lessons about Jesus learned from a lint brush

How a Lint Brush Reminded Me of Jesus 
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”—2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

One morning as I was getting ready for church, my 11-year-old son walked into my bedroom with lint all over his black pants. He explained that he was sitting on the rug in the living room while he was reading a book. I told him that he had to clean up before leaving and I asked him to look in the other room for the lint brush.

Moments later he returned with the lint brush in his hand and started brush to the front of his pant legs repeatedly. I reminded him to brush in the direction of the arrow which was located on the handle of the brush. With every stroke of the brush, you could notice a remarkable difference as his black pants were becoming lint-free. As he continued to brush, he became more fascinated by the lint that seemed to disappear into the head of the brush. After some time, both pant legs were clean and appeared to be brand new.

My son was so intrigued by the lint brush that he decided to start brushing the velour blanket on my bed. He wasn’t paying close attention to the direction of the arrow on the handle as he started brushing in the opposite direction. After a while, all of the lint came off the brush and was transferred onto the blanket. Although the lint brush was completely clean, now the blanket was all dirty!

This situation caused me to think about the days of the Israelites in the Old Testament of The Holy Bible. In order to atone for their sins, they were required to bring a lamb that was free of blemishes to the altar as a sacrifice. This meant that all of their wrongdoing was transferred to this animal, and the bloodshed was symbolic of reparation for all of their offenses. This process brought hope to the sinner because it was a way to reconcile with their Creator (God).

This method of atonement came to an abrupt end when Jesus Christ died on the cross (John 3:16-17). He became the Holy Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. All of our dirt, our guilt and our shame was placed on Jesus. He was sinless but He became sin, so that He could die in our place. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and atonement for our sins. His blood that was shed gives us a new life in Him. And now He reconciles us with God by covering us in His robe of righteousness and presenting us faultless before God’s throne. We can be thankful for our union with God because of what Jesus did for us!

Let’s Pray: Dear God, I am so thankful for the blood that Jesus shed for me. Because of His death, my life can be free from guilt or shame. May I never forget the sacrifice Jesus made for me. I am so grateful that when you look at me, you see Jesus standing in my place. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Thank you for offering forgiveness for all of humankind’s sins. In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Jesus Messiah” by Chris Tomlin. Listen here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey.

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood. Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God. She is currently working on another devotional book.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking.

This is Angela’s fourth year as a guest blog writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “Devotionals for the Heart” blog series. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in Living Unbroken, which is also a publication produced by Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Angela is also a life coach for mothers. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. She helps them see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela is also the host of “The Angela Anderson Show”, a virtual talk show that launched in April 2023 on YouTube and Facebook. The show is designed for mothers who want to pursue their dream while managing family life. The audio version of the show is also available as a podcast on Spotify.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 19 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 11) and Ryan (age 6). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:

To connect with Angela, you can follow her on Instagram (angelanderson1104), Clubhouse (@angelize), and send a friend request to her on Facebook.

Subscribe to Angela’s YouTube channel @The Angela Anderson Show and follow the show on Spotify. Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

You can also like and follow her Facebook page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God.

Devotionals for the Heart: God and His Angels protect you from danger

God is Our Protector
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

—Psalm 46:1 (NLT)

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you narrowly escaped involvement in a car accident? Maybe you were in an accident but when you look back at the aftermath, you wonder how you made it out alive. This is evidence of God protecting you from apparent danger.

God is also in the business of protecting us from dangers that we cannot see. There are daily situations that are happening behind the scenes of which we are unaware. These situations remain unseen because God is constantly dispatching His angels to encamp around us (Psalm 34:7). He deactivates the traps that are set by Satan. The weapon may be formed, but it will not prosper! (Isaiah 54:17). God has this uncanny ability to orchestrate circumstances with the goal of rescuing us. He never leaves us alone. He is always right there.

God also offers us protection from the spiritual battle that occurs in the life of a believer. We are reminded in Ephesians 6:12 that this is not a physical fight, but completely spiritual. We are not up against people or objects, but Satan uses these things in the battle in an attempt to distract and defeat us. Our true opponent is Satan and he wants nothing more than for all of us to fall prey to His evil plans to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).

