Devotionals for the Heart: Why we shouldn't do things to expect praise

Do Things Without Expecting Praise
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”—Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

Upon Waking is a 60-day devotional by Jackie Hill Perry that I’ve already gone through twice this year. That’s how good it is. Today, I want to speak about Day 17 of the devotional, where Perry writes about not doing things expecting to receive praise.

First, she shares the Bible story about Jesus Christ changing water to wine at a wedding (John 2:1-11). She talks about how the master of the wedding feast praised the bridegroom for the excellent wine, but it is Jesus who deserves the credit. Jesus doesn’t correct them. He lets them enjoy their wine and the party without demanding praise.

Perry then writes, “When is the last time you did good without expecting, hoping, or suggesting it be noticed? When you gave, served, prayed, fasted, studied, rejoiced, taught, died to, wiped, cooked, cleaned, labored for, organized, plucked out, cut8 out, built up anything, did you expect a parade? When it didn’t come, how did it leave you? Bitter? Discouraged? Both, maybe?”

Friends, I am here to remind you that we should not do things with the expectation of receiving praise afterwards. We should not serve with the intention of getting credit or praise afterwards because that defeats the purpose of Christ’s desire for us to be a servant of others. If we are doing things to receive praise, we are doing it with the wrong intentions. These aren’t pure intentions, and God knows when this happens because He knows us from the inside out. God knows our hearts.

If you do things with the hope of praise afterwards, ask yourself why. Do some self-reflection to understand why you feel the need to receive praise after doing something for others.

Jesus gives us instructions in Matthew 6:1-4 (NIV) about serving others. He said, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Perry ends the devotional by reminding us of this command from Jesus. She writes, “Beloved, Jesus commands us to do as He does. Turn the water to wine, let them drink, watch them rejoice in it, and if they leave your name out of their song, that’s okay. There’s a better praise awaiting you.”

I’m not sure about you, but I’d rather get my praise from God than other humans because God’s praise is worth more than human praise. Will you join me in prayer?

Let’s Pray:

Father God,

If I ever do things expecting to receive praises from others, please help heal my heart and remind me that this isn’t the intention you want me to serve others. Lord, please let me be more like Jesus daily and serve others with no expectations in return. Although it is hard because human nature wants to be praised, we must die to our human desires and want your will for our lives, Lord. Thank You for the examples You have provided us, Lord, and may I always follow your lead.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray.

Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Every Praise” by Hezekiah Walker. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidy De La Cruz is a published writer/author and podcaster. She writes the weekly newsletter “Into My Thoughts” on Substack where she shares personal development content, life experiences with life lessons, and faith-based encouragement posts. 

Heidy is the host of “The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast” where immigrants share their stories about moving to the United States. She is also a podcast coach and helps those who desire to host their own show launch.

Heidy holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and a bachelor's degree in Psychology. She works as a Medical Coding Analyst.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and their two kids.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Website: https://heidydelacruz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Love for you is unconditional and forever!

God Loves You No Matter What
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

—Psalm 103:12 (NIV)

As I was going through a Bible study about hope earlier this year, one of the prompts was to think of a time when you made a mistake so great that you were afraid that God’s view of you would change. My mind immediately went to my younger self when I was intentionally living in sin.

I knew what I was doing was completely wrong, but I continued anyway because I was heartbroken, mad, and bitter. No one could tell me anything at that moment because my pain blinded me, so I kept acting out of selfishness. I was not worrying about how my actions were affecting others, how my actions were making me look, or how I was not taking care of myself as I should have.

But I eventually saw the light and realized that I needed to change. I needed to repent, confess, and return to God. My life was entirely transformed after that. Looking back, I still have some shame and embarrassment I need to work through, but I know God has forgiven me. I know that He doesn’t hold my past mistakes over my head and doesn’t throw them on my face every chance He gets. No, He makes our sins as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). As long as we truly repent and have a change of heart, God will forgive us. He knows us from the inside out.

If there is a past sin, mistake, or choice you regret making that’s been lingering around and wearing you down, I am here today to tell you to lay it all at God’s feet. God can set you free! There is nothing you can do that will make God stop loving you. You are not too far gone that you can’t turn back to God. I’ve done it. And if I can do it, so can you. God loves you no matter what you’ve done.

I’m still dealing with some of the consequences of my past choices, but that’s okay because I’ve learned from them, grown from them, and closer to God because of them. And I’d love the same positive outcome to happen for you!

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus, I pray for whoever is reading this and may be weighed down by past choices that they can release them at your feet. Lord, draw them near to You today, have them feel your comfort, and remind them that You love them, Lord. Help them to know there is nothing they can do that will make You stop loving them. I’ve been there before and You, Lord, called me back. I am forever grateful that I listened and came back to my Heavenly Father because my life hasn’t been the same since. Lord, thank You for your forgiveness, kindness, mercy, and love. Thank You for your unfailing, faithful love that we don’t deserve, yet You freely give it to us. In your Holy Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “East to West” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidy De La Cruz is a published writer/author and podcaster. She writes the weekly newsletter “Into My Thoughts” on Substack where she shares personal development content, life experiences with life lessons, and faith-based encouragement posts. 

Heidy is the host of “The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast” where immigrants share their stories about moving to the United States. She is also a podcast coach and helps those who desire to host their own show launch.

Heidy holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and a bachelor's degree in Psychology. She works as a Medical Coding Analyst.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and their two kids.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Website: https://heidydelacruz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/

Devotionals for the Heart: How to experience peace during storms

Experiencing Peace Through the Storm
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”—Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

When was the last time you were in a storm or going through something challenging and yet, you felt peace? This question came to my mind while reading the Bible study, “Create in Me a Heart of Peace” by (in)courage ministries.

I’ve written about these studies before, but they are so good that I highly recommend the whole series. Anyway, as I’m reading about peace, week two in this particular study talks about how peace is a posture. This brought the question to my mind: “When was the last time I was in a storm or going through something challenging and felt peace?”

