Devotionals for the Heart: God's grace is a gentle balm to heal your soul

When You Allow God's Grace to Heal You
A devotional by Dr. Gladys Childs

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

—Psalm 147:3 (ESV)

God's grace is a balm for our brokenness, a lifeline reaching the most tender and wounded places in our life.

Healing is one of the most breathtaking facets of His grace. It intertwines His divine compassion with our raw humanity. Psalm 147:3 captures this truth: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." It reminds us that no matter how shattered we feel or how deep the scars are, our God is the Master Restorer.

The phrase "heals the brokenhearted" isn't just poetic; it's personal. It speaks to those moments when life's weight is unbearable—when we've lost a loved one, faced betrayal, or seen our dreams crumble. God doesn't turn away from broken people; He draws near. This verse assures us that God sees what we hide from others and even what we might struggle to admit to ourselves. He's not distant or indifferent. Instead, He actively works to heal, meeting us in our pain with compassion that defies understanding.

But God's healing isn't merely surface level. The imagery of Him binding up wounds suggests a deliberate and tender process. Think of a caregiver gently wrapping a wound, ensuring the healing is complete. That's what God does for our souls. He binds up what is raw and exposed, protecting us while He works to restore and strengthen us from the inside out. His grace touches our apparent wounds and those hidden beneath shame, fear, or bitterness.

This grace for healing is not something we earn or deserve—it's a gift freely given. It reflects God's very nature: a Father who loves His children too much to leave them broken. And His healing work isn't rushed. Sometimes, it's immediate—a sudden peace amid chaos. Other times, it's a gradual process, like stitching a tear so intricately that the mended fabric becomes stronger than before. Either way, God's healing grace is always perfect in its timing and infinite in its reach.

Imagine God's hands—steady, gentle, and sure—working on the deepest parts of your heart. He's mending broken relationships, quieting the storms of anxiety, and weaving hope into the places where despair once reigned. Psalm 147:3 invites us to trust that no wound is too severe for His touch, no heartache too great for His restoration.

So, what does this mean for us today? It means we can come as we are—fragile, hurting, and imperfect. We can lay it all before Him, knowing He won't reject us or grow impatient with our healing journey. It also means we can live with hope. The same God who created the stars and sustains the universe is actively at work in us, turning brokenness into beauty. Our wounds may shape our story, but they don't have to define it. Instead, they become evidence of His grace, a testimony that His power is made perfect in our weakness.

This verse isn't just a promise—it's an invitation. God says, "Let Me heal you. Let Me bind up your torn, broken heart. Trust My hands to restore what you thought was lost forever." When we do, we'll discover a grace that transforms, a healing that brings wholeness and a God who is closer than we ever imagined.

Let’s Pray:
Lord, bring your healing grace to the areas of our lives needing restoration. Mend our brokenness and make us whole. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Scars” by I Am They. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Dr. Gladys Childs is an author, speaker, religion professor, pastor's wife, and mom helping others be F.R.E.E. to Thrive© for the abundant life God has for them. She serves as Chaplain at Texas Wesleyan University and the Women’s Director at LifePoint Fellowship. She brings 25 years of experience and knowledge to her ministry. 

Gladys is frequently called authentic, witty, and candid as she shares her journey through life’s ups and downs. Her passion is meeting people at the intersection of faith and life’s difficulties. No stranger to heartache herself, she grew up in a non-church-going family with an alcoholic mother and is a trauma survivor.

Gladys holds a Ph.D. in Foundations of Education, a Master’s in Religious Education, a Master of Divinity, and a B.A. with a double major in Counseling and Psychology. Also, she is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church.

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Connect with Gladys:
Website: https://www.gladyschilds.com/
Blog: https://www.gladyschilds.com/blog
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgladyschilds/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GladysAnnChilds
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GladysChilds
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gladyschildsauthor/

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Grace

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Grace

God Promises to Give You Grace
A devotional by Essie Faye Taylor

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”–2 Corinthians 12:9 (CSB)

I sat quietly in disbelief after receiving the news that three people in my life were now deceased. Two men of faith who mentored me for decades, suddenly fell asleep (they died). A younger cousin, who I'd seen just months prior, was suddenly taken from our midst.

My heart ached, but the tears would not come. Death can be unexpected and sudden. I felt as if I’d been punched in my gut and the wind was knocked out of me because this pain caught me off guard. There was nothing I could do about this loss. I was emotionally and physically exhausted from fighting in this game called life. I was working two jobs in order to provide for my family and still I was barely making ends meet. I was overwhelmed to say the least and I cried out to God, “Lord, help! This is too much to bear.”

If we are honest, as Christians, we find ourselves at a place of overwhelm a lot. Life throws us curveballs, monkey wrenches, and game-changers unexpectedly. We are oftentimes faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This is a part of our faith walk. Our faith does not make us exempt from the adversity of life. However, our faith sustains us as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. The Bible says we should not fear evil because God is with us! This truth is tested when we are in the valley because it is then when we experience feelings of despair, loneliness, depression, anxiety, doubt, pain, anguish. We feel defeated as we struggle to walk through the valley. However, we can find solace in the fact that God is with us. He is present to console us, guide us, and provide for us in that place of hardship.

In 2 Corinthians 12:6-9, Paul finds himself in an unfortunate situation. He sought the Lord diligently multiple times, asking God to remove a thorn from Him. He uses a thorn to express a point of extreme difficulty, pain, complexity, and/or controversy. According to three Old Testament scriptural references (Numbers 33:55, Joshua 23:13 and Judges 2:3), Paul’s “thorn” was a demonic angel or messenger sent by Satan to continually stir up persecution against him.