In order for us to resist Satan, we need to stand and cover ourselves with every piece of God’s armor. This includes truth tied around our waist which are integrity and moral courage. The breastplate of righteousness is to protect an upright heart. When the gospel of peace is strapped to our feet, we will be stable and be prepared to face Satan with readiness that originates from the good new. The shield of faith protects us by extinguishing Satan’s fiery darts that are thrown in our direction. The helmet of salvation guards our minds as we focus on God, and the sword of the spirit is the word of God that should be hidden in our hearts so that we are less prone to sin. When we put on God’s armor, it not only protects us, but it also emboldens us to live a genuine Christian life.

God’s protection in our lives is beyond what we could ever imagine. We can praise Him now for what He has already done and in advance for what He is going to do!

Let’s Pray: Dear God, Thank you for Your protection as we go about our lives each day. Help us to realize that You go before us, You are always with us, and You are all around us, no matter where we are. Continue to bless us with Your abiding presence. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Protector (Live)” by Kim Walker-Smith. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/

Note: Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

Devotionals for the Heart: God cares about every single tear you cry

Tears in a Bottle
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”—Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

When I was a little girl, I used to enjoy spending time with my family, especially on summer vacations. One of our favorite places to visit was a town called Chincoteague in Virginia. We used to travel by car from my home state of New Jersey to Virginia and just spend time doing family activites in the area, including visiting the beach.

Although we visited other beaches, Chincoteague Beach was significant to me because this was the place where I started my first collection of seashells. Most people enjoy the beach for the water or possibly relaxing in the sun, but my objective was different.

I vividly remember walking along the beach, gathering shells that were sprinkled all over the sand. One thing I noticed was that none of the shells were the same. Even though the seashells may have been the same type of shell, there were still variations either in the hard exterior or the smooth interior of the shell. Each seashell was unique and each seashell had a story, depending on where I found it. I placed them in a bottle where I was able to admire their beauty.

My time collecting seashells at the beach and placing them in a special bottle reminds me of God, our Father in Heaven, having a special bottle that holds a collection of our tears.

God cares about us so much that He keeps track of all of our sorrows and records them in a book. Every tear we cry after a difficult situation comes our way is significant to God. Not even one tear is overlooked. Instead, He collects them all and attends to each one. Every heartache is unique and touches the heart of God. It may be the result of similar situations, but each situation is distinctive in its own way. God knows your story. 

Tears are a language that God understands and we can be certain that we can find healing in His loving care.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, It comforts me just to know that You are collecting my tears and recording my sorrow. There is never a moment when You are not aware of the pain that I am feeling. Thank you for Your healing touch and Your peace in the middle of my storm. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Every Single Tear” by Scott Krippayne. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey.

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/

Note: Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Reasons why we should not overthink things

The Danger of Overthinking
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

—2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

The other day I caught myself thinking about a particular topic for an extended period of time. 

Not only did I think about it for a few moments, but I also hung on to that thought, and then that thought led me to think about other thoughts that were unrelated to my original thought. By the time I snapped out of it, I realized how unproductive it was to sit there thinking about the same thing and not even come to a conclusion.

I often wonder how many others suffer from overthinking—dwelling on a thought repeatedly and then allowing that thought to needlessly consume your time.

There are numerous reasons why people tend to overthink. People are genuinely afraid of making the wrong decision. Once they start overthinking, they are intimidated by all of the possibilities to consider. Instead of making a decision, they would prefer not to have that responsibility, so they just let someone else deal with it.

Another reason for overthinking is fear of failure. If it’s a business venture, opportunity, or a fork in the road, people will overthink it to the point of talking themselves out of it. In the end, they never pursue their dream.

Overthinking can be self-destructive. The root cause can be traced back to insecurity, low self-esteem, stress and worry. If overthinking gets out of control, it can become a hindrance to your life, your relationships with people, and even your relationship with God.

The good news is that God gives us a solution to overthinking in His Word (The Holy Bible). He wants us to surrender all of our worries to Him and allow Him to solve our problems. He cares about everything that concerns us and He has mercy on us when we are wrestling with our relentless thoughts. He doesn’t want us to be anxious about anything. Instead, He wants us to experience peace that surpasses all human understanding. We never have to fear when we allow God to take control.

The next time you start to overthink, turn your thoughts over to God, and watch Him make a difference in your life.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, Grant us peace and calm our troubled minds. Send Your Holy Spirit to abide with us, so that we may think on things that are of You. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Anxious Heart” by Jeremy Camp. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey.