My mind immediately went to the season where I was drowning in grief but felt such peace in my soul. It was August 2020, and my grandfather passed away—not of COVID, gratefully. But I was saddened that it was his time to rest in peace. To this day, I still cannot believe he is gone. As I’m navigating a new life without my grandfather’s presence, God tells me to have another baby. And if you know me, you know this is all God. So, in November of 2020, I got the two lines on a pregnancy test that told me I’m expecting! But this dream was very short-lived as a few days later, I experienced my first miscarriage, and a new level of grief entered my body.

Fast forward to March of 2021. I’m still grieving my grandfather, still grieving my baby who didn’t make it, and then my mother-in-law died. And yet, I felt peace. It wasn’t because I wasn’t missing my loved ones. I was missing them hard. My grandfather passed unexpectedly, and my mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer. Although that doesn’t make her passing any easier, I was missing them while still grieving the loss of my baby. But there was peace.

Let me tell you why. I was deeply rooted in God’s Word at that time. Remember: Peace is a posture. At that time, I was reading Priscilla Shirer’s Elijah: Faith and Fire Bible study. I don’t know if you can tell, but Bible studies are my thing! Although this study wasn’t about peace, being rooted in God’s Word, studying it, praying, and staying focused on God and not the grief and chaos around me led me to peace. A peace that only Jesus brings.

In the current Bible study I’m reading by (in)courage ministries, Becky Keife writes, “Peace always sounds like such a pleasant quality or experience, doesn’t it? The tranquil sound of a babbling book. The gentle spirit of a sweet friend. A quiet afternoon with the company of a good book. On the surface, peace is the absence of anything unpleasant. But a peaceful environment is not the same as a peaceful soul.” Take a breath and let that sink in!

The only way I was able to feel peace in my soul during that heavy season of grief was because of Jesus. There’s no other way! So today, I’m asking you, when was the last time you went through something challenging but felt peace in your heart? And if you haven’t, what can you do today to help you prepare for your next life’s challenge and be at peace?

Remember: Challenges in life do happen, but with Jesus, we can have peace (Philippians 4:7).

Let's Pray: Dear Jesus, I pray for whoever is reading this that they will encounter your peace. The peace that only You provide. The peace that calms our soul and anchors us. Lord, I thank You for the peace You provide because there’s nothing like it. When the world feels like it’s on fire, You are with us and keep us calm. I pray that we can all experience that internal peace no matter our current circumstances. In your name, Lord, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I’ll Give You Peace” by Sandi Patty. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidy De La Cruz is a published writer/author and podcaster. She writes the weekly newsletter “Into My Thoughts” on Substack where she shares personal development content, life experiences with life lessons, and faith-based encouragement posts. 

Heidy is the host of “The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast” where immigrants share their stories about moving to the United States. She is also a podcast coach and helps those who desire to host their own show launch.

Heidy holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and a bachelor's degree in Psychology. She works as a Medical Coding Analyst.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and their two kids.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Website: https://heidydelacruz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/

Devotionals for the Heart: Wisdom

Gaining Wisdom Through Repetition
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

—Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV)

Have you ever read a book or a Bible study several times because the content was so captivating?

I did the Bible study “Create in Me a Heart of Wisdom” by (in)courage ministries twice because it was that good! And I’ll probably read through it again multiple times because there is wisdom in this study, practical steps to gain wisdom, and reminders that God is our ultimate source of wisdom.

Through this study, I’ve learned two important facts: not everyone is wise and not everyone will gain wisdom. However, if put into practice, like habits, timing, and repetition, everyone who wishes to be wise can gain wisdom. In week five of this study, the writer (Melissa Zaldivar) talks about how wisdom is learned through practice.

Zaldivar wrote, “I learned that a habit is built when we commit to doing the same thing more than once. When it comes to wisdom, we don’t only have to consider or apply it one time. No, we have the chance to really build that muscle by continually turning to Jesus and asking Him what’s best.”

When I read that, it hit me hard because I recently experienced health issues with my son, and I must admit I didn’t turn to God first for answers. It wasn’t until the situation was becoming desperate that I turned to God and prayed for wisdom and guidance. That, my friends, should have been my first step. That’s wisdom. That needs to become a habit for me and for all of us.

Think about the last time you went through hardship. Did you seek God first for guidance and answers? If not, this is a habit that needs to be built, and it’s done with practice and with time. Part of wisdom is knowing that we must run to God first with every inconvenience. Yes, He places people in our lives to guide us and provide advice, but in the end, we need to discern and ask Him if that advice is Godly or not.

After running to God, asking for guidance, and asking for prayers from people in my circle, things started to take a turn. The light was starting to show at the end of the tunnel, but in the middle of the darkness, it was hard. God didn’t promise we wouldn’t go through hardships, but He promised to be there with us. The wisdom I gained in this situation is that I need to create the habit of going to God first with everything. It was something I forgot.

So today, I am giving you this reminder to go to God first. Go to Him for everything and anything. Let’s make it a habit to have a continuous conversation with Him throughout our day. Go to Him first, especially for the hard stuff. He has the answer for it all.

Let's Pray: Lord, I pray for whoever is reading this and may be in the middle of something hard. Remind them to go to You first. I pray that everyone reading this devotional today will gain the wisdom and the habit of going to God first whenever challenges come up and whenever an answer is needed. Thank you, God, for the challenges we go through, as they make us stronger and provide wisdom. Remind us that we cannot do anything without You but we can do everything with you. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Perfect Wisdom of Our God” by Keith & Kristyn Getty. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidy De La Cruz is a published writer/author and podcaster. She writes the weekly newsletter “Into My Thoughts” on Substack where she shares personal development content, life experiences with life lessons, and faith-based encouragement posts.

Heidy is the host of “The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast” where immigrants share their stories about moving to the United States. She is also a podcast coach and helps those who desire to host their own show launch.

Heidy holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and a bachelor's degree in Psychology. She works as a Medical Coding Analyst.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and their two kids.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Website: https://heidydelacruz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/

Devotionals for the Heart: How to survive life's storms and hardships

Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus Through Hardships
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”—Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

I am currently reading the Bible study, “Create in Me a Heart of Wisdom” by (in)courage ministries. Week three talks about how wisdom is learned through experience. For day three, they ask for you to read the verse above and answer, “How do we not lose heart in the midst of hardships?”

My answer is: We must fix our eyes on Jesus Christ.