It is documented throughout the book of Acts that virtually everywhere Paul visited, he was persecuted. 2 Corinthians 11:23-26 details his experience. According to this scripture, Paul testifies that he was imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel several times, beaten, and had near death experiences as he spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Five times he received thirty-nine lashes and a beating from the Jews. He was beaten with rods three times and pelted with stones. He was shipwrecked three times and spent time in the open sea. He was constantly on the run from people who wanted to harm him. His life was full of persecution, but this was God’s plan for Paul. Remember: Jesus prophesied that Paul would suffer many things for the sake of Christ at his conversion on the road to Damascus.

After seeking God to take this burden away, God responds by promising His grace. God doesn’t remove Paul’s “thorn”. Instead, He gave him the strength to endure it. Grace is the God-given ability to do what God requires. Grace is giving us what we don’t deserve: ability to conquer and overcome. God enables us to do what we cannot, within our own power. The grace of God is sufficient–it is enough for us to endure hardness as a good soldier.

God promises grace over our lives every day so we can navigate life’s hard situations. The Bible says His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) and that He is always with us (Matthew 28:20). Not only is God with us, He enables us to stand in the face of adversity even when it feels like our knees will buckle. And if our knees buckle, we can find grace, mercy, and help at His throne. When we are weak, He is strong. In essence, we find our strength through our relationship with God. We lean on the strength of an all-powerful God and our character is perfected. In our weakness, we discover His power and greatness as we walk through life’s valleys. We grow to know and love Him more deeply in trying times and we are better for it.

We can do difficult things and overcome obstacles through the power of Christ.

Call to Action:

1. Acknowledge your true feelings. It’s okay not to be okay. Take that overwhelm, anger, frustration, etc. to God. He is able to accept anything you bring to Him. He can handle your anger, frustration, and pain. Give it all to Him and exchange them for His grace.

2. Face the situation head on. Know that you have sufficient grace to stand firm by faith in the midst of any difficulty. God is with you. 

3. Lean into God’s presence. Find solace in His presence through prayer, mediation, praise, and worship. Even silence, when you don’t have the words, allows you to tap into God’s presence. 

4. Believe that God enables you to accomplish what He requires. If you need to grieve properly, forgive, confess, repent and change your lifestyle, it may not be easy. But God will empower you through His grace to do it. It may be difficult, but it is possible.

5. Remember: All things are possible to him who believes. God’s grace is enough and by faith through grace He equips us to address whatever life brings our way.

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your grace that is enough for me. It is enough to sustain and comfort me when I’m in a state of overwhelm, sadness, hopelessness, and despair. You enable me to stand by grace and in faith when life hits hard. When misfortune catches me unaware, I am not alone. You are with me and You are not caught off guard. You know the ending from the beginning and You know the way that I take. Help me to believe in the power and presence of Your grace in every circumstance I find myself experiencing. Thank you, Father, for hearing and answering my prayers. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Were It Not For Grace” by Larnelle Harris. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Essie Taylor is an author, educator, minister, youth advocate, recording artist, podcaster, and improviser. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rockford College. 

She is a veteran educator of Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, and Spanish Language Acquisition with National Board Teacher Certification. She is an advocate of lifelong learning, language learning, and multiculturalism.

Essie is the CEO of KenMar Press, an author agency, and The Essie Faye Collection. Essie is the author of Finding the Love You Deserve: 30 Lessons in Self-Love & Acceptance, and Finding The Love Your Deserve: A 60-Day Healing Journal For Women of Faith.

She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path. She loves God, people, and helping others.

Essie has been a Christian for nearly all of her 39 years. She was born again at 15 years old. She has been a bilingual worship leader and interpreter for 10+ years. By the grace of God, Essie helped to establish bilingual ministries at five churches in her young life. She is a survivor of domestic violence (verbal and emotional abuse) and marital abandonment in a prior marriage.

Essie is a Chicago native. She lives in Chicago with her husband Donald Taylor II.

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Connect with Essie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/
Website: www.essiefayetaylor.com

Devotionals for the Heart: God's love, grace and mercy for humankind

A Promise of Mercy
A devotional by Essie Faye Taylor

“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.” –Lamentations 3:22-24 (CSB)

I remember my unforgettable encounter with God.

It was the moment that I realized that I was a sinner. I was at odds with a Holy God because of my sinful nature and my thinking, practices, and habits. While my sin meant that I deserved to die, mercy declared that I would not receive what I deserved. Instead, I received compassion and kindness. I received forgiveness and remission of my sins by salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

It’s important to note a few things about mercy. Mercy is extended to the offender. The innocent don’t need mercy. Mercy exonerates the guilty party. Mercy is unmerited. It is not something that can be earned. The offender deserves judgment but instead, mercy is given. Mercy is a gift born from the character of the giver. Mercy is compassionate or kind forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or another person in one's power; it is the demonstration of compassion, pity, or benevolence. Because mercy is undeserved and unmerited, when extended, it truly is an act of God.

Lamentations 3:22-24 was penned by the Weeping Prophet, Jeremiah, who declares that God’s love preserves us. His unfailing love guards us and keeps us safe in the face of danger and uncertainty. God demonstrates his love toward us through His actions. Mercy is an essential element of our God. Scripture says that our High Priest Jesus is touched by our infirmities. He is moved emotionally by our human experience because Jesus is God incarnate. He lived, breathed, and walked on this Earth as a human. Therefore, He understands what we experience.

Jesus extends empathy and compassion and His mercies toward us never end. The mercy door is always open. When we have fallen into sin, mercy is there. God's Word (The Holy Bible) says we can boldly approach His throne to obtain mercy when we need it.