 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why you should let God fight your battles

When You Let God Fight Your Battles
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

—Romans 8:37 (NIV)

The negative words echoed in the dark corridors of my mind: “You can’t start your own business! You don’t have the experience.”

Just as I was able to silence the noise, more words came rushing in like a flood: “Why would you want to do that anyway? There are other things out there that are much more meaningful.”

I made the terrible mistake of announcing my goals to my family and friends—the people who I thought would be the most supportive. I told them that I wanted to start a non-profit organization in order to assist those in prison with their transition to society. I beamed with pride as I explained how I felt God calling me to do this and that it had been a passion of mine for years. I presented the findings of my research that detailed the benefits of such a ministry. The positive impact on the lives of those in prison would be exponential, causing a ripple effect to their families and to the surrounding community. I was determined to make a difference in this world, but right then, I felt like the world was against me.

When God gives you a dream or a vision, sometimes it’s not for you to share with everyone who has a listening ear. There are people around you who are not always for you. I learned this simple lesson the hard way. I was crushed with disappointment by the ones who tried to convince me not to proceed with this new venture. I felt overwhelmed with doubt, and I started to question my skills and abilities. I wondered whether this huge task was suitable for me.

The enemy uses negative thoughts and limiting beliefs to paralyze us. His objective is to stop us from pursuing our purpose. But we serve a God who has overcome the enemy, and we too are overcomers because we belong to the Most High God! When God says yes, it doesn’t matter who says no.

I had to remind myself of God’s promises and the power that was available to me in His Word (The Holy Bible). I had to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). I had to recognize that I was not fighting against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). I had to use the weapons of prayer and praise to defeat the enemy who saw my potential and tried so hard to shut it down before it even started.

We must look ourselves in the mirror daily and affirm God’s truth into our lives. Here are a few Bible verses that can help us in our endeavor to speak truth:

“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.” (Psalm 118:6 NIV)

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17 NKJV)

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NKJV)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 NIV)

Once we know God’s truth, there will be no reason for us to believe the enemy’s lies. We can stand firm on the His promises and allow His light to dispel the darkest of any negative thoughts or beliefs. This is how we fight our battles, and with God, we win!

Let’s Pray: Dear God, Thank you for Your truth that reminds us who we are in You. We are grateful that You have given us the victory over the enemy. May we be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can hear Your voice and obey Your Word. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

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

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Lessons on making room for God in your life

Why We Need to Let God Be First
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”–Luke 10:41-42 (NLT)

If you are anything like me, you are a busy person.

You might feel like there are not enough hours in a day to complete all of the tasks that are on your plate. If it’s not managing your own schedule, it’s keeping up with the activities and events for the kids, or maybe even working around the schedule of your spouse. Regardless, there always seems to be details that must be coordinated and then executed. Getting things done is very important, especially if there are people who are counting on you.

I would imagine that Martha felt overwhelmed when she found out that Jesus Christ would be passing through the neighborhood and stopping by her home. She was frantically trying to prepare a meal because she also knew that Jesus was not traveling alone. He usually had his disciples with Him, and let’s face it: feeding a group of hungry men was not the easiest task.

Martha’s sister Mary, on the other hand, was not at all concerned with preparing the meal. Those details did not seem to faze her at all. In fact, when Jesus arrived, she made herself comfortable at His feet, absorbing all of His teachings.

It’s no wonder Martha became visibly irritated with her sister. Martha was doing all of the work, getting things done, while her sister was sitting down comfortably, not even lifting a finger. Martha tried to plead her case to Jesus, hoping that He would instruct Mary to help out Martha with all of the work. Instead, Jesus did the opposite. He politely chastised Martha for being so anxious about the tasks at hand, and He applauded Mary for choosing the one thing that really mattered: sitting at His feet and spending time with her Savior.

When I think about this story in Luke 10, I tend to judge Martha for not sitting down to take a break. I mean, who wouldn’t want to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him? But then I put myself in her shoes for a moment, and I think about all of the work she had to do, especially with all of the people who were coming to her house. Then I start to judge Mary. How could anyone be so inconsiderate and just sit there while your sister is doing all of the work?

Martha is not at fault for wanting to care for the people coming to her home. Someone had to step up and do the preparation to feed everyone. Her hospitality is noteworthy. However, there is nothing more important, fulfilling, and life-changing than being in the presence of Jesus.