This is a difficult task when we are in the middle of a storm and cannot see the sunlight creeping through the dark clouds. But once the storm passes and we look back at our hardship we can clearly see that Jesus was with us the whole time. How do we remind ourselves that Jesus is with us during the storms? We can list all the previous storms of life we’ve been through and remember how Jesus helped us through them.

I want to provide encouragement today to whoever may be in the middle of a storm. Please know that you are not alone in this storm. Jesus is sitting right there with you, surrounding you, and providing comfort. You are going to overcome whatever situation you are in and you are going to be stronger. You’ll gain wisdom and will help others who may have gone through similar storms later on in life.

The Bible study reminds us that, “Wisdom is gained in suffering when we turn our eyes to look for God in our circumstances—even when we can’t seem to see Him or hear Him.” So, if you are in the middle of the storm, I challenge you to search for God. Where do you see Him in this situation? Ask Him, “What wisdom are you trying for me to gain in this season?”

I know this isn’t easy but God is always there.

Let’s Pray: Lord, You know everyone’s circumstances. You know what we need before we ask. I pray for the reader of this devotional who may be in the middle of the storm. Please provide comfort for them. Show them that You are there in the storm with them and remind them that they are not alone. Lord, help them see You. Teach them how to seek You when it feels like their circumstances are too much. You are a great God! Help us to remember when we face the storms of life that, as the Bible says, “This too shall pass.” Thank You for Your wisdom, Lord. And thank You for your comfort. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Eye of the Storm” (feat. GabeReal) by Ryan Stevenson. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidy De La Cruz is daughter of Christ, a wife, and a mother.

She writes poetry and encouraging spiritual blog posts.

Heidy shares her faith and life in hopes of encouraging women. She hosts the podcast, "The American Dream in The Eye of Immigrants" where immigrants share their stories about moving to the United States of America.

Heidy holds a master's degree in Healthcare Administration and bachelor's degree in Psychology. She works as a Medical Coding Specialist.

In her free time she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and two kids.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog/Newsletter: https://intomythoughts.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/intheeyesofimmigrantstheamericandream

Devotionals for the Heart: Rest

We Need Rest
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 

–Exodus 33:14 (NIV)

As I was preparing to write this devotional, I kept thinking of different topics to address, and then I remembered that lately, I’ve been seeing “rest” or hearing about people taking time to rest.

There is a writer I follow who is taking a sabbatical for July. There is a Christian author and podcaster who is removing the Instagram app from her phone for the month of July to rest from social media. And a friend recently sent me a video on Instagram about the importance of rest. So, I started thinking, is God trying to tell me something?

Scripture talks about rest in different areas of the Bible. We know Jesus rested plenty of times during his time on Earth, and He even told his disciples to rest too. Let’s read Mark 6:31 (NIV): “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

As I mentioned, the concept of rest has been arising these past few days, so I’ve decided to organize my side-projects/business schedule and intentionally included two days out of the week to rest. My schedule will now look like this (outside my daily work schedule, by the way): On Mondays, I’ve declared my writing days. Whatever project, article, newsletter post, devotional, or client work I need to write will be done on Mondays. Tuesdays are dedicated to promoting my podcast. Wednesday is for the internship I’m currently doing, Thursday is a rest day, Friday is for editing my podcast, Saturday is a rest day, and Sunday is content creation day for the week.

Building or running a business, building a brand, podcasting, and writing takes a lot of energy, and our bodies get tired. We must remind ourselves to take a break, rest, and recharge. Our bodies need it! And if we don’t, our bodies will force us to take a break. We must follow the examples God gave us.

My encouragement today for you is to reevaluate your schedule. Check if you have rest intentionally scheduled in your calendar and if not, schedule it. We cannot always be on “go mode” because we’ll burn ourselves out. So, make sure you spend time resting!

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, I thank you for all the eyes reading this today. I pray that if there is anyone who may need rest, they are encouraged to rest today. Lord, thank you for our bodies, our gifts, and the talents that you have provided. Thank you that you’ve made rest for our bodies to recharge so we can continue the good work. I thank you so much for everyone reading this, and I pray that they find the rest they need. In Jesus’s Name, we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest)” by Kari Jobe. Listen to it here.

~*~

Author Bio:

Heidy De La Cruz is daughter of Christ, a wife, and a mother. 

She writes poetry and encouraging spiritual blog posts.

Heidy shares her faith and life in hopes of encouraging women. She hosts the podcast, "The American Dream in The Eye of Immigrants" where immigrants share their stories about moving to the United States of America.

Heidy holds a master's degree in Healthcare Administration and bachelor's degree in Psychology. She works as a Medical Coding Specialist.

In her free time she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and two kids.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/intheeyesofimmigrantstheamericandream

Devotionals for the Heart: God is still with you in the heavy seasons of life

God is There in the Heavy Seasons
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

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

–Psalms 147:3 (NIV)

The time in between August 2020 and March 2021 was a heavy grieving season for me. My grandfather died in August 2020, I suffered a miscarriage in November 2020, and my mother-in-law died in March 2021. Fortunately, if you can say that, this wasn’t my first season of grief. I learned the hardship of grief early in life. When I was only 23, my biological mother passed away suddenly.

You don’t think about the passing of your mother. Although it’s possible, you tend to think of her as immortal—someone who will always be there for you. That wasn’t the case for me. Everyone around me still had their mothers, so no one could understand my pain. They didn’t know the void in my chest that never leaves, the constant heaviness that hurt even to breathe. They didn’t understand that a part of me died and I would never be the same.

Since I had already endured the pain of losing a loved one, I thought I knew how this season of grief would be. However, I thought wrong. Each season is different because your relationship with each person is different. Losing a baby is another type of grief, but I’ll leave that story for another day. One difference in this season from the first was my relationship with God was stronger. I want to share three things that helped me in my most recent season of grief.

Point #1: Talking about my memories with my grandfather

My grandfather lived with us since I was 16 years old. We lived in a humble two-bedroom house. I slept in the living room while he slept in my room. My grandfather was involved in many milestones of my life. For example, I took my driver’s test with his car. He helped me purchase my first car. He was present for my high school graduation. When I was younger, I was told that he would go to a children’s boutique in the Dominican Republic to purchase a dress for me as a birthday gift. He did that for the first five years of my life. My mom would then get professional pictures taken of me in the dresses. To this day, I still have the pictures. Sharing all these stories and memories with whoever would listen was helpful for me.