His mercies are renewed every morning. This means that each day we are forgiven, we get a brand new start. God extends mercy to us and forgives our sins, mistakes, errors, mishaps, and shortcomings. Our God is the God of second chances. He is compassionate and understanding with His children. He deals with us lovingly and compassionately.

Call to Action:

1. Believe that mercy is always near. It’s okay if you fall. Look to God and get up again. You can begin again. There is no sin too great to be forgiven.

2. Embrace God’s mercy daily. It is renewed each day. If you fall into sin today, God’s forgiveness and mercy areavailable. Tomorrow you have a fresh start. Receive it. It’s yours, no questions asked.

3. Know that God is a kind and compassionate Heavenly Father. He knows exactly what you are experiencing and He can help you like nobody else can.

4. Remember, God extends mercy to us daily because of His unfailing love for us. Be merciful to others. We all need mercy and grace.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithful and unfailing love toward me that keeps me safe and protected. Thank you, Lord, that Your mercies do not end. You are always near, ready to extend mercy, ready to give me forgiveness when I don’t deserve it. I thank You that Your mercies are renewed every morning. You understand I am flawed and imperfect, yet You love me unconditionally. You understand that I am prone to make mistakes, so You make provision for me with renewed mercies. Help me to be merciful to others, as You are merciful to me. Thank You, Father, for hearing and answering my prayers. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Great is Your Mercy” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Essie Taylor is an author, educator, minister, youth advocate, recording artist, podcaster, and improviser. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rockford College.

She is a veteran educator of Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, and Spanish Language Acquisition with National Board Teacher Certification. She is an advocate of lifelong learning, language learning, and multiculturalism.

Essie is the CEO of KenMar Press, an author agency, and The Essie Faye Collection. Essie is the author of Finding the Love You Deserve: 30 Lessons in Self-Love & Acceptance, and Finding The Love Your Deserve: A 60-Day Healing Journal For Women of Faith.

She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path. She loves God, people, and helping others.

Essie has been a Christian for nearly all of her 39 years. She was born again at 15 years old. She has been a bilingual worship leader and interpreter for 10+ years. By the grace of God, Essie helped to establish bilingual ministries at five churches in her young life. She is a survivor of domestic violence (verbal and emotional abuse) and marital abandonment in a prior marriage.

Essie is a Chicago native. She lives in Chicago with her husband Donald Taylor II.

~*~
Connect with Essie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/
Website: www.essiefayetaylor.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When you are already approved by God

Already Approved
A devotional by Cyndi Staudt

“Everyone who believes has God’s approval through faith in Jesus Christ…they receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free from sin.” – Romans 3:22a, 24 (GW)

As a recovering approval addict, I spent the better part of my life living to please others. I said yes to countless things I should have said no to. 

Attended many events I had no interest in, and really had no time for in my schedule, but feared hurting someone’s feelings by saying no. I apologized excessively, pretended to agree with others so they might like me more, and became a chameleon to whomever I happened to be around at the time. I avoided conflict at all costs and craved the praise and affirmation of others to feel validated and worthy. I never felt like I did enough or was enough. It was exhausting and felt like I was constantly auditioning for acceptance.

When I found Jesus Christ, you might think that character flaw would correct itself. On the contrary, it simply became redirected. My unquenchable need to please now sought to please a perfect and holy God, leaving me feeling increasingly inadequate. My heart began to wonder if I would ever measure up to the unattainable standards I strived for.

Then one day in my Bible study time I stumbled across a scripture that told me I already had the approval of God, not because of anything I had done but because of what I believed. It was an act of God’s kindness through the price Jesus paid on the cross. I literally felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I had read many verses about my sins being forgiven and Jesus paying the price for my sins. Verses that reminded me that I was “saved by grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8-9) and that if I “believe in the Lord Jesus I will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Yes, while I had known for years that Jesus paid the price for my sins, reading it in that context changed everything for me. It completely shifted my perspective.

Instead of my works being an effort to earn the approval of my Savior, they became an offering of worship to Him. My efforts became an expression of gratitude to the One who voluntarily paid the price for my sins, who gave me approval that can never be lost. Instead of feeling like I was on a never-ending hamster wheel of sub-par performance, I could now give and serve with a cheerful heart that was secure in its status.

People-pleasing will likely always be a natural tendency of my flesh, but it shows up far less frequently than it used to. The Holy Spirit inside me is quick to squash any attempts of the enemy to seek the approval and acceptance of anyone except Jesus. Friend, if you have lived in the defeat, despair, and discouragement of approval addiction I encourage you to take your desire to be accepted and approved to the foot of the cross.

Allow the grace, love, and unconditional approval of our Heavenly Father to cut away any chains that seek to bind you to anything or anyone but Him. You are already approved and fully loved!

Let’s Pray:
Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for accepting Your rescue mission even though it cost You everything. Knowing I have Your guaranteed approval that can’t be lost or forfeited by my failure to perform properly is freeing beyond imagination. Thank you for releasing me from the bondage of people-pleasing and God-pleasing. May my heart always be secure in my status as Your child and beloved daughter. I humbly and graciously receive the acceptance and approval You freely give. My gratitude can never be adequately expressed but I will forever pour it out to You in worship. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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Connect with Cyndi on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/souledoutcyndi/

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Grace is available for all humankind

The Gift of Grace
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

–Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

One of the areas with which some people struggle during their Christian journey is the concept of grace. The Bible very clearly indicates that grace is a gift from God. 

This gift is available the moment we believe and receive Jesus in our hearts. It is not something that we can do for ourselves, nor can we take any credit for it. It is actually very simple, yet we tend to make it so very complicated. Perhaps many of us are accustomed to earning everything in life, and so it becomes difficult to just accept this gift.

