Devotionals for the Heart: How to be disciplined and walk with God

Discipline: Doing the Lord’s Instructions
A devotional by Colette Christopher

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

—Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Happy New Year!

As you embrace this new year, you may be filled with hope of the possibility of new beginnings or you may be walking into it, fearing the unknown or still yet have mixed emotions about what to expect. No matter the emotion you may be feeling at this time, in as much as possible we have to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead of us.

Each year for the past eight years, I have been asking the Lord for a word and or scripture that guides my year, and without fail He gives me one. This year is no different. As I prayerfully asked the Lord for the word for this year, it seems the Lord was just waiting for me to ask because before the final words left of the prayer left my lips, I heard the word “discipline”, firm and strong. Immediately I understood what the Lord was saying to me, I smiled to myself and started praying for the strength to do what He called me to do, and to complete the tasks that He gave me that are still unfinished.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “discipline” as “an activity that one engages in regularly to train or improve oneself.” To do what the Lord wants me to do will require action on my part. As I reflect not only on the word, but the underpinning scripture (Proverbs 3:5-6), I thought how do these two relate to each other. It takes discipline to daily read God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and apply it to our lives. And to trust Him requires a deliberate effort on our part. To not do things in our own understanding requires discipline. You and I are not short of knowing what the Lord requires of us (Micah 6:8), neither are we unaware of the instructions God has given us in His Word. I believe that sometimes we fall short of doing what is required.

You may have set some goals you want to accomplish this year or you may have some goals carrying over from 2025. How will they be met if you aren’t willing to move from talking about these goals to achieving them? For every plan you have—personal, professional, spiritual—you have to be willing to develop and stick to a plan of moving forward to achieve your goals.

We know that life is always moving. Challenges, difficulties, hardships will come that can derail our efforts to change for the better. We may wonder: How we can trust God in difficult times? How can I still do what He requires when all hell is breaking loose around us? It is in these times that we make a concerted effort to look at the Lord’s perfect track record and ask: Has He come through for me before? Does He have a good plan for my life? Is He trustworthy? By doing this, we are disciplining our thoughts to reflect on who God is, instead of allowing the enemy to cause us to believe anything other than the truth of the God we serve.

Like an athlete who has to train in good and harsh environments, we have to train ourselves to do what needs to be done. We have to set our faces like a flint and determinedly say, “No matter what I am faced with, I will move forward in order to accomplish the plans the Lord has for my life.” The choice is yours. Will you focus on what your limited understanding knows or in all your ways, will you acknowledge the Almighty God who knows all and has unlimited understanding?

Sometimes we need to simply tell God, “Lord, I don't understand your plans, but I know they are good. Help me to walk in them and help me to do what’s necessary so that your will for my life will be accomplished.” Then watch how God helps us.

Do you have a word or scripture for this year, or has God given you the same word from last year? Discipline might not be your word, but here’s how you can apply it to your life: If your goal is spiritual growth, set a plan to read your Bible daily, if your goal is financial freedom, set a plan to save by opening an account and do an automatic saving, almost everything we do is rooted in action. When you don’t know what to do, choose to trust God for His direction because you know He has the best plan for you.

May you grow this year in good ways as you walk into God’s will for your life with the full assurance that He will show you which path to take and He will walk alongside you as you trust Him with each step.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this new year, thank You for the good plans that You have for your children. Thank You for your words that remind us to trust You with our whole heart. Father, we confess that it’s not always easy to move to do what you have required of us, so I pray that you will help us do Your will. Lord, your children look to You today in awe of your goodness, your faithfulness and your love. Lord whatever You have called us to do, may we trust your heart for our life and walk in purpose towards your will. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “I Know the Plans (Audrey’s Song)” by Damaris Carbaugh. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Eyes on the Prize” by Sara Groves. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “My Prayer for You” by Alisa Turner. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Colette Christopher is an empowered woman who inspires women to be who they were created to be. Her core message is empowerment. She is an author, certified life coach, podcast host, and trainer with the Maxwell Leadership team. 

Colette believes that an empowered woman empowers others and is powerful in knowing who she is and what she can accomplish. Colette is on a mission to impact the lives of the women assigned to her, whether she is their coach or trainer or shares a word that will transform their lives.

Colette utilizes her Christian principles as the base of all her engagements. She is passionate about fulfilling her life purpose of empowering women to know who they are, rebuild their confidence, and use their voices as tools to uplift themselves and others.