Point #2: Going on a trip to the beach

My husband’s birthday is August 13. Hoping to celebrate, I planned a trip for us to Ana Maria Island. My grandfather passed on August 10—just three days before the trip. I was so conflicted if we should continue with our plans. I wanted to celebrate my husband’s birthday, but I didn’t want to seem insensitive to the situation. Since we couldn’t receive a full refund, we went for three instead of going for four days. I am so glad we went. It’s hard to continue your day-to-day routine when your heart is so heavy, and this trip helped us get out of routine. It gave me time away from everyone to process my feelings and distract my mind for a few days. Also, I feel the closest to God at the beach, which was therapeutic for me.

Point #3: Staying rooted in God’s Word (The Holy Bible)

As I mentioned above, you can’t do business as usual when your heart is heavy. So, your schedule and routine are all messed up. However, in this season of grief, I was intentional about continuing to read the Bible. I continued my daily Bible study plan and enjoyed reading the Bible at the beach. Listening to worship music while going through the miscarriage was comforting. During my mother-in-law’s passing, I signed up for an online Bible Study. Although I couldn’t log on to the calls, I continued to do the study. This helped me stay mentally and emotionally stable.

These three things listed above helped me during my heavy season of grief.

I know that everyone processes grief differently, and grief doesn’t look the same for everyone, but I hope my experience can help one person. If you haven’t experienced grief, I hope you save this message and use it as a resource to help you during that difficult time.

I want to leave you with a Bible verse that came up multiple times during this season and reminded me that God was with me. Psalms 147:3 (NIV) says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

God can heal your broken heart if you let Him. May His love fill the void in your heart.

Let’s Pray: Lord, I pray for anyone who may be going through a season of grief that they feel your presence. I pray they draw closer to you and feel your embrace. Please provide the comfort and strength you provided to me during my heavy grieving season to them. Thank you, Lord, for all of your blessings, in your name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “He Will Carry Me” by Mark Schultz. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidy De La Cruz is daughter of Christ, a wife, and a mother. 

She writes poetry and encouraging spiritual blog posts.

Heidy shares her faith and life in hopes of encouraging women. She hosts the podcast, "The American Dream in The Eye of Immigrants" where immigrants share their stories about moving to the United States of America.

Heidy holds a master's degree in Healthcare Administration and bachelor's degree in Psychology. She works as a Medical Coding Specialist.

In her free time she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and two kids.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/intheeyesofimmigrantstheamericandream

Devotionals for the Heart: How to restore your relationship with God

Back to Basics
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

Life has many seasons. Some are fast and busy, some are peaceful and quiet.

The season I have been in has been busy. So busy that I haven’t been consistent with my relationship with God. I’m not proud of this, but because I’m entering a new decade this year, I’ve decided to renew my relationship back with God. How? I’m taking it back to the basics!

Here are three ways I’m drawing closer to God this year and how you can too:

Way #1: Spending time with God. Towards the end of last year, I wasn’t spending as much time reading the Bible as I did in the past. I use the Bible app and I do Bible reading plans to read the whole Bible in 365 days. I love this because it doesn’t feel overwhelming, but I missed too many days. This year, I will read the Bible first thing in the morning. Another way I’m going to spend time with God is by praying and worshiping Him.

Remember, Jesus Christ also spent time with God. Mark 1:35 (NIV) says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

Way #2: Commit to paying your tithe to God faithfully. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV), “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Think of tithing as giving back to God. He provides everything we need, and we should bless others with what God provides. I will continue to tithe at my church, but I’ve also been donating to non-profit organizations. We have also donated clothes to those in need instead of selling them.

What are some ways you think you can tithe this year?

Way #3: Build a community with other believers. My church has small groups called “growth groups.” We meet once a week for fellowship. Again, towards the end of last year, I wasn’t attending regularly because other events kept coming up. But this year, I’m going to be intentional about not scheduling other events on the days we meet with the church group.

We are made for community. We need each other. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV), “Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it.” We aren’t meant to do life alone. Having a community of believers in your life can help you when life’s challenges arise. They can pray for you and with you. They can support and encourage you.

If your relationship with God isn’t as strong or close as it used to be, I hope you include these three tips to draw you back closer to God this year.

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that whoever needs to draw closer to You this year, will be able to with the tips given today. I pray that their hearts are open to receiving You and that their minds are renewed as they draw closer to you. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “If We Are The Body” (song) by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidy De La Cruz is daughter of Christ, a wife, and a mother.

She writes poetry and encouraging spiritual blog posts.

Heidy shares her faith and life in hopes of encouraging women. She hosts the podcast, "The American Dream in The Eye of Immigrants" where immigrants share their stories about moving to the United States of America.

Heidy holds a master's degree in Healthcare Administration and bachelor's degree in Psychology. She works as a Medical Coding Specialist.

In her free time she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and two kids.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/intheeyesofimmigrantstheamericandream

Devotionals for the Heart: Advent

Advent Season
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21 (NIV)

Advent season is such a special season.

It’s a time for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. According to Crosswalk.com, the word “advent” comes from the Latin word adventus which means, “coming” or “arrival”.

This season is also used to celebrate the new life, such as when someone accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior and also the anticipation of Jesus coming again. Like it says in Hebrews 9:28 (NIV), “so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

There are different ways people celebrate the Advent season, but it’s usually based on the themes of the four weeks of Advent. According to Crosswalk.com, “The purpose of each theme is to spend time reflecting on the true meaning of the season – the life of Jesus Christ.” People read scriptures on their own and in church, that reflect the theme of each week. Week 1 is “Hope”, Week 2 is “Preparation”, Week 3 is “Joy”, and Week 4 is “Love.” There are also four candles lit for each Sunday of Advent, which correspond to the themes of each week as well. The candles are usually placed around a wreath.

This year is the first year my family and I are starting an Advent tradition. My husband and I started reading an Advent Bible plan on YouVersion called “Advent: The Journey to Christmas.” It’s 25-day plan where we read a devotional and a few Bible verses each day. We started the plan on Dec. 1 and will finish on Christmas Day (Dec 25). I’m hoping that we can continue this tradition every year. I also hope that as my daughter gets older and understands more of the Bible, we can include her in reading the plan with us.