We need to be a Martha to accomplish our tasks, but in order to properly care for ourselves, we must be a Mary. If we want to grow closer to Him, we must willingly and intentionally draw closer to Him. We should make every effort to engross ourselves in His teachings and spend adequate time with Him. It is there that we experience His great love for us.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, Help us to realize that there is no better place to be than in Your presence. May we take ample time each day to spend it with You. Fill us with Your Spirit, Lord, and equip us with what we need to live a life that is pleasing to You. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Make Room” (song) by Jonathan McReynolds. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to forgive people who hurt us

Forgiveness
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

–Matthew 6:12 (KJV)

One of the last phrases Jesus Christ said before dying on the cross was “…Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” (Luke 23:34 KJV). The magnitude of this act of grace is often overlooked and taken for granted.

We are living in a time where forgiveness is not very popular. There is such a great demand for justice in this society. We naturally want to see people pay for their sins or wrongful acts. Nowadays, grace is considered odd and when it is extended by others, it’s noteworthy and shocking.

Yet God calls us to forgive each other when we have been wronged simply because God forgives us every day of our lives when we confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness. It is the least we can do considering the great sacrifice that was made on our behalf. Furthermore, we are warned of the consequences if we do not forgive. In Matthew 6:15, the Bible makes it very clear that if we do not forgive others of their trespasses, then our Father also will not forgive us of our trespasses.

Still, many struggle with extending grace to others. It is quite possible that people do not know how to forgive because they have not allowed themselves to receive forgiveness from God. They have not yet experienced the power of that type of love from our Heavenly Father. And it’s that type of love that God expects us to give to others.

But how can we possibly forgive others? Just like Jesus surrendered His life on the cross, we must first surrender to God’s mercy and love and allow it to fill us. Once we have truly experienced it for ourselves, we become transformed by its ability to free us from feelings of animosity and ill will toward others.

God’s love accepts us as we are but does not leave us that way. We become restored and elevated into a right relationship with God. That is when He can use us and that’s when we are able to share His love, mercy, and grace. That is when we are able to freely forgive.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, We are so thankful for Your grace. May we never forget Your sacrifice and the blood that was shed to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Please forgive us for our sins and help us to forgive those who have sinned against us. We know that we cannot do this without You. Give us the strength to love others as You love us. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Forgiveness” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey.

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When Jesus Christ Made the Blind Man See

When Jesus Christ Made the Blind Man See
A devotional by Angela Anderson

Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”–John 9:39 (NLT)

In the Bible, there is a story in the book of John, chapter 9, about a man who was blind from birth. When Jesus and His disciples saw the man, the disciples asked Jesus if the man was blind because of his own sin or the sins of his parents. Jesus explained to the disciples that the man’s blindness had nothing to do with sin, but there was a greater purpose involved in the moment.

As the story progresses, Jesus spit in the dirt to form mud. Jesus then put the mud on the blind man’s eyes and instructed him to wash in the pool of Siloam. When the blind man did what Jesus commanded him to do, the blind man returned to Jesus with the ability to see.

The people who knew the man and his parents were confused. They could not understand why this person who was once blind could now see. The Pharisees and the lawmakers were also confounded. They started an investigation to somehow make sense of how this blind man received sight. They did not want to accept the fact that a miracle was just performed. They chose not to give the glory to God, instead they ended up dismissing the man from the synagogue.

Who was blind in this story? The logical answer would be the man who had been blind since birth, but when you look at the story in greater detail, it is apparent that he was not the only one who was blind. True, he was physically blind, but what about the others who were spiritually blind?

The disciples were spiritually blind when they tried to assign blame for a human being’s problem instead of seeing the opportunity for God to reveal His power. Jesus opened the eyes of the disciples by performing a miracle that day. The people and the Pharisees were spiritually blind when they questioned the man’s identity and whether he was even born blind. They closed their eyes to God’s divine power and intervention, and rejected the evidence that was right in front of them.

Even now, God is trying to get our attention, but all of us suffer with some degree of visual impairment. Spiritual blindness is sinful when we refuse to see Jesus. We only see what we expect to see or what we want to see, instead of looking for evidence of what God is doing in our lives.

We must ask the question, how can I be a part of God’s vision for my life? And then look beyond our predicament and focus on the possibilities.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, Open our eyes so that we may see you working in our lives. Help us to believe that you are waiting to do exceedingly and abundantly above anything we could ever ask or think. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Please Don’t Pass Me By” sung by Fred Hammond. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com