​​She is the founder of the M.E.E. Movement L.L.C., a faith-based empowerment ministry business that helps women of faith rebuild their confidence and use their voice to walk in their purpose through life coaching, mentoring, and empowerment speaking. Colette believes in using the gifts God has given her to help women be who God has called them to be and ultimately fulfill the purpose for which they were created. She lives by Romans 8:28 (NIV), that promises, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

A native of Jamaica, Colette resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is the mother of two beautiful young women, a son-in-love, and two grandsons. Colette enjoys reading, writing, watching good movies, and chatting with her daughters and friends.

~*~
Connect with Colette:
Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2367935
Email: Colettemarieonline@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: How to prepare for the new year

Packing for the New Year
A devotional by Colleen C. Howard

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”—Romans 15:13 (NIV)

I welcome the New Year as if I were opening a fresh, new journal.

Flipping through the blank pages they call out to me, begging to be filled with new adventures and life lessons. I look forward to the coming season with a sense of expectancy and the assurance that God is in control. It’s like packing for a trip when I don’t know what’s coming.

I’ve been thinking about how God made His presence known to me throughout last year. Events flashed through my mind at warp speed. It was like watching a theatrical trailer for a new movie that shares the most exciting and dramatic moments in under three minutes.

The first memory that popped into my head was hearing the news that our adult daughter might have cervical cancer. The doctor moved swiftly and a biopsy was taken within a few days. We were told results would be back in a week to ten days. Time moved at a snail’s pace and every day that passed seemed like a week. Prayer warriors were on their knees, and we cried out to God for His grace and mercy. On day seven she got the call. There was no sign of cancer! I wouldn’t be surprised if our shouts of praise could be heard throughout the neighborhood.

Last year the mysteries and miracles of God were front and center. In the midst of unexpected circumstances, we saw God’s protection and compassion for loved ones who were thrust into situations filled with drama, turmoil and confusion.

Jesus Christ comforted family and friends as they experienced serious illnesses, surgeries, and medical procedures. Activities that were once routine became difficult, leaving feelings of frustration in their wake. But in His tenderness, God poured His patience, grace and peace to all involved.

During the heat of the desert summer, God brought relief to anxious souls, which resulted in life-changing discoveries. I watched in awe as hearts were healed and peace was restored.

In addition, there were birthdays, holidays, and graduations sprinkled over the months like confetti. As I look back, I feel the warmth of God’s goodness. From start to finish, the last twelve months put a spotlight on the unshakeable presence of God. He is always with us and even if you try, you cannot loosen His grip. The goodness of God permeates our lives.

What did I receive last year that I’ll pack for the New Year? The power of the goodness of God, His tender mercies, and His promise to sustain and rescue me (Isaiah 46:4).

As we step further into the new year, may your suitcase be filled with God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and your heart drenched in His love.

Let’s Pray:
Thank you Lord, for your love and comfort. Heighten our awareness of your presence and fill us with the peace of Jesus. May His light shine through like a beacon in the darkness and His love bring us great joy this New Year. Praise be to God. In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “The Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Been So Good” (feat. Tiffany Hudson) by Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Colleen C. Howard is a Jesus follower, wife, mom, mimi, educator and author. 

She lives with her husband in the beautiful Arizona desert where the sunsets are spectacular, the summers are hot, and the winters are a little slice of heaven. Her two adult children and their families live nearby. She considers it a joy to spend time with her family members!

She is a lifelong educator and co-founder of an educational professional development business. After spending her professional life in education, Colleen retired as the STEM Specialist for a large public school district. As she approached the end of that season, God placed a strong desire in Colleen’s heart to shine a light on God’s presence throughout ordinary days and encourage women in their faith-walk with Jesus Christ.

When asked what makes her faith walk real, Colleen replied, “It isn’t just one thing, but a million little things. Although some days bring trials and others bring joy, it’s never just another day.” She says when you give your heart to Jesus, each new day is another opportunity to walk hand-in-hand with Him and begin to know the heart of God. As you become more aware of His presence, stop, take a breath, and watch what God will do.

Colleen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Arizona State University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.

She has been published online via these websites: Inkspirations, Her View From Home, and Inside Out Worldwide.

~*~
Connect with Colleen:
Website: http://colleenchoward.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When you are under construction, built by God

God’s Construction Project
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 1:6 (NASB)

I have a fascination with construction projects. 

We live in a rural area, so we don’t see anything in the way of skyscrapers or really tall buildings, but watching the process of creating a road where once there was only dirt or seeing a shopping center rise from a plot of land is pretty amazing.

Do you know what I’m most amazed by, though? When a project completely changes the landscape.

A few years ago in our area, a hill that had been used for waterslides was leveled to make way for something new. Construction equipment moved tons and tons of dirt and completely flattened the land for an enormous building. The amount of work—through resources and manpower and equipment and time—that goes into a project of that scale is unbelievable to me. Anyone new to town would never be able to guess that there used to be a huge hill there.