The plan really breaks down the meaning of Jesus coming to this world. One day that stood out to me was the devotional named “The Great Exchange.” It says that Jesus came to give us the gifts of forgiveness, healing, acceptance, and peace. But those gifts were not cheap. Jesus paid the price for us (John 3:16) by experiencing the most significant rejection. And because of this, we don’t have to pay the price (Romans 6:23). How wonderful is that? It’s not something we can ever repay nor something that we deserve, but God loves us so much that He sent His Son to save us and reconcile us to Him.

The devotional is followed by the verse Isaiah 53:3-5 (NIV), “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely, he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

This Advent season, I hope you take some time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. Dig deep and ask God to reveal to you how deep His love is for you and how much it meant for Jesus to come down to Earth to save us all.

Let’s Pray: God, I pray for those who are lost and need to find their way to You. I pray for those who want to grow closer to You and are unsure how. I pray that You will lead them to You. I want to thank You for your covenant, promises, and love for us because it is truly unconditional. I pray that in this Advent season, more people are saved and learn who Jesus was. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hello, my name is Heidy (Reynoso) De La Cruz.

I am Dominican-American and I’m passionate about writing! I write poetry, encouraging blog posts about personal experiences and any message that God has stored in my heart. I am working on publishing my first poetry book.

First and foremost, I am a daughter of Jesus Christ. I am also a wife and a mother. I have my master’s degree in Healthcare Administration through Belhaven University’s online course. I have my bachelor’s degree in Science with the concentration of Psychology and Healthcare Administration.

I currently work in the medical field as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, and I’ve been in the medical field for the last six years. I love my career!

My hobbies include writing, reading, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with my family.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Read my poetry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidyspoems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heidyreynoso13
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13

Devotionals for the Heart: Be You

A Word of Encouragement
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

A few days ago, I was feeling unmotivated about my writing/blogging and kind of lost my vision as to why I started in the first place.

I was focused on my numbers: the number of followers I had on each platform, the number of readers I was getting on my blog and the number of views my videos on YouTube were getting. I started to brainstorm how I could reach more people and expand my audience. I realized that Instagram was shifting more into videos/reels for audience engagements, but then I told myself, “I already do so much! I don’t have time to learn how to create reels on Instagram.”

As you can see, I was going down a spiral of negative thoughts and emotions that made me feel worse.  However, God intervened the very next day when I watched a video from Beloved Women with Christina Patterson. She was interviewing Courtnaye Richard from Inside Out with Courtnaye. And boy, did this interview come at the perfect timing for me!

Courtnaye talked about intentional rest, setting boundaries, and gave encouragement about following what God wants you to do. She said to know your identity in Christ. You don’t have to be anyone else but yourself. Know that your time is coming because God’s timing is perfect. She also mentioned comparing yourself to others online, which is what I was doing, and said remember to stay in your lane. A lot of people are doing a lot of the same thing. Do something different. Do what God called you to do. What a word!

It reminds me of the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV): “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It’s like whenever I feel some discouragement, God quickly reminds me that He is there and that I’m doing what I’m doing for Him. I cannot lose purpose when I focus on Him.

So today, I want to give you some encouragement. I want to remind you that you are where you are because God has placed you there. He will lead you to where you have to go next. Release your plans to Him, and He will establish your steps – just like scripture says in Proverbs 16:3 (NIV): “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” God made you unique and created you for a purpose. Your purpose is different than those around you, so don’t compare yourself. Be you! God needs you for what He’s called you to do. Trust that He will fulfill that purpose.

Let’s Pray: Father God, I pray for those who may be feeling discouragement right now. I pray for those who may feel lost in their purpose. I pray that you will meet them where they’re at and remind them what you called them to do. It’s so easy to fall into comparing ourselves to what others on doing online and feeling like we aren’t doing enough. But as long as we are living our purpose for you, we are doing enough. Thank you, Lord, for our unique talents and callings. Thank you, Lord, for guiding us in this life. In your Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hello, my name is Heidy (Reynoso) De La Cruz. 

I am Dominican-American and I’m passionate about writing! I write poetry, encouraging blog posts about personal experiences and any message that God has stored in my heart. I am working on publishing my first poetry book.

First and foremost, I am a daughter of Jesus Christ. I am also a wife and a mother. I have my master’s degree in Healthcare Administration through Belhaven University’s online course. I have my bachelor’s degree in Science with the concentration of Psychology and Healthcare Administration.

I currently work in the medical field as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, and I’ve been in the medical field for the last six years. I love my career!

My hobbies include writing, reading, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with my family.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Read my poetry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidyspoems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heidyreynoso13
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13

Devotionals for the Heart: Community

Joining a Community
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” – Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

Have you seen the movie, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? Or maybe read the book series the film is based on?

If you haven’t, I’ll give you a quick summary: A group of four female friends are out shopping, and they come across these jeans. They all end up trying on the jeans, and although they all have a different body figure, the jeans fit them each perfectly. They decide to share an equal amount of time with the jeans because they are all going away for the summer the next day. So, in a sense, the jeans keep them tied together.

I want you to ask yourself, do you have a group of friends with a pair of magical jeans that fits everyone? Probably not, but do you have a group of friends who are believers? Do you have one, two, or maybe three friends or acquaintances who you can talk to and request prayer from? If you don’t, it is important that you do because Jesus Christ calls us to be part of a community of believers, who pray for each other, who can confess our sins to each other, and to be there for one another. James 5:16 (NIV) says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

Having other believers pray for you is encouraging and uplifting, especially during turbulent times. You have this sense of fulfillment and hope afterward. It’s a little hard to explain. But being part of a community can also help with your relationship with Jesus. When I joined a “growth group” at my church, (what we call small groups), they would encourage us to worship God for twenty minutes, read the Bible for twenty minutes, and then pray for twenty minutes. Before joining, I had never done that before, and it became part of my routine. I felt like I was growing closer to Jesus and getting to know him like never before.