Grace is the power of God that enables us to be free from whatever is holding us down or preventing us from moving forward in life. God wants so badly for us to experience the freedom found in His grace. Even though we do not deserve this and many of His wonderful blessings, He still covers us in grace every day of our lives.

To counteract grace, the enemy offers us disgrace. Many of us readily accept this, not even realizing just how harmful it is to our very being. Disgrace shames us into thinking that God would never love us or accept us after what we have done or what was done to us. Disgrace presents itself in so many ways including the negative self-talk that brings us down. We dislike ourselves, reject ourselves and then convince ourselves that God feels the same way about us.

But we can be sure of this one thing: The blood of Jesus Christ washes us clean from all wrong. When Jesus wraps us in His robe of righteousness and presents us faultless before the throne of God, our Heavenly Father (God) looks at us and sees His Son (Jesus) standing there in our place. Regardless of how we feel about ourselves, God still loves us and showers us with grace.

Although by ourselves we may not be worthy of God’s grace, we can still accept this gift by placing our faith in the One who freely gives it to us.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, we cannot thank You enough for Your grace. Please help us to grow into an understanding of righteousness through the blood of Jesus. May we never take advantage of Your grace, but may we be grateful that grace saves us through our faith in You. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Were It Not For Grace” by Larnelle Harris. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in NJ. She found her love for writing when she was in elementary school. 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 a children's book that is not yet published.

In 2021, Angela started writing articles for an online magazine called Christian Women Living, where she focuses on writing messages for mothers and sharing advice on parenting. In addition to this, Angela wrote a devotional that is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book title is Hope When Your Heart is Heavy.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking. She is the co-founder of Anchor Moms, a ministry to cure loneliness in Motherhood. Currently, this ministry meets via a group on Facebook.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 17 years. Together, they have two sons: Thomas (age 9) and Ryan (age 4). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family. Her personal mission is to empower others to achieve their goals and dreams.

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Connect with Angela:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook fan page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God:
https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Grace

Navigating Life with Grace
A devotional by Erin M. Handley

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Life is often referred to as a path each person navigates as they see fit.

Each person is traveling on their own, individualized path. Despite how many familiarities they share, no path is the same. It is anticipated that paths are easy to navigate. The expectation is that all paths will be smooth and safe for extended travel. However, like anything else that undergoes regular use, it is expected that overtime, well-traveled roads will eventually show the effects of the physical stress they have endured.

If you have ever been in place where the roads are riddled with potholes, you know the damage they can do to a vehicle. It’s one thing when you come across one or two small potholes. Their existence is a nuisance, but they can’t do too much damage when you are able to avoid them. But it is a completely different thing when the “pothole-to-paved road” ratio is 50/50. It is extremely difficult to avoid a pothole when the very place you swerve to in order to miss the first pothole is occupied by another pothole. No matter how much you swerve in and out of lane, you seem to continuously see another pothole.

The interesting thing about potholes is that you never really understand how deep they are or how much damage they can do until you unexpectedly find yourself falling into the pothole. The potholes we encounter on this path of life are our own shortcomings. Our flaws. Our failings. Our weaknesses. Those weaknesses we come across on our own paths cause us to proceed with caution. We know where the potholes are. So as long as we are intentional about how we travel, we know how to navigate the path with limited incident.

But what about when you’re traveling on a road you have never traveled across before? It’s raining. You can hardly see the road in front of you, but you trust that it is flat and smooth to travel on. Due to the heavy rain, you can’t see where the potholes are, and you don’t know how deep they are until you are stumbling into them.

Each person you encounter from day-to-day has their fair share of potholes. Shortcomings. Flaws. Failings. Weaknesses. You don’t always know where they are along their individual paths, but if we do know that potholes are inevitable, we could be more intentional about proceeding with caution. Additionally, some of us have the heart and desire to help fix those shortcomings and fill those voids caused by those points of weakness. But it’s not our job. It’s God’s job. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) tells us that God’s power is made perfect in weakness.

Our weaknesses amplify His power, and His grace is enough. His gift of grace is tailor-made for each person he bestows it upon. It is just enough for them in that moment. Sometimes we don’t know how to approach every person we meet with grace. We won’t fully understand how to have grace with others until we know how grace has been applied to our own lives. 

As we navigate our own paths of life, just remember to show each person you meet with kindness. We are all fighting challenges. Whether they are publicly displayed obstacles or silent battles, we are all navigating pothole after pothole as we journey through life in this world. Every pothole you come across is not yours, but each one still deserves to be met with kindness and grace.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank you for grace. Thank you for teaching us what it is and how to share it with others. We know that we do not always get it right, but you continuing to have grace with us helps us learn how to condition ourselves to consistently have grace with others. We are only able to have grace with others when we understand how grace has been shown to us by You. Thank you for continuous opportunities for growth in you. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

With an ever-growing desire to continually learn the Word of God and present teachings based on Biblical principles, Erin M. Handley is committed to her calling of teaching and inspiring others to ‘be more by doing more.’ With this in mind, Erin mentors young women and appreciates seeing the growth and change in the lives she impacts. 

While she sincerely enjoys mentoring and speaking to young people, she is most passionate about educating and empowering women from various stages of life about Biblical womanhood and how to live out those principles in today’s world.

For over 15 years, Erin has worked with youth and adolescents in the fields of mental and behavioral health, education, and ministry.

When reflecting on her experiences in ministry and non-ministry settings, her most memorable encounters have been those that allowed her the opportunity to teach the Word of God in a way that is most relatable to the audience she served in that moment. She has enjoyed writing since her youth, but only recently felt the call to share her writing with the world.

With an undergraduate degree in English and a graduate degree in Ministry and Pastoral Counseling, Erin M. Handley has been fortunate to be able to leverage her gifts and her passions throughout her career in Education.