God is also in the construction business. He wants to transform our hearts, our lives, our wills, into something He can use. We need to allow Him to do whatever work needs to be done. Sometimes that involves sledgehammers tearing down walls we’ve created through sin and idolatry. Sometimes He helps build bridges to reconciliation and healing for ourselves and others.

I love hearing people’s stories of how God has brought them out of addictions or the occult. Those dramatic witnesses are huge construction projects and important for the collective story of what the power of Christ can do here and now. But what if you and I have stories that are more like remodels than from-the-ground-up projects? Those are certainly important too. 

What if one day I realize I no longer feel a need to gossip? Or that the way I relate to my family or friends has become a lot more grace-filled? Those might not make headlines, but they are important steps to a better life for ourselves and a better world for everyone. 

Those small steps of transformation often lay the groundwork for something greater. Each time we see God’s handiwork in our lives, it becomes an opportunity for us to be of better use to Him in the world.

It’s a new year, which naturally brings a time of self-reflection and opportunity. What sort of changes would you like to work with God to bring about this year? Do you need an attitude shift or a major overhaul? Pray about it. Be humble about it. He is faithful and He is good.

Remember: There are no DIY (“do-it-yourself”) projects around here! These changes only work if God is the one in charge!

Let’s Pray: Father God, help me be humble enough to ask for Your help this year and always. Show me where I need a change. Give me the strength to let You build me or break me, whatever is the best for Your kingdom. You are the Great Builder and only through You can I do anything. In Jesus’s precious 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 college-age children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting.

~*~
Connect with Glynis:

Website: www.glynisbecker.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckerglynis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlynisBecker7

Devotionals for the Heart: New You

New Year, New Creation
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

 – Isaiah 43:18-19a (ESV)

Whenever a new year rolls around, our hopes rise.

We want things to be different, to be better than last year, and so we dive into our self-driven improvements. Our resolutions sound remarkably like those from years past: lose weight, eat more vegetables, exercise more. We’ve all made them, and some of us have become healthier people because of them. But God’s way of making something new looks a little different from our way. He always focuses on our hearts.

When Jesus Christ came to earth, His aim was the cross, to die as the perfect sacrifice for our sinful selves. But there was more, so much more that He came to do. He showed us how to live life abundantly (John 10:10)! In all of Christ’s teachings, He points us to joyful, fulfilling life under the tender care of our Father in Heaven.

An archaic word “lovingkindness” accurately describes God’s perfect love for us. Not only is our Heavenly Father supportive, caring, and nurturing, He is also kind. His vast love for us is seen in His kindness. Sometimes His actions in our lives are revealed in circumstances that don’t always seem like kindness, but God wants our hearts to be transformed. He’s doing a “new thing” as Isaiah wrote, and sometimes His kindness is revealed in what may seem like a terrible ordeal.

Several years ago, my back suddenly “went out” just a couple of days before Christmas. Lying flat for the holidays was not on my agenda. Within days I was on a walker. School started back in January, and I wasn’t at my post. My classroom was given to a marvelous substitute, so my students were fine, but I wasn’t. In fact, anything but "fine" described the situation.

Staring at the ceiling didn’t do any good, so I started praying. That’s when I began to understand my Heavenly Father a little better. The time reading His Word and praying for people who needed His touch (which included me) brought me closer to Him and deepened my relationship with Him. During those days of solitude, I learned how kind He is. He taught me how to trust Him as my Father, something I’d never experienced.

The next few months were sometimes grueling, yet I look back now and realize how much He changed me. Yes, I had to go through physical therapy, and yes, I had to learn how to walk all over again. Same dilapidated body. Completely new heart.

God’s tender care and concern for us never changes, but He’s always ready to do something different in order to lead us into closer relationship with Him. We can trust His character, even when our vision narrows to a slice of blank ceiling above our heads, looking up from a place of pain and weakness. He’s right there with us, helping us to put an end to the bitterness, the Blame Game, or the countless “What if?” scenarios our minds tend to focus on when we’re hurting.

In Matthew 9:13, Jesus exhibited God’s lovingkindness when He told the religious leaders of His day to learn what it means to exhibit mercy in their ministry and not just legalistic sacrifice. The Pharisees were great proclaimers of sacrificial laws, but they missed Christ’s point. Jesus wants to create new hearts, and new attitudes in us. He wants to do whatever it takes. Sometimes a “new thing” to draw us closer to Him.

This year, my New Year’s resolutions look a little different from my usual ones. I’m asking my Heavenly Father to help me lose judgmental attitudes, to take in only the pure food of His Word the Bible, and to exercise His brand of lovingkindness in the relationships He has placed in my life. Lofty goals, for sure, but I’m not going in my own strength. The Lord of the Universe is doing something new in His time.