Think of Jesus like the pair of jeans from the movie; He fits everyone, no matter our shape. He is with each of us always, and when you gather with others to worship His name, you can feel His presence. It’s just like Jesus says in Matthew 18:20 (NIV), “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

If you are currently not involved in a small group in your church, I encourage you to pray about it and seek to join a group. Or maybe search for an online, Bible-based faith community that you can join. I’ve even been part of Christian book clubs, which also is good, but I encourage you to seek community within the Body of Christ (church).

Let’s Pray: Father God, I pray for those who are not involved in any faith-based groups that they will be able to find one. I pray that the group will encourage them and lead them closer to you, God. And for those who are already part of a community, I pray that they continue to be involved and participate. I pray that they can lead others into the group and grow in faith together. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hello, my name is Heidy (Reynoso) De La Cruz.

I am Dominican-American and I’m passionate about writing! I write poetry, encouraging blog posts about personal experiences and any message that God has stored in my heart. I am working on publishing my first poetry book.

First and foremost, I am a daughter of Jesus Christ. I am also a wife and a mother. I have my master’s degree in Healthcare Administration through Belhaven University’s online course. I have my bachelor’s degree in Science with the concentration of Psychology and Healthcare Administration.

I currently work in the medical field as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, and I’ve been in the medical field for the last six years. I love my career!

My hobbies include writing, reading, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with my family.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Read my poetry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidyspoems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heidyreynoso13
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13

Devotionals for the Heart: Stand Firm

Standing Firm in Our Faith
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

– Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)

I am involved in two women's groups.

One is a growth group from my church, and the other is a book group, where we read a Christian-based book together or a Bible study then we discuss the book. There is a group chat for each group, and of course, we share our prayer requests. Lately, the prayer requests have been more and more. There are prayer requests for healing, miracles, new job opportunities, and a few others. But it seems like every day, there is a new request. A lot is going on everywhere.

There has also been an increase in prayer requests online because of things going on around the world: the war ended in Afghanistan, the west of the United States is on fire, the devastating hurricane that went through Louisiana, and then aftereffects of the hurricane that flooded New York and New Jersey. It’s just so much to take in right now!

Although the world may seem crazy right now, I am here to remind you and myself that these moments are the moments when we need to stand firm in our faith, as God has called us to be. Ephesians 6:11 (NIV) is says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Many things will come our way to try to shake us, but God reminds us He is with us, and He will help us overcome anything.

How do we stand firm in our faith during these crazy times? We must read God’s Word (The Holy Bible) every day. We should pray every day. Communicating with God consistently helps our faith and our relationship with Him to grow stronger and become unshakeable. We should be surrounded with people who bring us closer to God. People who we can trust to discuss our doubts and know that they will pray for us. For example, like the groups I’m involved in. I know that if I need prayer for anything, I can ask.

There is a quote by an author whose name I could not find, that says, “When the root is deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.” I feel that this quote goes hand-in-hand with standing firm in our faith. The root is our faith, and when it's deep in God, there is no reason to fear the wind, which would be any turbulence that comes our way. I'll end the devotional with this verse from 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV), “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

Let’s Pray: Dear God, I know these times are very uncertain. It seems like every day something new comes up, but Lord, You are in control. You know what will happen before it happens, and You help us navigate all our uncertainties. Lord, remind me to stand firm in my faith in You always. No matter what happens, my faith should not be shaken. Lord, I trust you and I love you. I know that in the end, everything will be okay. In Jesus’s Name, I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hello, my name is Heidy (Reynoso) De La Cruz.  

I am Dominican-American and I’m passionate about writing! I write poetry, encouraging blog posts about personal experiences and any message that God has stored in my heart. I am working on publishing my first poetry book.

First and foremost, I am a daughter of Jesus Christ. I am also a wife and a mother. I have my master’s degree in Healthcare Administration through Belhaven University’s online course. I have my bachelor’s degree in Science with the concentration of Psychology and Healthcare Administration.

I currently work in the medical field as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, and I’ve been in the medical field for the last six years. I love my career!

My hobbies include writing, reading, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with my family.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Read my poetry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidyspoems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heidyreynoso13
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13

Devotionals for the Heart: Rainbow

After the storm there is always a rainbow!
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

I was always the person who said they didn’t want to have kids. I never saw myself as a kind person, and being completely honest, I wasn’t one of those young girls who always dreamed of their wedding or getting married. After having my daughter, I thought I was done. I said I’ll be one and done. I was content with just her.

My husband and I always said we weren’t going to have kids together. He has a boy and I have my daughter. So technically, we have the pair, and we were fine by that. But everything changed after my grandfather died last August. I was sitting on the couch watching my uncles and aunt discuss funeral plans and sharing the burden of this loss. It brought me back to when my mom passed, my sister was six years old, and every decision fell on me. It was extremely overwhelming. So, I thought to myself: I cannot do this to my daughter.

I discussed it with my husband and got him on board. We started trying for a baby. After a few negative tests, we finally got a positive. I took two tests just to make sure, and I was beyond excited, so I wanted to spread the news right away to our families even though my husband wanted to wait. We told my family and then his after I told my daughter. I recorded all their reactions. I just felt like, wow, God answered my prayers!

Two days later, I had my miscarriage. I was utterly devastated. Just like with experiencing the loss of my mom and my grandfather, I kept thinking about Psalm 34:18 (NIV) “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Reading this verse and listening to Contemporary Christian songs by Lauren Daigle really helped me cope with this devastating loss.

Fast forward to April 2020: We finally got our positive pregnancy test again! I was and still am worried about losing this baby, but I remember how much I prayed and how faithful God is. I also look back at all the events that happened prior to getting pregnant, and it makes sense why God waited. I wanted it to happen so bad, and it did—right when it was supposed to happen! 

God’s timing is always perfect. I know that Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) is a very popular verse, but I feel like it’s the perfect verse to describe this situation. The verse reads, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

When God puts something in your heart, it will happen, but only in His time. We must be patient, which is something I need to continue working on.

Let’s pray: Lord, help me remember that Your plans for my life are better than the plans I make on my own. I pray that my plans align with Your plans for my life. Thank You for all the blessings you have provided thus far. I am looking forward to growing with You and trusting You more. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hello, my name is Heidy (Reynoso) De La Cruz. 