Aside from reading, writing, and mentoring, Erin enjoys dancing, interior design, cooking, and most other activities which allow her to utilize her creativity.

Devotionals for the Heart: Salvation

Salvation
A devotional by Alexis Newlin

“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

– Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)

I am a sinner.

One of the sins I constantly struggle with is judging. Man, do I judge others. What they wear, how they look, what they believe. In my head, I look down on so many. Another sin: I lie. If it will keep me from being in trouble, I’ll run to lying. If it will help me gain favor, I’ll lie. If it will help preserve a friendship, I’ll lie. Another one: anger. And another: lust. And another … and another.

There is such ugliness inside my head and within my heart. 

Because of my sin, I deserve to die. I deserve hell. If it were up to me to make things right, to live a life of rightness and perfection … I could never do it.

If it were up to me, I’d end up in hell, my right judgement, forever separated from God.

Because I am a sinner.

Because eternal damnation as punishment is what I deserve.

In fact, it is what we all deserve.

But it’s not up to me. Thank God, my salvation is not up to me. Nor is it up to you.

There is this beautiful person, who stepped up and took my place and your place. His Name is Jesus Christ (God’s Son). He faced the wrath of God and experienced much suffering and pain. He took our sin, our shame and placed Himself on the cross. He knew who we are: sinners who would fail God daily. Despite this knowledge of a very true fact, Jesus decided that He wanted to take our place anyway.

Jesus took the blame so that we may have eternal life. (John 3:16) He took our all our sins so that we can live, forgiven and accepted by our Father. So now, when God sees us, He sees His Son. So instead of our dreadful sinfulness, God sees us as blameless, pure, holy, forgiven, loved, accepted.

I am so thankful for this gift of salvation! It’s not just fire insurance keeping me out of hell. It is a life of freedom, knowing that I am saved, redeemed and loved by a Holy God who despite my broken nature, loves me anyway. God loves you anyway!

This life with Jesus Christ is such a gift. I want you to have this gift too.

The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10 (ESV):“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

If you don’t know Jesus and want to start a new life in Christ, all you have to do is say this prayer to your Maker: “God, I am a sinner. I need you. I believe that Jesus loves me and died for my sins. Please forgive me. I turn from my sins and accept you as my savior. Please come into my heart and make me new.”

That’s it. Jesus doesn’t care about your past. He doesn’t care that you will mess up or even if you are messed up. Nothing you have said or done is too great, neither is it too dreadful for Jesus to stop loving you! He wants you, all of you, no matter what you’ve done.

It’s time to run to Him and be made whole.

~*~
Author Bio:

Alexis is a 36-year-old lover of Jesus, loose leaf tea, roller coasters, writing stories and going on adventures. Originally from Marietta, GA, Alexis now resides in Fresno, CA. 

You can always find Alexis outdoors enjoying a walk in her neighborhood, scoping out the newest food truck, hanging out with friends or planning her next trip.

Her church, The Revival Center, and family mean the world to her. They have supported her through the loss of her mother and her own cancer diagnosis.

Alexis enjoys encouraging others by reminding them not to look at what they see, but to always look to God, who is working in the unseen.

Alexis currently writes for several online ministries and launched her first podcast – The Brave Podcast – in January 2020.

~*~
Connect with Alexis:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apeachincali/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/apeachincali
Podcast: http://thebravepodcast.buzzsprout.com
Website: www.apeachincali.com

Devotionals for the Heart: A Lesson Learned about God's Grace

Sufficient Grace
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)

Growing up in church, I often heard a song by Don Moen called “Jehovah Jireh.”

In Hebrew the title means “My Provider.” It comes from Genesis 22, where Abraham took his son Isaac to be sacrificed on the altar, but God provided a ram instead because of Abraham’s faithfulness. According to Genesis 22:14 (KJV): “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”

Loosely translated, “God provides and sees everything.”

Lately, amid the current troubled times, I’ve been focusing on how God always provides. But it is the second verse in Moen’s song “Jehovah Jireh” that has been on repeat in my mind. The verse says, “His grace is sufficient for me.” I asked God why it was ruminating in my spirit, and He led me to recall a time when I had a personal “all is lost” moment.

It was the day of a mandatory teaching methodology class during my final semester in college. The final assignment was a 25-page paper and to be handed in inside of a red folder. So, when I walked into the class and saw red folders on everyone’s desk, I panicked. I hadn’t even started researching my paper! As a theatre major, I had been performing several nights, which had consumed me both mentally and physically. Without that paper I would not pass the class, which meant I would not be licensed as a teacher after graduation.

I quickly left the classroom and located the course instructor. He was formerly a Marine, strict to follow the rules, and the rule for a late paper meant you had to get a doctor’s note to receive a C passing grade. As I fumbled for words, he turned to me and said, “Miss Canada, you look sick today.” I started to reply, and he repeated himself. In a rare, contrary moment, he showed me mercy and I left without questioning it.

I had a solution, but I wasn’t sick, and the school clinic wasn’t giving out sick notes without symptoms. For three hours, I agonized and prayed to God over what to do, and by the time I arrived at an off-campus clinic, I was running a fever, congested, and had swollen eyes. I felt the clouds of heaven part when the clinic nurse handed me a sick note.

Now, please understand that I don’t condone lying or fraudulent cases. Yet, when I found myself in a dire, life-altering event (that I had gotten myself into) God showed me a level of grace to remind me of Hebrews 4:16 (ESV), “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” And though He is “Jehovah Jireh” it is His grace that will meet all our needs, as God says in 2 Corinthians 12:9a (ESV), “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Rest assured, the next day I locked myself in the 24-hour campus library until my paper was done to excellence, and I still received that circled “C” with a “well done” on the title page with thanks and praise to God because His Grace will always be more than enough for me.

Are you in need of God’s grace today? Let us pray together: “Dear God, you know and see my struggle today. I need your grace that is sufficient for my weakness. Thank you for always providing for and meeting my needs, and for your loving mercy as I lay this burden down at your feet. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.”

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Weakness

What’s Your Weakness?
A devotional by Amy Odland

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. –2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

How many of us would be quick to raise our hand if we were asked the question “Who would like to have Christ’s power rest on them?”

How quick would we be to raise those same hands if it was mentioned that in order for that to happen, we need to immediately start boasting about our weaknesses? And to do it gladly? I don’t know about you, but I for one don’t like to run around “gladly” mentioning my shortcomings to everyone I interact with each day. As a matter of fact, I am not happy at all to volunteer that I have a quick temper or am short on patience most of the time. How about you? Do you enjoy confessing you struggle with anger or addiction or are eyeball-deep in pride and self-absorption?

None of us like to look bad in front of others. While some of us find it easy to not care what others think, most of us spend a great deal of time and energy keeping up appearances to those around us. We cover our sins as best we can until we can’t anymore and they sneak out. Our kids definitely do this (as we did before them); they can keep up appearances for the most part while at school or with the grandparents, but as soon as they get home with us, the “real” kid shows up pretty quickly.

We learned fairly early on as parents to use the “Ask the Teacher” trick to point out this discrepancy between public vs. private behavior: when they’ve been misbehaving at home – whether by not doing chores, fighting with siblings, or just generally not listening to me or my husband – we ask them if we should talk to their teacher about getting some advice on what we could do to get them to listen better at home. We ask, “What would your teacher say we should do? Your teacher doesn’t ever say you act like this at school, so maybe we need to get some suggestions from your teacher.”

Once the threat of tarnishing their “perfect” reputation with the teacher is out there, they shape up awfully quick at home.

The fear of what others think of us controls us whether we realize it or not. What we maybe don’t even realize is how it also affects if Jesus Christ’s power can work through us or not. If we’re listening to the opinions of those around us and spending our time worrying about our image more than we are listening to and spending time with God, the power of Christ will not rest on us as it should. If we’re focusing more on outward voices and input, we have less energy and time to focus on the inner influences of the Holy Spirit. We have less of Christ’s power to get us through our day.

So how do we boast more about our weaknesses and allow God’s grace to be sufficient in all we do? Here are a few ideas:

We should admit when we’re wrong.

Apologize when we’ve messed up.

Give the benefit of the doubt more than we do.

Be slow to judge.

Be quick to forgive.

Be able to say “I don’t know.”

Focus on the needs of others.

Find ways to make others feel important or special.

Look for opportunities to help the oppressed or hurting.

Seek counsel for help with addictions or strongholds.

We don’t have to shout our weaknesses from the mountaintops for all to hear. We can share with trusted friends or trained counselors, those we know are safe and helpful. What we definitely aren’t supposed to do if we want Christ to overlook and forgive our weaknesses, is walk around with an attitude of unwillingness to overlook and forgive the weaknesses of others. His power will rest on us in great ways if we humble ourselves, pray, and seek His ways.

Do you have a weakness you feel God calling you to gladly boast about today?

~*~
Author Bio:

Amy Odland has been serving in church ministry as a volunteer leader for over 16 years, in various worship, prayer and women’s ministry roles.

Her passion for helping women stems from her own struggles and lessons learned in her journey as a Christian since first deciding to follow the Lord in 1994.

Amy’s priorities after her faith include her family — husband Rick, and their four kids — as well as extended family who all live close in proximity and the many friends she’s made over the years.

In addition to a love of teaching and helping her husband with the bookkeeping for their many businesses, Amy has recently expanded her stay-at-home work to include leading author’s book launch teams for publishing companies like Baker, Revell, Barbour, and Lifeway.

She also enjoys teaching new authors about platform building, self-launching, and online marketing.

~*~
Connect with Amy:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/amyodland
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amy_odland
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amy_odland
Website: https://amyodland.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Forgiveness

The Grace of Forgiveness
A devotional by Allison M. Wilson

Key Scripture: 
John 3:16, Romans 6:10, Romans 7:14-25, Psalm 103:12, 1 John 1:9,

 Ephesians 5:26-27, Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 is one of the first verses I remember memorizing as a child. It’s taken most of my life to truly grasp a part of what that verse says, though.

God so loved the WORLD. Who does that encompass? Everyone, it seems. However, not everyone will embrace the sacrifice of Christ and accept that forgiveness. The forgiveness is offered, though, to everyone. Those who receive it will be saved.

Those of us who have believed in Christ as our Savior are forgiven for all of our sins. (Romans 6:10) Not just a few. Not just the “big ones,” as some might want to imagine. A “little white lie” on my part put Christ on the cross just as much as someone who murdered countless people. Yes, I’m forgiven of all my sins.

The problem comes when we, as believers, don’t let that forgiveness permeate our being. We continue to beat ourselves up for things we do wrong. We think we should be perfected in our behavior, though there’s nowhere in the Scriptures which says that will happen on this side of heaven’s gates. In fact, one of the most prominent writers of the New Testament tells us that he does the things he hates, and doesn’t do what he knows is right (Romans 7:14-25). If the apostle Paul couldn’t get it right, after being personally taught by Christ, why do we demand perfection from ourselves?

Our focus on the sin takes our focus off of our Savior. It may even be easier to give forgiveness to others who hurt us than it is for us to forgive ourselves when we mess up. We forget that we couldn’t save ourselves, and think we can change ourselves. As if it’s up to us to get it right.