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus, help us to let You do Your cleansing work in our hearts. Show us how You want us to live out this New Year 2022. Thank You, Lord. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Note from Alexis: Karen’s devotional message, especially the part about God working on our hearts, reminded me of Donnie McClurkin's song “Create in Me A Clean Heart”. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Karen Marstaller is a retired high school teacher who spent most of her career challenging creative students to write. Her heart is for her readers. 

She writes to encourage them, to make them laugh, to show them that life is a beautiful journey, and regardless of their past, to show them that there is joy ahead if they will just keep looking.

Karen and her husband live in central Texas in a sweet little home that they completely remodeled. They enjoy spending time with their family, which includes seven precious grandchildren.

Most of all, Karen writes in obedience to the command to love your neighbor, to offer a cup of water to those who are dying of thirst, and to comfort others with the comfort she has received.

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should set our goals with God

Goals with God
A devotional by Cyndi Staudt

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” 

–Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)

I love the feel of a new year.

It’s like a blank slate just waiting to be filled with hopes and dreams, experiences and adventures. Anything seems possible while the door closes on the previous year’s journey, no matter what happened along the way. Usually, I have a new planner waiting for my activities and experiences to be reported. I also have a crisp, clean journal inviting my stories to be written and my experiences to be chronicled.

During the week between Christmas and New Year I always set aside time to take an inventory of the year about to close—a “year in review” of sorts. I relive highlights of the year—happy times and hard times—as I observe all the ways God showed up along my journey. I find Him in the mountaintop moments where I experienced rich joy in His presence. I also encounter Him in the deepest valleys where I had to cling to Him for comfort so my grief would not consume me. This review reminds me that I serve a loving and faithful God who promises never to leave me nor forsake me. He is my constant companion.

My “year in review” also serves as the perfect launching pad to look at the “year in view” – the new year on the horizon. As I stand on the threshold of a new year, I sometimes feel like the Israelites when they sent out the scouts to the Promised Land. On one hand I am hopeful, anticipating great things from the God who assures me in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has good plans for me, plans not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.

But on the other hand, I can feel the imposing presence of giants lurking in the shadows, a reminder of the adversary who is always looking for a way to devour me and distract me from what God has planned. I don’t allow my thoughts to linger there too long before I fix my mind on Jesus Christ who has already defeated the devil. Therefore, I begin to prayerfully pen plans and goals, dreams and expectations for the year ahead.

It’s exciting, albeit slightly daunting, to see on paper the many things I hope to accomplish in the coming months. I find peace in the reminder that while I make my plans, I serve a God who will order my steps into His perfect will for my tomorrows and for eternity. I can then step confidently into all He has for me.

While God invites us to review the past, He doesn’t want us to dwell in it. While He encourages us to set goals and pursue dreams for the future, He also reminds us to not worry about tomorrow. Those “steps” that God orders on the path to pursuing our plans happen in the present. The present is where we encounter God daily. He meets with us in the everyday moments of our lives, attending to every last detail. He desires daily, intimate relationship with us. Our spirit will thrive when we seek Him with greater intensity than we chase our dreams.

As much contemplating and planning as I do at the onset of a new year, when I come to the year in review, I'm always sure to see sweet little surprises my Savior gifted me with along the way. I try not to box God into my plans. Instead, I leave them open to His creativity along the way. He has unlimited resources and unexpected methods of making things happens for our good and His glory. And I don’t want to miss a single one.

Let’s Pray: Creator God, thank You for being my faithful guide and constant companion on my journey through life. I am so grateful You are accessible in my every moment, joining me in the joy on the mountain tops and accompanying me as I trudge through the valleys. I marvel at Your creativity as You unfold your plans and purpose for my life in surprising and unexpected ways. I appreciate Your patience and faithfulness as I stumble in the steps I take in efforts to walk in your will. I am grateful that Your gentle hand is ever present to pick me when I fall far from Your plans, and set me back on the path You've placed before me. While I prayerfully pen my plans for this new season, help me to stay out of Your way. Teach me how to surrender any expectations of outcomes to Your ways, Your will and Your timing. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Cyndi Staudt is a Jesus-loving, adrenaline junkie devoted to living her life for Jesus 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 life "souled out" to the One whose love has no limits.

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Remember that your help comes from God

Look Up!
A devotional by Patricia Russell

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, 

from whence cometh my help. 

My help cometh from the Lord, 

which made heaven and earth.”

–Psalm 121:1-2 (KJV)

Most celebrations have a point and time when the gathering is asked to be quiet, while acknowledgements and honors are given to the guest of honor.