I am Dominican-American and I’m passionate about writing! I write poetry, encouraging blog posts about personal experiences and any message that God has stored in my heart. I am working on publishing my first poetry book.

First and foremost, I am a daughter of Jesus Christ. I am also a wife and a mother. I have my master’s degree in Healthcare Administration through Belhaven University’s online course. I have my bachelor’s degree in Science with the concentration of Psychology and Healthcare Administration.

I currently work in the medical field as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, and I’ve been in the medical field for the last six years. I love my career!

My hobbies include writing, reading, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with my family.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Read my poetry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidyspoems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heidyreynoso13
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Plan

God’s Plan 

A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

I’m sure we are all familiar with this Bible verse since it is very popular.

It’s a verse that reminds us that God has a plan for each of our lives and a verse that gives us hope, especially when we feel lost.

There have been many moments in my life where I've felt completely lost. Toward the end of my high school career, it seemed like all my friends had their plans all set for after graduation, and I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I couldn't make up my mind because the choices seemed overwhelming, and I didn't know my "interests" or "passions" at that time. Looking back at the first two years of my college career, it seems like it was all a waste. But in reality, it wasn't.

At that period in my life, I didn’t have the relationship with God that I have now, but that doesn’t mean that God wasn’t there for me. God loves us so much that He gave us free will for us to choose. Nevertheless, He always has a plan for us. Again, I started college taking general random classes because I didn’t know what I wanted to study. If it weren’t for the “Intro to Psychology” class I randomly signed up for, I wouldn’t have known that it was a topic that really interest me.

After taking that class, I realized I wanted to get into the Psychology field. But getting pregnant at the age of twenty took me off track for a little. I ended up not taking more college courses. Instead, I completed a medical assistant program with the thought that being in the medical field will provide job security for my daughter and me.

Fast forward to today, I have a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration and Psychology and a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration. I am proud of my degrees because when I look back at my journey, I started with no clue about what to do with my life. Also, looking back, I know that God was with me every step of the way and that without Him, I wouldn’t have the accomplishments I have today. God had this plan for my life, and I am certain that I am in the career field that I am supposed to be because I feel fulfilled.

If you are struggling right now to figure out what you want to do with your life, pray for guidance and trust God. Remember Jeremiah 29:11 because God has a plan for you, and this plan was established long before you were born.

Let’s pray: Lord, I pray for everyone who may be feeling lost right now, unsure of where to go or what to do. I pray that their hearts and minds are opened to you, Lord and that they come back to go so you can lead them and guide them to the plan you have for their lives. Thank you for always being with us and never giving up on us, even when we stray away. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hello, my name is Heidy (Reynoso) De La Cruz. 

I am Dominican-American and I’m passionate about writing! I write poetry, encouraging blog posts about personal experiences and any message that God has stored in my heart. I am working on publishing my first poetry book.

First and foremost, I am a daughter of Jesus Christ. I am also a wife and a mother. I have my master’s degree in Healthcare Administration through Belhaven University’s online course. I have my bachelor’s degree in Science with the concentration of Psychology and Healthcare Administration.

I currently work in the medical field as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, and I’ve been in the medical field for the last six years. I love my career!

My hobbies include writing, reading, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with my family.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Read my poetry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidyspoems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heidyreynoso13
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13

Devotionals for the Heart: When God's desires become your desires

Changing for Jesus
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the reviewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Do you remember when you gave your life to Jesus Christ? Do you remember why you decided to give your life to Jesus? Most Christians do. I’ve heard many people sharing their stories of when they encountered Jesus, and that was life-changing. My story is a little different. I didn’t have a life-changing encounter with Jesus when I decided to give my life to Him.

It was 2012, and I had started studying at the community college. I had to work with a classmate on a project, and we met after class to work together. After we worked on our project, she invited me to her church. The exciting part about it is that the church rented out the community movie theater, where they held their services. After the second visit, they did an altar call at the end of the service and asked everyone to close their eyes and have those who had never given their lives to Jesus raise their hands if they wanted to accept Him. I raised my hand this time.

Although I accepted Jesus in 2012, it wasn’t until 2016 that I started living for Him and made life changes. After being in such a dark place in my life for years, I knew I needed a change to get out of this place. So, this is when I really decided to live for Jesus. I started with devoting myself to attending church every Sunday unless I was out of town. This was a new church, though, not the same one where I had accepted Jesus. I joined a growth group or small group at the church, and I also decided to only listen to Christian music.

Listening to Christian music was the hardest for me because I enjoy Spanish music, but I realized that what we listen to and consume truly affects our mood and thoughts. Within the new changes also came no more drinking alcohol. Although I would only drink with friends, I gave it up altogether. Instead, I read the Bible daily, and I would pray daily with my daughter and do her weekly memory verses.

In Romans 12:2 (NIV), the Bible says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the reviewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” I didn’t understand this verse until I truly made changes to live for Jesus because after you devote your life to Jesus, whatever you used to like that was of this world, you lose interest in it. The closer you get to Jesus and the stronger the relationship becomes, the more your interest changes from worldly desires to Godly desires.

After making these changes in my life and getting close to Jesus, my life changed, my interest changed, I found my purpose, I was able to get out of the dark place I was in, and I’m also more cautious about my choices. If you are looking for a breakthrough in your life, I encourage you to start a relationship with Jesus Christ. He wants us to come to Him as we are; we don’t need to change first before giving our life to Him. He will guide us and help us change for the better.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, I am ready to live my life for You. Please help me and guide me into living my life for You. Help me to renew my mind. Lord, I am ready for a breakthrough, and I know you are the only one who can help me. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

*Note from Alexis: Heidy’s devotional message reminds me of this song by Jaci Velasquez. Listen to “God Loves You” here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hello, my name is Heidy (Reynoso) De La Cruz.

 

I am Dominican-American and I’m passionate about writing! I write poetry, encouraging blog posts about personal experiences and any message that God has stored in my heart. I am working on publishing my first poetry book.

First and foremost, I am a daughter of Jesus Christ. I am also a wife and a mother. I have my master’s degree in Healthcare Administration through Belhaven University’s online course. I have my bachelor’s degree in Science with the concentration of Psychology and Healthcare Administration.