Grace came for forgiveness. I don’t like to use the phrase “covered my sins.” My sins aren’t covered so much as they are washed away. They are no more. They are as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12) I’m now a co-heir with Christ. All that God has promised to His Heir is mine, too! God wouldn’t be giving those riches to someone who wasn’t cleansed from all unrighteouness.

1 John 1:9 we are told that confessing our sins brings cleansing. That word “confess” means “to agree with” in the original language. We agree with God that what we did/said/thought was disobedient to His calling on our lives. His forgiveness was already given at the cross. Our agreement is just for our sake, not His. He already knows what we did wasn’t our best. He sees the perfected product that the sacrifice of His Son bought. The journey to that perfected product is where sanctification happens. In God’s eyes, you are already without spot, stain, or blemish. (Ephesians 5:26-27) We shouldn’t agree with the enemy that we are any different.

Walk in His truth of who you are and whose you are.

Let’s Pray: Father God, we allow ourselves to be swayed by our feelings and thoughts so often, rather than having our feet firmly grounded on Your Word of truth. Speak that truth to our hearts when the lies come to tell us that we’re not worthy, or not good enough, or that we’ve done something wrong to make You mad at us. Before Christ went to the cross to cleanse us, You wrote the words in Zephaniah 3:17 saying that You rejoice over me “with shouts of joy.” Let that sink into my heart to remind me that You are not disappointed in me. Your love has already gone beyond all my mess-ups and counted me a joy to You. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

A very early reader and lover of the written word, Allison M. Wilson has been writing since the age of 8 with the heart to impart stories and God's truth.

She has judged countless contests for the last 25 years, reviewed for several online publications, professionally edited, and written articles and devotionals.

Wife, mother, writer, editor, teacher, mentor, and mompreneur, God keeps her busy while living in east central Florida with her family.

~*~
Connect with Allison:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allisonmwilson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amwilson

Devotionals for the Heart: Grace

The Freedom of Grace
A devotional by Allison M. Wilson

Key Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12, Galatians 5:1, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:9, 2 Corinthians 12:7, Romans 6:1-7, 2 Peter 1:2-4, John 14:15, Galatians 5:13 (NASB)

1 Corinthians 6:12 has Paul tell us “…all things are lawful for me…” How does that work for believers? Does that mean we can do whatever we want, whenever we want? Well, yes and no.

We have been given freedom in Christ. Read Galatians 5:1. We are no longer bound to sin, and we no longer bear the consequences of it, namely, death. Read Romans 6:23. The wrath of God for sin was laid on Jesus’s shoulders. Read Romans 5:9. We have been given a free gift, nothing we earned or ever could earn on our own. With that gift, we have been given freedom. Paul telling us all things are lawful for him is correct, however, the rest of the verse is too important to leave out. It says, “…but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

Sin is slavery. We all have something, or even some things, in our lives that we are still battling to let God have victory over. I believe God did not tell us what Paul’s thorn was so that we can use our own thorn to fill in the blank. Read 2 Corinthians 12:7. It could be lying, overeating, gossip, judgement, unforgiveness, or any of things the Bible tells us to put off from our new life. We’re still living in a fleshly body that wants to win. The battle is daily for the Spirit to have control. Paul’s, “I will not be mastered by anything” speaks to that. Anything that has mastery over you is your master! Every time you let your flesh win, it proves who holds the reins in your life.

Romans 6:1-7 shows us that the old self in us DIED. It is as dead as Christ was in the grave. Now, we are ALIVE in Christ, just as He was raised to new life. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us! That power can overcome any of the thorns we face. It already DID. We have victory over our flesh. We just have to tap into the power we’ve been given.

Lots of Scriptures tell us how to be filled with the power of God to overcome. There are too many to list. One that God takes me to the most is 2 Peter 1:2-4. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation adds a word that others do not. I think it is a word that changes the verse. The word is “true” and the verse says, “…through the true knowledge of Him….”

I was raised with lots of knowledge of God, but I’m learning much of it was not true knowledge. It was man’s wisdom or interpretation of the Word. Such a Scripture is John 14:15. God’s not saying that you don’t love Him if you aren’t perfect in keeping His commandments. None of us is ABLE to keep the commandments. He would have to withhold His love from us all were the case. Instead, what it is saying is that we will keep His commandments BECAUSE of our love for Him, not out of obligation. That is an enormous difference from what I was taught as a child.

In Galatians 5:13, we are called to use our freedom in grace to serve one another. We cannot do that if we don’t understand the freedom we’ve really been given. There’s a song by Jonathan David and Melissa Helser called, “No Longer Slaves.” I love that song and the declarations in it. I am no longer a slave to any sin. I AM A CHILD OF GOD.

Let’s Pray: Dearest Jesus, You died to make me free from all sin and unrighteousness. You see me as a blemish free bride. Give me the true knowledge of the power that You have put inside of me through Your Spirit to overcome the flesh and its wants. Speak Your truth to my heart that I may have the victory of Your freedom. In the precious name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

A very early reader and lover of the written word, Allison M. Wilson has been writing since the age of 8 with the heart to impart stories and God's truth.

She has judged countless contests for the last 25 years, reviewed for several online publications, professionally edited, and written articles and devotionals.

Wife, mother, writer, editor, teacher, mentor, and mompreneur, God keeps her busy while living in east central Florida with her family.

~*~
Connect with Allison:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allisonmwilson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amwilson

Devotionals for the Heart: Faith

Legacy of Faith
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.” –Psalm 78:1-4 (NASB)

So many of us, especially at this moment in time, are craving conversation and fellowship with others. Even those of us who are homebodies and introverts are yearning to talk and laugh with those we miss. So, as imperfect as it is, aren’t we all grateful for technology that can help bridge physical distances and give us a connection with those we love?

My own extended family is separated by many miles. For several years, my family has had an ongoing video chat using the Marco Polo app. Some days that chat is quiet, and some days it’s busy, but most often it’s just a few people checking in with what the weather is like and what’s on the schedule for their day. Sometimes we ask for prayer for ourselves or others. We talk about things we would talk about if we were sitting around drinking coffee and chatting. I love it.

When my grandmother, in her 90s, came on and gave her Easter greetings recently, she reminded us why Easter is the best holiday of the entire year and what a wonderful gift Christ gave when He conquered the enemy, once and for all. I absolutely agree with her, of course, but her sweet video reminded me of another beautiful gift God has given me: a family legacy of faith.

I have been in church nearly every Sunday since the Sunday I was born. My parents both grew up in Christian homes. Their parents all grew up in Christian homes. My family has never been shy about talking through matters of faith: truths we learn in the Bible, how to apply these things to our daily life, the lens through which our beliefs allow us to see the world, who we can help, how we can love—all of these things have been in our regular, everyday conversations for my entire life.

I feel very fortunate to have had family members who passed down their knowledge and wisdom, their stories, their experiences of what Jesus means to them and I realize how important that is to share with others. We see time and time again in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, the commandment to “remember” or to “share” or to “tell.” The people of God were told to build altars and celebrate feasts, all in an effort to continue the story of His faithfulness throughout each subsequent generation. We also see how one or two generations of forgetfulness can cause a lot of brokenness.

Does your family have a legacy of faith? There’s no better time than right now to say ‘thank you’ to those members of your family who have led you in wisdom and faith. Make a point of continuing that legacy with the children in your own family.

But if you’re reading this and wishing that you had grown up in different circumstances, just remember that every legacy starts somewhere. By God’s grace you can be the one who changes your family tree, so rejoice in the opportunities He will give you to pass on what you know.

Each new day becomes a choice. What will our legacy be?

Let’s Pray: Today, Lord, give me opportunities to share you with my family, my friends, and people I meet. Help me choose to make my legacy one of faithfulness, mercy, love, and kindness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume.

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two teenage children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting. You can find her at www.glynisbecker.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Discipline

God Disciplines Us
A devotional by Amy Odland

Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him. Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’” The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.” 

– Exodus 32:25-29 (NIV)

“Your name is going on the board.”

If you’re as old as I am, you probably remember the dread you felt when your teacher said this.

Back in the 1980’s, if you were acting up or, as was the case with some teachers, if you were just talking when you weren’t supposed to, the teacher would write your name on the board. Your next infraction resulted in getting a check behind your name, and if you got enough checks behind your name, you “won” a trip down to the principal’s office.

If you were like me, you tried to avoid getting your name on the board at all, if ever. I think I could count on Mickey Mouse’s hand how many times I got my name on the board in elementary school. I was a hardcore people pleaser and usually did my best to stay out of trouble.

Nowadays, teachers don’t use such “barbaric” methods of keeping their classrooms on task. Writing kids’ names on the board for ALL TO SEE is apparently too damaging to the self-esteem, too harsh, or too whatever other excuses we’ve come up with over the years. Which explains why my kids responded the way they did – with eyes wide and gasps of horror – when I was trying to explain this concept to them on the way to school one day.

I imagine the Israelites’ response to the Levites going through the camp randomly killing people would’ve been similar to my kids, but turned up a notch or two (or ten). I also imagine there was a bit of chaos until everyone in the camp found out what was going on.

I think we sometimes get so caught up in the love and grace and forgiveness of God that we forget about His wrath and punishment. But the times when God unleashed His discipline are right there in the Bible, written in black and white (and bloody red). There are many examples of God disciplining His followers in the Bible, but especially so with the Israelites and their journey into the promised land. One may ask, WHY did God discipline them? Does God discipline us today?

Most of us who are parents don’t want our kids to grow up to be entitled, spoiled, and/or selfish non-contributors to society. God is the same in that He wants us to grow into the wise, giving, loving, discerning people He sees us to be, the creation He designed us to be. He needed the Israelites to enter into the promised land by HIS might, not by their own. He needed them to do it a certain way so they didn’t take all the credit and have their egos blow up. They were acting like knuckleheads and God wasn’t going to have it. His discipline doesn’t always make sense when it’s happening to us, and it may seem super harsh at times. But, just as we want our children to trust us when we say the stove is hot, God wants us to trust His ways and thoughts.

Lets read Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV): “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God needs us to learn to live by HIS might, by HIS ways, not by our own.

So yes, He still disciplines us today. God disciplines us because He loves us, because He wants us to experience a little of Heaven while we’re still here on Earth, just as we did in the garden.

God does it so we don’t “burn ourselves on the stove” or worse, make Him a laughingstock to our enemies. Now, HOW He disciplines us is also a whole ‘nother post for another day...stay tuned!

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Author Bio:

Amy Odland has been serving in church ministry as a volunteer leader for over 16 years, in various worship, prayer and women’s ministry roles. 

Her passion for helping women stems from her own struggles and lessons learned in her journey as a Christian since first deciding to follow the Lord in 1994.

Amy’s priorities after her faith include her family — husband Rick, and their four kids — as well as extended family who all live close in proximity and the many friends she’s made over the years.

In addition to a love of teaching and helping her husband with the bookkeeping for their many businesses, Amy has recently expanded her stay-at-home work to include leading author’s book launch teams for publishing companies like Baker, Revell, Barbour, and Lifeway.

She also enjoys teaching new authors about platform building, self-launching, and online marketing.

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Connect with Amy:
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Website: https://amyodland.com