Today, I would love for us to take a moment and celebrate the faithfulness of the most important Guest of Honor. Let’s raise a toast to the Creator of the Universe. He is the God who created the heavens and the earth. He is the one who watches over us when we sleep. He is the one who never slumbers nor sleeps. He is the one who promises us a hope and a future.

We’re starting a new year.

We’ve never walked this way before. There are things that will happen that we never expected and never saw coming. However, because of God’s unchanging character, I’m going to plant my feet firm in faith in Him. It is my hope and my prayer that you and I will draw closer to Him.

The past few years have pushed us into His face. We’ve held onto Him like young children who don’t want to leave their parent’s grasp. Many times, I’ve found myself looking up, like Abraham did when God told him to count the stars. When Abraham began counting and got into the thousands (I wonder if he reached that far) he must have felt quite overwhelmed and wondered, “How is this going to ever happen?”

The questions of how, considering he was not only old but did not have a child at the time, must have stunned him. This same question of “How will it happen?” or “How is it going to ever work out?” has crossed our lips year after year but I would like to encourage us right at this year’s beginning to make our first thought be to simply look up.

Why look up? Up is where our help lies. Up is where the stars cannot be all counted. Looking up we see the span of the sky and all the beauty spread far beyond what our eyes can even see. Looking up means the possibilities are endless because of God.

Camping is not my first choice of vacationing. My husband, on the other hand, has this fascination with the great outdoors and often shares memories of lying outside, looking up at the stars and for hours on end enjoying the spectacle of twinkling beings. His imagination runs wild with creativity. If this sounds a little childlike, it’s intentional. Let’s not lose the wonder this year in looking up and seeing the possibilities that can yet happen.

I encourage you to consciously shut down the sounds and voices that will want you to look down. Intentionally close the screens that provide constant updates of changes of threats in weather, finances or food. Daily look up as the psalmist states because up is where your help comes from. Up is where our Heavenly Father is. Up is where one day we will be going. Up is where we look to count stars and see the possibilities that our minds and hearts cannot conceive.

Psalm 121:3-7 (KJV) continues by saying:

“He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.”

Let’s Pray: Father God, thank You for this new year. Thank You that we can look up in hope and confidence that you have the whole world in your hands. Thank You that my faith rests in You alone. Help me when I am tempted to fear, to look up and to rest in the truth of your promises that You will never leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Note from Alexis: Patricia’s devotional message today reminds me of the song “My Help” performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. They literally put all of Psalm 121 to modern music! Listen to their song here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia is an encourager. She passionately uses her giftings as an author, speaker, pastor, recording artist, worship leader and coach. 

Stronger Resilience: Stories to Empower the Mind, Body & Spirit (a book that she wrote) was an Amazon Bestseller in October 2020.

Patricia sings! She has released two CDs titled Draw Me Nearer and Lord I Trust You.

She also travels to speak to audiences internationally.

When she is not ministering to save souls in God’s Kingdom, Patricia enjoys reading, writing and connecting like-minded people who can sharpen each other in the journey to their dreams and goals.

As a two-time breast cancer overcomer, her desire is to coach others to live life to the fullest by understanding their gifting from God and using it. 

~*~
Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrussellonline
Twitter: https://twitter.com/patrussellsings
Email: patrussellsings@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Arise

Arise: Learning to be comfortable with what God has called you to do
A devotional by Alexis Newlin

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” 

– Isaiah 60:1 (ESV)

Since 2014, on January 1st, God has given me a new word to define my year:

Hope (2014)

Change (2015)

Authority (2016)

Restore (2017)

Victorious (2018)

Trust (2019)

And every year, on New Year’s Eve (December 31), I try to cheat by trying to find out what my word will be before New Year’s Day (January 1) or by giving God ideas of what I think my word should be.

This year (2020) was no different. I found myself asking, “God, will my word be Brave? Can you give me a hint? What difference does a few hours make?”

God never gives in to my attempts to cheat. I imagine Him smiling as He tells me, “You know the drill. You’ll find out at midnight on January 1.”

This year I brought in the new year with friends. We ate an enormous amount of food, played board games and had an indoor “snowball” fight. It was so much fun that I forgot about my desire to know my word for the year. As I got into the car to go home past midnight, God said to me, “Your word for the year is Arise.”

This word stopped me in my tracks. “Arise?” I asked, quite stunned.

“Yes. Arise.”

I pondered this word for a moment, still not quite sure of what to think about it. Then I smiled.

“Okay, Arise it is. I like it!”

Since January 1, this year has felt like a whirlwind. I didn’t have much time to sit down and study my word out of the year until recently.

I love to break words down and study them out. When I found a free moment, I plopped down in my favorite chair, grabbed a chai latte and dug into all things Arise. Here’s what I discovered: Arise as defined by my favorite gal pal (Merriam Webster) means, "to begin to occur or to exist: to come into being or to attention, to get up or stand up, to move upward."

Arise requires movement. A stepping up. Not staying in the same place.

Renouncing the old and embracing the new. Changing levels.

Arise scared me.

I don’t know about you but I love being comfortable. I love routine and LOVE when things don’t change. There is a sense of safety in all these things. To arise, to walk out the word that God gave me to define my year, would require movement. Stepping up. Change. Things that I feared. Things that weren’t comfortable or required a ton of trust. Things that wouldn’t allow me to hide anymore.

As I fleshed this word out, God brought this verse Isaiah 60:1 (ESV) to me: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”

We can be so tempted to stay hidden for fear of failure, or what others think. We can embrace remaining comfortable or disdain change because we fear moving forward. I think what causes us to feel this way is that we forget who is inside us. We forget God is walking with us, lighting our way.

God is our light.

God fills us with His glory.

Therefore, we must get up, move forward in what He has for us and shine so that others may see Him.

When God is asking you to arise, whether it is a new job, relationship or parenthood, He knows the plans he has for you and He knows your potential. With God, we can’t fail. So friend, take that step. Move toward that scary thing that you want to do. Arise. Shine and remember, the glory of the Lord is with you.

~*~
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 hopes to launch 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: New Beginnings and Bible verses

A New Year, A New Beginning
A devotional by Nanci Rubin

“Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me.”
 ~Psalm 51:10 (KJV)

This Scripture strikes me as one that could easily be construed for a new beginning, a clean slate upon which one can write. Happy New Year to everyone. I can’t wait to see what God will do in this new year. He never ceases to surprise me and He reveals himself in so many subtle ways. 

A good example being when I ordered some Amaryllis bulbs for the holidays and as they began to bloom to my pleasant surprise there was an Avocado seed in there, I was beyond delighted. God knew how much I love Avocado plants. I felt He’d given me a special present and it touched my heart in such a way that it made me weep. 

Surely God is a giver of good gifts! Just like it says in James 1:17 (KJV): “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, and with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” 

After a half century of living I’ve finally learned not to make resolutions I can’t keep, not to go on diets that I won’t stay on and not to join a gym that I won’t go to six months down the road, no matter how many health benefits it offers. What I do try to do is wait upon Him to show me my course for the new year. I have been perpetually blessed by new vistas, new friends and new opportunities. I truly believe each one is God ordained. If He has taught me anything it is the art of waiting. 

While I wait, God's promises found in The Holy Bible. Psalm 37:23 (KJV) encourages my heart. It says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delighteth in his way.” 

May we all learn in this New Year, to be sensitive to the Lord’s leading. For many of us it’s not just another New Year, but perhaps a new season in our lives. New challenges, but no matter what we’re facing He has the solution before we know the question.

This is my advice to you: Trust God to guide you and He will. Our choices have consequences. Our every action has a reaction. God is for you. He doesn’t work against you and He truly does want you to succeed in everything you undertake. Remember Romans 8:28 (KJV) which says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

Let us be an example of God’s mercy and grace to everyone around us. Let this be a year of new beginnings. Let us put aside any pettiness we may harbor and not forget to be kind.

Shalom.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Nanci is a poet and short story writer published in Cypress News, Family Times E-Zine, Free Verse and the Commonwealth of Poetry. 

She belongs to RWA, ACFW, and Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild where she’s enrolled in his novel writing program.

Nanci lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and cats, Romeo and Juliette, along with their newest member of the family, Roni, a seven-month-old Goldendoodle.

Recently, Nanci completed her debut novel, A Betrayal in Cross Keys. It is an Amish romance that she has placed in her agent's capable hands. The rest is up to God.

Devotionals for the Heart: A Word

A New Word for a New Year
A devotional by Victoria Bylin

“[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

~1 Corinthians 13:7 (NASB)

We’re at the beginning of a new year, and I’ve been thinking about a resolution I didn’t make. Typically, I chose a word to ponder as the cold winter days turned into warm summer nights, then into the crisp afternoons of Autumn. In the past, those words have been a beacon to me, a way to focus on growing closer to God, seeking Him in the midst of storms, or simply worshipping in the good times.

So why didn’t I choose one this year? Frankly, I’m wondering why, and if I should pick one now. Here are some of my favorites from the past:

Rejoice came straight from Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!” This verse taught me about rejoicing when times are tough. I had no idea it would be a challenging word, but it was. My father-in-law was in the throes of Alzheimer’s that year, and there were difficult decisions regarding his care. His long, slow decline tore our hearts to pieces, but there was also great love throughout his life. Those memories sustain us now.

Worship was my word for 2013. It’s a contraction of worth + ship, and I took it as a challenge to worship God beyond singing in church on Sunday morning. What is His love worth to me? How can I share it with others? Again, I discovered a doubled-edged sword. There were days when worship came easily, and days when it revealed how self-focused I can be. What sustained me, good or bad, was the awareness of God’s love for all his children—including me.

Door isn’t the word I expected for 2017, and it didn’t play out the way I hoped. A door slammed shut when my publisher turned down a new proposal. I waited a year for a door to open at another publisher, but after several false starts, it slammed shut. Disappointing, yes. But during that long stretch of time, I was aware of all the doors Christ has opened and closed in my life, both joyful and disappointing, and always done in love.

In 2018, I chose the word Dig with the intention of digging deep and seeking God’s will for my writing. I dug all right, and ended up in a hole. Again, not the end I imagined! That hole turned out to be a grave where my old dreams died, but it was also the birth place for new ones. Somehow God’s love pierced that dark time and brought me back into the light.

Aha! I see a trend . . . My word for 2019 is right in front of me.

That word is Love.

I can’t think of greater word—or a greater challenge—but I’m confident that God’s grace is sufficient for whatever challenges arise in the coming year.

~*~
Author Bio:

Victoria Bylin is the author of 18 traditionally published romances. Known for tackling difficult subjects with great compassion, she delights in stories that shine the spotlight of God’s love on ordinary men and women facing realistic challenges.

Writing has always been a part of Victoria’s life. As a child, she wrote hundreds of letters and scribbled in journals. As an adult, she worked as a freelance journalist and editor before taking on the challenge of fiction.

She had one goal when she started her first novel: to finish a book-length manuscript, good or bad. That first effort will never see the light of day, but it led to a second manuscript and a sale to Harlequin Historical. Since then, she has written westerns and contemporary romances for both mainstream and Christian publishers, with Together With You winning the 2016 Inspirational Readers Choice Award for Best Contemporary.

Writing is a joy and a challenge for Victoria, but faith, friends and family matter to her far more. She’s a wife, mom, proud grandmother, and a dog-mom to a wacky Jack Russell Terrier. Originally from California, she and her husband currently make their home in Lexington, Kentucky. When she’s not writing, Victoria enjoys long walks, travel, and dark chocolate.

~*~

Connect with Victoria:

Website:  http://www.victoriabylin.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Victoria.Bylin.Author

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/VictoriaBylin   

My Review of three NEW Devotional Journals by Ellie Claire (brand)

Today, I'm sharing my reviews of three devotional journals by one of my favorite creative brands, Ellie Claire! Here's the cover design for each journal:

Disclaimer: Worthy Publishing Group gave me (Alexis A. Goring) these products by in exchange for an honest review. This by no means impacted my decision of the journals and all opinions are my own.

Now on to the reviews...

My Review of Ellie Claire’s 

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus: A 365-Day Devotional Journal”:

I like the cover design of this devotional journal because of the soft, pastel colors and flower/vine design. I found it to be appealing because it reminded me of spring and as I write this, winter is approaching and I don’t like the cold. So having a journal to start writing in as cold weather and snow makes its seasonal appearance is comforting.

This devotional journal definitely would have attracted my attention because of its cover design and brand (I love Ellie Claire products)!

The art style and devotions in this book work really well together because the color theme and font style are similar to the cover design. Each devotional is short and sweet with an inspirational message that will touch your heart.

“Prayer: The Map to God” the devotional for November 11 is one of my favorites because of the title and content. The message for that day in my journal really spoke to my experience with GPS (navigational systems) and encouraged me to never stop praying because God is always willing to listen. He’s also ready to help at any time.

The paper thickness of each page is enough to support the ink from your pen or marker without leaking onto the next page.

I plan to use this devotional daily. Anyone female from age 12 to 100 in any career or from any background would probably love to receive this journal as a gift and would benefit from using it!

*Buy this journal on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

~*~

My Review of Ellie Claire’s

“The Earth Is the Lord’s and Everything In It: A 365-Day Devotional Journal”:

The cover design for this devotional journal is rich in color, elegant and elaborate. The design appealed to me from the moment I saw it, drawing me into the richness and elegance. Blue is one of my favorite colors so the beautiful blue color of the peacocks on the front cover enthralled me. This product would definitely have caught my attention as I browsed through a bookstore!

The art style and devotions in the book works very well together as the upper body of a peacock and a flower from the front cover are pictured on the bottom corners of each page in this journal.

The devotions and quotes inside the journal were very inspirational! One of my favorites is the entry for June 12 titled, “The God Who Sings.” I never thought of God as a singer but He created music so I guess it makes sense! This is supported by the Bible in Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV). Now I cannot wait to hear God sing when we get to Heaven!

The paper thickness of each page is enough to support the ink from your pen or marker without leaking onto the next page.

I plan to give away this journal to someone who I believe will be blessed by it. But if I were keeping it for myself, I’d write in it every day, starting on January 1, 2019!

*Buy this journal on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. 

~*~

My Review of Ellie Claire’s

“Peace Begins with Me: A 365-Day Devotional Journal”:

The cover design for this journal is soft and looks like a work of art as if a painter dipped their paintbrush in a gorgeous light green color then graced the cover with fluid strokes. The result is a light green-creamy white marble look and it is gorgeous!

If I were browsing through a bookstore, I would definitely stop to pick up this journal and flip through the pages! The art style and devotions within this product work well together because the left and right of each page has a thin border that’s the same color of the front and back cover of this journal. It creates a beautiful design and accent.

The devotions and quotes in this journal are inspirational. One of my favorite devotions within this journal is from April 2, which is titled, “The Immovable Anchor.” It’s based on a Psalm 93:3 (NIV) and reminds me that God is my anchor in the midst of any storm that I may go through in this life. After reading this devotion, my heart is encouraged to persevere and continue leaning into God.

The paper thickness of each page is enough to support the ink from your pen or marker without leaking onto the next page.

I plan to give this journal away too but only because I believe that someone will be blessed by it and I only need one devotional journal to write in for the New Year 2019.

*Buy this journal on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

~*~

Enter the Instagram Contest for your chance to WIN gifts from 
Ellie Claire! 

Enter to win a $75 Amazon gift card. To enter to win:

1. Follow @EllieClaireGifts on Instagram

2. Post a photo of our 365-day devotional journals on your Instagram by December 14, 2018 with a caption of your choice AND the hashtags #EllieClaireGifts and #NewYearNewDevo

3. Tag @EllieClaireGifts in your image.

Devotionals for the Heart: A New Start

A fresh, new, God-colored spiral notebook
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Do you remember that first-day-of-school feeling? Not the butterfly-fluttery, heart-thumpy jitters about who your teacher is or whether you’ll make any friends, but that giddy-specialness kind of feeling: New spiral notebooks, pages all fresh and clean. Rows of sharpened pencils and slick, brand-new pens. Stacks of notebook paper gleaming in their plastic wrappers. Binders with their three shiny rings ready to be filled.

Everything ready. A clean start.

That’s how I feel about New Year’s Day—no matter what the year prior might have brought, good or bad, January 1 is a day of beginning, a chance to start anew, an opportunity to begin on the right foot. It’s like I’m getting my very own different-colored spiral notebook with 365 blank pages just waiting for their scribbles and wisdom, only I get to live it.

If the year prior has been a good year, I’m excited to keep riding that proverbial high and sail along with God to the next level. If it’s been meh or downright awful, I get to set it aside like that finally finished project, turn my head, and cast my eyes on the next adventure.

Yes, adventure—whatever our situation, whatever our condition, whatever our joy or grief or pain or illness or worry, a new year is a new adventure, and if we wrap our minds around it correctly and look at it in what I like to call the “God light,” it’s absolutely, magnificently glorious.

See, I take to heart the Scripture many of us are familiar with, 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) which says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

In Christ, I am a new creation. A new year is yet another opportunity to celebrate that.

If we look deeper at that chapter, we see that verse is part of God’s larger point: His ministry of reconciliation, of fresh starts, of bridge-building and wall-falling and barrier-breaking. We are urged to put on our God lenses, to view “no one from a worldly point of view.” After all, we are told, God “reconciled us to himself through Christ … not counting people’s sins against them.” The old has gone. All the sin is washed away. All we need to do is be reconciled—reunited in peaceful, beautiful harmony—with God, and we get to share in that.

“The new is here.” Literally and figuratively.

Every year is a new opportunity to walk in the light of God, to walk with Him, to let Him work His wonders and plans through us. He has big plans for us, and those plans can fly free and soar if we just step aside and make room for God.

That’s the catch, and sometimes it takes constant work to remember it: We are most certainly not in this alone. Our year, our life, our very existence is not only smoother and happier but fully in line with the Lord and His glory when we realize that. Our steps are not our own. They are steps with our Creator if we only take a moment to stop fighting Him like an independence-craving toddler and let Him light the way.

Happy New Year, my friends. May your fresh new spiral notebook of 2018 be God-colored, God-inspired, and God-led. The old has gone. The new is here.

~*~
Author bio:

Jessica Brodie is a Christian author, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. 

She is the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest continuously published newspaper in Methodism. 

Learn more about her fiction and read her blog at this address, http://jessicabrodie.com/.

Song Spotlight: Day After Christmas