I currently work in the medical field as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, and I’ve been in the medical field for the last six years. I love my career!

My hobbies include writing, reading, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with my family.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Read my poetry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidyspoems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heidyreynoso13
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13

Devotionals for the Heart: Friendship

A Sweet Friendship
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the pleasantness of a friend

springs from their heartfelt advice."

–Proverbs 27:9 (NIV)

The Bible talks about different types of relationships: marriage, parental, and friendships.

It talks about the importance of each one and how the structure should be. We don’t choose our family members, but we do choose our friends, and I want to say that friendships are meaningful relationships in our lives.

We make friends in different stages of our lives because we meet people everywhere we go, but some of us are blessed enough to have one or two friendships that have gone through almost all stages of our lives. And I’m blessed to have a friendship like that.

The friend I’m talking about (I won’t mention any names) I met in middle school, and I want to say we instantly bonded, but I don’t quite remember now how exactly we became friends. I do know we played sports together, all through middle school and through high school. We were always at each other houses, and we spend almost all of the summer vacations together. She was someone who was always there for me in a time of need, to wipe my tears or make me laugh. I felt like I had a personal counselor because she always knew just what to say.

When I found out I was pregnant, at the age of 20, with no stable job and no place to go, she opened up her home to me. Although it was a small house, a little crowded with all of us there, she still welcomed me and gave me a roof over my head. That is something I will never forget, and I will forever be grateful to her. God places people in your lives for a reason. Sometimes it’s just for a season, but sometimes it’s for longer. And I am so thankful for my friendship with her.

I value our honest relationship, and I’ll never take it for granted. We may not talk every day, but when we do, it’s like nothing has changed. Of course, we’ve had our disagreements just like any other relationship has, but we always find a way to forgive each other and move on. And although we live in different states, the distance has not mattered when it comes to our friendship; it is as strong today as it was back when we met in middle school.

We aren’t meant to walk alone in this life. I mean, yes, God is always with us, but He created us for community and for relationships. God created us to be together. Today, I want to honor those special friendships I have in my life and for you to do the same. Think of someone who has been there for you through really rough times, someone who knew the right thing to say to make you feel better, or someone who was there in a desperate time of need. Let them know that you are thankful for them. Let them know that you value them and that you love them. 

In closing, please open The Holy Bible and read Proverbs 27:9 (NIV) because this verse is a beautiful reminder of how beautiful friendships can be.

Let’s Pray: God, thank you for the friends you’ve placed in my life. Thank you for the memories I’ve created with them, and thank you even for the ones who are no longer a part of my life now but once were. Because at one point, I needed those people in life for a reason. Lord, I trust that the friendships I have now will continue and stay true until the end of time. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hello, my name is Heidy (Reynoso) De La Cruz.

I am Dominican-American and I’m passionate about writing! I write poetry, encouraging blog posts about personal experiences and any message that God has stored in my heart. I am working on publishing my first poetry book.

First and foremost, I am a daughter of Jesus Christ. I am also a wife and a mother. I have my master’s degree in Healthcare Administration through Belhaven University’s online course. I have my bachelor’s degree in Science with the concentration of Psychology and Healthcare Administration.

I currently work in the medical field as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, and I’ve been in the medical field for the last six years. I love my career!

My hobbies include writing, reading, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with my family.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Read my poetry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidyspoems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heidyreynoso13
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13

Devotionals for the Heart: Grief

Season of Grief
A devotional by Heidy De La Cruz

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

– Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

I am writing this in a season of grief, during a week that is extremely heavy for me. But I hope this will encourage others. I lost my Mother-in-law two days ago. Tomorrow will be seven months since my grandfather passed, and in two days it will be the fifth-year anniversary since my mother’s passing. I know grief! And the beginning of March will no longer be the same for husband and I.

Losing a loved one is painful, but losing your mother is a void that never gets filled and will never go away. They say time heals all wounds, but I’ll tell you that after you lose your mother, you are never the same.

Although the pain never goes away, God provides the strength and comfort to be able to continue on with life. Day by day, He is with you. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NIV). The strength needed to continue on can only be provided by God. He is the only one who fully understands our pain and grieving has to be one of the worst experiences we endure in this lifetime.

I guess I am writing to say that unfortunately, death is a part of life. We will lose loved ones, our parents, our spouses, and friends because death is the only guarantee in this life. But God is the only one who knows when our time will come. As long as we have a pulse, we have a purpose, and He will push you through this pain. There is purpose for the pain. Push through and continue every day. Even the days you don’t feel like getting out of bed. God is there.

The Bible says in Psalms 34:18 (NIV), “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” This verse has helped me through my grieving seasons and has brought comfort during this one. I know that God is with me during difficult times and through these experiences I am able to relate and help comfort those who are going through the same. Since I’ve already lost my mother, I know the exact pain my husband is feeling right now. I am able to help him get through this difficult transition of living in a world without his Mom.

We go through struggles, pain, difficult times, and challenges in this life and sometimes we don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. But once we overcome that storm, we walk victorious on the other side then we realize how that situation changed us and made us stronger. Don’t give up. This too shall pass.

Let’s Pray: Father God, you know us from the inside out. You know the pain and the struggles we go through and you are the only one who can help us get through these difficult times. You provide the strength and the comfort that we need. You are walking with us when it rains and when the pain seems unbearable, you remind us that you heal us and that we are not alone. Lord, thank you for your peace and comfort and for never leaving my side. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Hello, my name is Heidy (Reynoso) De La Cruz. 

I am Dominican-American and I’m passionate about writing! I write poetry, encouraging blog posts about personal experiences and any message that God has stored in my heart. I am working on publishing my first poetry book.

First and foremost, I am a daughter of Jesus Christ. I am also a wife and a mother. I have my master’s degree in Healthcare Administration through Belhaven University’s online course. I have my bachelor’s degree in Science with the concentration of Psychology and Healthcare Administration.

I currently work in the medical field as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, and I’ve been in the medical field for the last six years. I love my career!

My hobbies include writing, reading, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with my family.

~*~
Connect with Heidy:
Blog: https://heidyreynoso.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidy.delacruz13/
Read my poetry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidyspoems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heidyreynoso13
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidyreynoso13