Devotionals for the Heart: How to trust Jesus Christ and follow His plan

Soundtrack of My Life
A devotional by Colleen C. Howard

“Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes.”—Romans 5:1 (TPT)

I need music like I need air. It can lift my spirits or soothe my soul.

Music has always played a big part in my life. For as long as I can remember, music filled our home with joy. As a little girl, I danced around the living room while my dad played his clarinet, the sounds of music saturating the air. This was the soundtrack of my childhood.

Whether music fans or not, most of us have experienced the annoying phantom tune that invades our minds without invitation. The stuck song that plays repeatedly in your head. Just as you’ve forgotten about it, the music starts again. You can’t get rid of it, you can’t remember the lyrics or the title, but the tune continues to play in your head, as if it’s the official background music for the soundtrack of your life.

This has been happening to me very often in these last few months. Before I open my eyes, the first thing I’m aware of is the song in my head. Sometimes, the song is just a tune, and I struggle to remember the lyrics. Other times, it’s so familiar that each word finds its note, and the entire composition dances through my mind.

Recently, a tune pulsed through my veins at warp speed, and I had no idea where it came from. It became a mystery begging to be solved. After I got out of bed and the first few sips of caffeine kicked in, a few of the lyrics revealed themselves. However, the tune played on in blatant defiance of the missing words. I began to wonder if this was a lesson from God in the making.

Isn’t humming a tune without recalling the lyrics similar to how Christians are called to follow Jesus Christ without having a highlighted outline of His master plan? In His wisdom, God reveals what we need to know when we need to know it. He knows exactly when to impart this knowledge. The tune in my head held only one phrase that I remembered, but that was all I needed to know. God woke me that morning with a glorious combination of melody and words. He revealed the mystery song: “Flawless” sung by Mercy Me. For me, this was a perfect illustration of walking with Christ in total surrender.

Why this song? I’m far from flawless, but Jesus reminds me that in His eyes, I am flawless. This is the grace of God. It defies human power and directs our eyes to Jesus. Christ’s death on the cross (John 3:16-17) makes us flawless before God. There’s nothing we can possibly do to earn it. God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die so we may live. Psalm 23 tells us that Jesus is our shepherd.

He is good at taking care of us and leading us through the hills and valleys of life. We need to trust Jesus enough to follow Him. The amazing grace of God will guide you down the right path. Sing praises to King Jesus for only He can make you flawless.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Jesus,

You see us when we lose our patience, forget to count our blessings, and grow weary. But because You have restored us You see us as flawless. Our hearts overflow with love and gratitude for Your gift of salvation. Show us how to grow our faith and daily express our thankfulness to You. Thanks be to God!

In Your Name I pray, Jesus. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Flawless” by Mercy Me. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Hills and Valleys” by Tauren Wells. 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.

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Trusting God to help you reach your destiny

How God Prepares Us for New Seasons
A devotional by Sarah Cole

“Faith motivated Abraham to obey God’s call and leave the familiar to discover the territory he was destined to inherit from God. So he left with only a promise and without even knowing ahead of time where he was going, Abraham stepped out in faith.” –Hebrews 11:8 TPT

Is there a sweater in your closet you no longer wear, but you’re hanging on it anyway?

My grey sequined sweater is my go-to top on chilly days. But as much as I adore it, it’s stretched and worn, and I don’t feel comfortable wearing it in public. Nevertheless, I can’t seem to part with it. Sweaters are only one example of what we need let go of to reach our spiritual potential. Unhealthy friendships, work environments, and mindsets can weigh us down and keep us stuck in unhelpful patterns. And comfort zones, like sweaters, aren’t meant to be a permanent part of our lives because God cares more about our character and building His kingdom within us.

Abraham obeyed God’s call by leaving the only land he had known behind and trusting God to help him reach his destiny. With his heart set on God’s promise to make him into a great nation, he set out on a journey toward a future he couldn’t see or understand, but Abraham knew the God who keeps His promises would protect and guide Him (Genesis 12:1-9).

In my life over the past few months, I’ve seen God unravel old mindsets and commitments that hindered my growth and wouldn't serve me well in the future. It’s been a painful and often discouraging process, and I’ve experienced grief by letting some things go, but I’m grateful God loves me enough to do what's necessary to mature me.

When I researched online about how God prepares us for new seasons, I learned He sovereignly orchestrates our discomfort to motivate us to move forward. It’s never easy or convenient, but it’s necessary if we want to experience His best. When our lives fall apart at the seams, what seems like chaos is God positioning us for the promise we have been praying for.

Eagles illustrate this principle beautifully. A mother eagle knows her babies will never learn to fly unless their nest is too uncomfortable to stay. So, with her long talons, she starts stirring up the nest by bringing up the thorns and sharp rocks, exposing them to the surface, and slowly moving away the comfortable feathers and wool. If God is stirring up your nest, you can count on Him to help you soar above it.

Leaving the familiar behind can be scary, but when we obey God’s call and reach the land of promise God has prepared for us, most likely we will look back and realize the struggle to get there was worth it.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Father God, thank You for leading me out of my comfort zone into the future you’ve promised me. Change is hard, and when I want to return to the familiar, help me trust You to equip me with everything I need for the journey ahead. I know you’ll be eagerly waiting for me when I arrive. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song for Reflection: “Seasons” by Donald Lawrence and The Tri-City Singers. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: God can work everything together for your good

Nothing Wasted
A devotional by Shirley A. Denson

“So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.” 

–Romans 8:28 TPT

Wasted can be loosely defined as “useless.”

Bearing that definition in mind, there’s no part of your story that God can’t use.

Why? Because everything is continually woven together for good! This means that the details of your life are always, at all times, working for good. Even when it looks/feels bad in the moment…it will end up good! Though the pieces may not look like they match up, and some areas of your life may still be up in the air, when it’s all said and done, God has a way of intricately weaving it all together to make sense.

To weave, two or more pieces of thread/yarn are interlaced at right angles to form fabric. So, when it seems as if your life is going in a different direction than what you planned/thought, just know that it’s part of the weaving of God. The method on how the threads are interwoven affects the characteristics of the cloth. So, no matter what the vicissitudes of life have thrown at you, the Master Weaver has been collecting every thread and weaving them together to form the tapestry of your life, and producing a fabric tailored to you.

Your cloth/fabric may not look like the next person’s, but that’s because it’s specific to your journey. Your friend may not have had to endure what you have, and that’s okay. Your story may be woven differently, but it will all work for good.

No matter how many detours or pitstops you make along the way, just know that no part of your story/journey is wasted. The depression, job loss, divorce, abortion, abuse, missing parent, repossession, etc. was undoubtedly hurtful at the moment it was happening. However, it’s not the totality of who you are, but it’s a thread in the tapestry of your life. By themselves, each incident may have been ugly…but, intricately woven with the other threads of your life, a beautiful piece is produced. Because you love God, your fabric will produce according to the purpose you’re designed to fulfill. Find the courage to embrace every portion of your life.

It’s working for good, and nothing will be wasted.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank You for being a God of perfect timing. Thank You for divinely orchestrating my life to fulfill the purpose you’ve designed for me. Help me to accept every thread that you’ve intricately woven through the tapestry of my life. I don’t understand it all, but I trust You! Give me the strength and fortitude to hold on until I see the good. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “For The Good (Lyrics)” by Riley Clemmons. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Shirley A. Denson is a native of Statesboro, GA. 

She found out at a young age that she had a creative mind and a way with words. Later on in life, she learned to cultivate her passion for writing as a budding author.

Shirley is very passionate about writing. Each book that she releases will be a product of God stirring and cultivating the gift He’s entrusted her with. She has won numerous writing awards/certificates, and is a published poet and blogger.

For the past six years, Shirley has worked as a professional ghostwriter, editor, and author. It is her joy and goal that through print, she might impact lives and leave the imprint of the King.

Visit her website to stay in the loop about her new book releases, current projects, and to read her blog posts.

~*~
Connect with Shirley:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SayWhatEnterprises
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saywhatenterprises/

Devotionals for the Heart: When you need time away and alone with God

Get Away with God
A devotional by Cyndi Staudt

Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. –Mark 6:31 (NLT)

With an audible sigh I plopped myself into the seat of the plane and buckled my seatbelt.

In the flurry of the past week spent preparing for a 10-day vacation, I felt like I hadn’t had a moment to breathe. Running errands, packing suitcases, making arrangements for the pet sitter, planning for projects to be covered at work, making lists and checking them twice—the last week had disappeared into a vapor of busyness. If I was honest with myself, the last few months hadn’t been much different. White space in my calendar had been diminishing as rapidly as my ability to say no. My commitments continued to climb, carrying my stress levels and anxiety along with it. There was no denying this time away was desperately needed.

Our lives are often so full that we even have difficulty finding time, or choosing to make time, to spend with Jesus. We have so many obligations and people clamoring for our attention, it can be hard to feel there is room to dedicate a portion of our day to God. But these are the times when we need that daily connection to our Savior more than ever. When we take even a few sacred moments to spend in His presence in the midst of our busy day, He will meet us there. He can pour peace into our minds and download deep truths into our hearts that can help us manage the madness of an overcommitted calendar, a harried heart, or a troubled spirit.

In the Bible, Jesus made a regular example of getting away from the hustle and bustle of His daily grind and we should too. Unplugging from our routines, from social media, from overwhelmed schedules and overworked minds and bodies, shouldn’t just be reserved for special vacations or holidays. They should be a part of our regular rhythms, “rhythms of grace” that The Holy Bible tells us should be “unforced”. Let’s read about it in Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG): “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

God invites us to rest that is real and restorative. Rest that helps us recover a life where we can exist freely and lightly, unburdened by the demands of the world. He draws us to a place where we can abide in His presence and abound in His provision for our bodies, minds and souls.

Friends, in the days when you feel you can’t find a minute to catch your breath or don't even have time to eat, ask God to give you the grace to find a few moments to slip away alone in His presence. God will speak volumes to a heart that is open to his truth—even over the hustle and bustle of your busiest days. And at the end of it you may find the promise of Acts 3:19 (TPT) fulfilled, “times of refreshing will stream from the Lord’s presence”.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for always setting the example for how we can live the abundant life that You've promised us. Help us to remember that busyness isn't always productive, particularly when it squeezes out time spent with You. Having and doing more rarely leads to accomplishment, fulfillment, or even contentment unless it’s having more of or doing more for You. When our lives begin to tumble out of control let us heed Your gentle invitation to get away with You to a quiet place to reset, restore and replenish. You created us with a natural need and desire for relationship with You. Let us never neglect the nourishment that comes from time spent in Your presence. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

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

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: How to claim your God-given calling

Claim Your Calling
A devotional by Cyndi Staudt

“Let everyone be devoted to fulfill the work God has given them to do with excellence, and their joy will be in doing what’s right and being themselves, and not in being affirmed by others.” 

–Galatians 6:4 (TPT)

In my early days as a Christian, I recall experiencing gift envy.

I knew God’s Word (The Holy Bible) assured us we were each given gifts to be used for the furthering of God’s Kingdom. But I had no idea what my God-given gifts were. Instead of seeking God, the Giver of our gifts, in my quest to discover what my gifting might be, I chose to turn my focus to what others were doing around me.

I saw a young mom serving faithfully in the MOPS ministry, as she had been doing for over 10 years, and wondered how she knew that was where God wanted her to serve. I watched enviously as my friend stepped confidently and boldly into children’s ministry even though hers were grown. I sat on the sidelines in women’s ministry when a dear sister-in-Christ dove in headfirst, while admitting she didn’t know what she was doing, but saying she felt God was calling her to get out of the boat. Each time I saw them bearing fruit for the Kingdom from their faithful service, I would find myself longingly wishing I was serving in that ministry, in that capacity. I wanted to discover where my place was in God’s Kingdom work and feel like I was accomplishing something worthwhile for His glory.

I remember my pastor at the time asking me to lead a Bible study. I reasoned, “He hears from God and must know what I’m supposed to do." So of course I said yes. And so began a several year journey of saying yes to every offer that I received to serve at church. I grew to feel like a distracted Martha, scurrying around the church trying to get everything done, yet accomplishing nothing and grumbling under my breath as I was doing it. Leading to complete burnout and total dissatisfaction, I began to question whether God could or would use me to do anything meaningful for the Kingdom.

I think I was waiting for my burning bush moment when God would miraculously appear to me and call me to His mission and purpose for my life. But I began to realize that event might not ever happen. Then again, I’ve never spent years on the backside of a mountain tending sheep like Moses in the Bible did (Exodus 3:1-14), nor did I want to. So, I knew I had to find another way to figure out what God had in store for me. Surrendering myself fully to the process, I began seeking the Lord and asking Him specifically what gifts He had given me, what He had created me for, and what purpose He had plans for me to fulfill.

Knowing I wanted to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant” when I enter His glory, I committed to be obedient to His call, even before knowing His answer, whatever it might be. I said with the most sincerity in my heart possible, “Here I am, send me!” I prayed, I fasted, and I prayed some more. I took spiritual gifts assessments, sought Godly counsel, and persisted in prayer. Eventually I felt my heart and mind begin to acquiesce into a state of waiting upon the Lord, with a spirit of expectation, but contentment in His ways and timing. And that's precisely where I discovered that was where God wanted me, sitting at His feet in hopeful anticipation of hearing Him speak. I began to realize that what the call was wasn't nearly as important as seeking the One who was bestowing the call.

It reminded me of Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus while her sister scurried around making practical preparations for His visit. Jesus confirmed there was only one thing worth being concerned about and Mary had chosen what is better, sitting at the feet of her Savior and hanging on His every word. In the quiet moments as I sat tenderly seeking the guidance of God, I discovered the desires He had placed in my heart. I began pursing those desires, devoted to fulfilling His call with excellence, reaping a heart full of joy and contentment. How sweet it is to leave behind the impossible need to please everyone else and sit securely in the space God purposed me for and the call He created me for.

Let’s Pray:
Gracious Father, thank you for your endless patience towards me and your persistent pursuit of my wayward heart. When I chase after misguided intentions, use the power of your Holy Spirit to gently guide me back onto the path You created me for. Help me keep my eyes focused on You and my heart turned towards the distinct calling You have placed on my life. Show me the unique qualities You placed in my innermost being that make me perfectly poised to fulfill the work You have given me to do with excellence. Grant me great joy in simply doing what's right, being myself, and seeking only Your approval. May I never grow weary in carrying out everything You call me to, knowing that Your work is never in vain and You will carry on to completion every last detail. Thank you for the incredible privilege and honor of serving Your people and being included in Your Kingdom work. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

~*~
Note from Alexis: Cyndi’s devotional message today reminds me of the song “I Will Go” by Steve Green. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: What happens when you seek God first

Seek God First
A devotional by Cyndi Staudt

“So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.” –Matthew 6:33 (TPT)

I have always admired stories of faith-based heroes who have stepped out in faith in incredible ways.

Over the years, these heroes have inspired me to offer several specific prayers to God. These are prayers that I have prayed over and over for years and will continue to pray until Jesus Christ calls me home. One of those prayer mantras is that I would have faith like Abraham. I admire the fact that when God called Abraham to step out on faith, he packed up his things and went before he knew where he was going! Open a Bible and read that true story in Genesis 12. I have prayed this prayer almost daily since becoming a Christian. Earlier this year, God gave me an opportunity to exercise that kind of faith.

As a single woman I have always struggled with fully relinquishing control of my finances and work over to God. I have been prone to overworking and obsessing over my finances to ensure I am able to pay my bills, remain as debt free as possible, and have enough cushion to travel or go to dinner with friends here and there. In early 2020, when I received a surprise sizeable raise, to the exact amount I had casually stated would allow me more breathing room in my finances, I knew God’s hand had been at work. I was able to let go of some part-time jobs I had been holding onto and I had more time for serving with a local anti-trafficking organization and writing—two things I was incredibly passionate about and felt called to by God.

Imagine my surprise when, just one year later, God asked me to lay the Isaac of my raise, as well as my comfortable, secure lifestyle, on the altar. Allow me to explain. Fourteen years prior, I had felt God call me to work, not simply serve, for an anti-trafficking organization. At the time He spoke that into my spirit, I had no idea what that would look like or when it would happen. But I was confident that when it was time, He would make it clear to me so I wouldn’t miss it. That time came earlier this year when the anti-trafficking organization I was serving for free, offered me a position on staff. It was one of those moments in your spiritual walk where everything feels in sync and aligned. It was a time when I knew that I was in step with God in that moment and I believed in what He has spoken. There was no hesitation in my obedient answer of “yes” to His call.

However, as the details of what this would look like unfolded, I realized I was stepping right into the middle of my specific prayers! Allow me to explain that too. While I had been working full-time for an organization for more than eight years, with full benefits and retirement package, this new venture would only be offering me 16 hours a week, with no benefits nor retirement. Not only would I be earning less than half of what I needed for my monthly expenses, now I would have to figure out health benefits and retirement as well.

As my mind began to process the basic mathematics of this scenario, God immediately spoke to my spirit and reminded me of Matthew 6:33, which is one of my life verses. He reminded me that seeking Him should be at the top of my priority list—all day, every day, for the rest of my life. He encouraged me that I am to seek Him, not His plan, not His will, because He leads through relationship. And as I develop my relationship with Him, my faith will grow, He will reveal His perfect plan and will, and I will realize that He is the God of provision for the vision He lays out. Our God cannot lie, and when He promises to give all the “less important things” to us “abundantly” then we should believe Him.

God was not simply calling me out of my comfort zone, He was asking me to test the authenticity of my faith and of this prayer I had prayed for years, by boldly stepping into this space where I would need to be completely dependent upon Him. And as I did, that I wouldn’t make my priority finding additional work to provide for my needs, but would keep seeking Him at the top of my “To Do” list. God promises that when I look for Him wholeheartedly, I will find Him, and He will take care of all those less important things!

Let’s Pray: 

Gracious Lord, You really don't ask for much from us and your Word is clear on the actions that will grow our faith and draw us closer to You. When the demands of life and allures of the world vie for my time and attention, remind me that seeking You first is the catalyst for true fulfillment and carries with it the promise that You will take care of all the other things I might need. Help me place You in Your rightful place on the throne of my heart and as Lord of my life, delighting in You and seeking You, knowing that when I do, I will not only find you but You will give me the desires of my heart. I claim these promises in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Memory

God Has Not Forgotten You
A devotional by Cyndi Staudt

“He never forgets to show us his love and faithfulness.”

—Psalm 98:3a (TPT)

As we proceed through life we remember all kinds of things – birthdays, experiences, to lock the car doors, etc. But if we are being honest, we also forget many things – important dates, pots cooking on a stove, even children in the car. According to KidsAndCars.org, a national nonprofit focused on keeping children safe in and around vehicles, each year about 38 children die from being left unattended in a hot car. That's about one child every nine days.

All in all, more than 900 children have lost their lives this way since 1990. It’s scary to think about, but in the article I read they say it, “often happens when people are doing something outside their normal routine” and that “it could happen to anyone” as “forgetting a child is not a negligence problem but a memory problem”. Yikes!

In light of just this one statistic, isn’t it mind-blowing that the God of the universe is a God who not only remembers us but remembers every single detail of our lives? He even remembers the number of hairs on our head! I lose so many hairs every day, how can He possibly keep up?

The fact is, God would never forget us—no matter how many children He has or how much He has going on in the world. Even though sometimes it may seem like He has forgotten about us or He has abandoned us, He never has and He never will. This is a truth we can stand on! God shows us over and over in His Word (The Holy Bible) how He constantly remembers His people because of His great love for them.

A prime example of God’s great love for humankind is found in the Bible book of Genesis when God’s people had been enslaved in Egypt for hundreds of years. They were abused and beaten, forced into hard labor and they even had their baby boys taken and killed. Do you think at any time during those 400+ years the Israelites thought God had forgotten about them? I know I would have. But God’s Word tells us differently. Exodus 2:24-25 (NLT) tells us, “God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.”

Now I’m sure the Israelites thought “it was time to act” after the first month. Certainly after the first year. Or 100th year. I’m sure they felt they had been long forgotten by their God. But in these verses we are told that not only did God remember them, He heard their groans and remembered His promise made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. God came to their rescue.

Friends, there are so many stories in the Bible about how God remembered His people when they probably felt forgotten. Like Rachel, who was childless for so long until Genesis 30:22 (NLT) tells us, “God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children.” We know God doesn’t change. We know that even though we are fickle and forget, our God never does.

I don’t know what circumstance you are facing today that may have you feeling like God has forgotten you, but I can assure you He hasn’t. Let these stories of God’s faithfulness fuel your faith by reminding you how God remembered His people long ago. He will remember you too. Take some time every so often to have a little Messiah “memorial day” when you take time to remember how God has remembered you in the past and remains faithful to you today.

Let’s Pray: Holy God, thank you for being a God whose memory never fails! Help me to see that even during the times when I can’t see You, feel You or hear You, you have not abandoned me and have never forgotten me. Reveal to me encouragement in Your Word, seeing how You remain faithful to Your people even when we are not faithful to You. You remember us, rescue us and restore us because of Your great love for us and You always will. Thank You, Lord! We are forever grateful. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: The Creator of the Universe (God) loves you!

For The Love of Mankind
A devotional by Julia Wilson

“They nailed his hands and feet to the cross.”

— Mark 15:24 (TPT)

It may seem strange to focus on Jesus Christ being crucified when we have just celebrated Jesus coming as a baby at Christmas. Christmas and Easter are forever united. We celebrate Christ’s coming at Christmas and we mourn His passing on Good Friday before celebrating the risen Jesus on Easter Sunday.

I want to focus on Jesus the man, the man who loved the whole world so much that He died for us all. (John 3:16) He died for me. My name was on His lips as He hung on that cross. He died for you. Your name was on His lips as He hung on that cross. Don’t you just find that mind-blowing? Two thousand years ago, way before we were born, Jesus died for every sin you and I will ever commit. Wow. That is love in action!

“For when the time was right, the Anointed One came and died to demonstrate His love for sinners who were entirely helpless, weak and powerless to save themselves” (Romans 5:6 TPT). Christ’s love for us is huge! I love the words from Sheila Walsh’s worship song, “Here is Love Vast As the Ocean.” No one will ever love us as much as Jesus loves us. I have an overwhelming love for my children but His love for me is far greater.

A few years ago my husband and I visited Coughton Court in Worcestershire. There is a family church on the grounds and we went in. I am not normally one for statues but there is a statue of Jesus holding out His nail-pierced hands and it had a profound effect on me. I took several photos but even so the image of His hands in tattooed in my mind. I cannot begin to imagine how much those poor hands must have hurt (and his feet too).

I have always noticed hands, they are fascinating. As I stood looking at the statue of Jesus I thought of Mary, His mother. As a baby Jesus had tiny perfect hands. Mary watched those hands grow into a man. And then she had to see those beautiful hands pierced with nails. As a mother, I just feel for her pain. Can you imagine the hurt as a soldier mutilates your son’s body?

When I looked at Christ’s nail-pierced hands, something just pierced my heart to the core. I felt desperately sad. I realized just some of the pain that Jesus endured for me. He died a sinless man for the sins of all mankind. His love for me and for you is vast, far greater than we will ever comprehend.

As you consider and sing songs about Jesus the baby during this Christmas season, please do not forget Jesus the man who died for me, for you and for all mankind.

May I lead you in a prayer?

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for coming in the form of a tiny baby who would grow into a man who would sacrifice Your life to save my soul. Your love for us all is so vast! We all owe a debt we cannot repay. I love You Lord. In Your Holy Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

My name is Julia Wilson but I also go by Christian Bookaholic.

I live with my husband and five cats in a small town in Worcestershire on the banks of the River Severn (England). We have four grown up children and three granddaughters.

I have always loved reading and have always been surrounded by books. I used to work as a teaching assistant for special needs in the local high school. Ill health forced me to stop working in December 2015. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (known as M.E.) and fibromyalgia. I now have plenty of time to read and review books!

Our eldest son set up my Christian Bookaholic blog. I review every book I read. I read over 300 books a year. I read Christian and mass market. I prefer stories set from 1850 onwards. My favorite type of books to read is stories set in WWI and WWII, and Russia under Czar Nicholas II.

I am a historian, having a Combined Humanities degree where I majored in History and minored in English. I also love swimming. I only learned how to swim in 2017 and go swimming four mornings a week for 90 minutes before breakfast, it keeps my joints going.

I am also a crazy cat lady. I absolutely love my cats. I have grown up with cats and cannot imagine life without them. My dream is to own an old fashioned seal point Siamese … but not while we have our young rescue cat as she hates other cats!

I love God and love going to a large lively church called Lifecentral. I cannot imagine life without God. He gives a peace even when life does not. He guides my life. He is my Rock.

Devotionals for the Heart: Jesus Christ is waiting for you to invite Him in

Waiting Here for You
A devotional by Julia Wilson

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you. And you will eat with me.” –Revelation 3:20 (ERV)

Waiting. We are all waiting for something. In these uncertain days of COVID-19 and lockdowns, we have all been waiting for the opening of shops, restaurants, pubs, gyms and swimming pools. We are also waiting for that precious day when we will be able to hug our loved ones. In Britain, we are used to waiting patiently in queues.

When a person becomes a new Christian, we often hear people say, “All my life I was waiting for something and now I know I was waiting for God.”

Have you ever realized that God is waiting for you? God is a gentleman. He will not force His way into your life. God stands patiently, knocking on the door of your heart. Will you answer His call today?

I love the famous painting by Holman Hunt that illustrates Revelation 3:20. He depicts Jesus Christ standing outside the door of your heart, holding a lamp. He has knocked but cannot go through the door because there is no handle on His side where He stands outside of the door. You must open the door from the inside and invite Him into your life.

Wow! What are we waiting for? Why are we keeping Jesus waiting? If we knew that the Queen of England was coming to our house for tea, we would be constantly at the window looking for her and as soon as she knocked, we would open the door.

Jesus has issued us an invite… He wants to come for tea. Will you open the door and let Him in?

We see another instance of Jesus waiting in Luke 15:11-32 in the story of the prodigal son. In this story, the father waits for his son to return home. And when he finally does, this is what happens: “So the young son set off for home. From a long distance away, his father saw him coming, dressed as a beggar, and great compassion swelled up in his heart for his son who was returning home. So the father raced out to meet him. He swept him up in his arms, hugged him dearly, and kissed him over and over with tender love” (Luke 15:20 TPT).

What we need to know here, is in biblical times, it would have been shocking to see a father figure pick up his robes, run towards his son and hug him. Fathers were more dignified than that but the father does not care what others think, he is focused on his son returning home.

This is a picture of God waiting for us. He is constantly looking out for us to come home to Him. Imagine the scene … we were lost, wandering in the wilderness of life, when suddenly we see the Father running towards us and enveloping us in His love. We have come home. We are loved.

Do you know the Father (God)? Would you like to know the Father? He is knocking on the door of your heart. But the question is, “Will you let Him in?”

If you want to open the door to Jesus for the first time, or maybe you are returning to Him, please may I lead you in a prayer?

Let’s Pray: Dear Father God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for knocking on the door of my heart. I want to open the door to you today. Come into my life and lead me always in your love. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

My name is Julia Wilson but I also go by Christian Bookaholic.

I live with my husband and five cats in a small town in Worcestershire on the banks of the River Severn (England). We have four grown up children and three granddaughters.

I have always loved reading and have always been surrounded by books. I used to work as a teaching assistant for special needs in the local high school. Ill health forced me to stop working in December 2015. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (known as M.E.) and fibromyalgia. I now have plenty of time to read and review books!

Our eldest son set up my Christian Bookaholic blog. I review every book I read. I read over 300 books a year. I read Christian and mass market. I prefer stories set from 1850 onwards. My favourite type of books to read is stories set in WWI and WWII, and Russia under Czar Nicholas II.

I am a historian, having a Combined Humanities degree where I majored in History and minored in English. I also love swimming. I only learned how to swim in 2017 and go swimming four mornings a week for 90 minutes before breakfast, it keeps my joints going.

I am also a crazy cat lady. I absolutely love my cats. I have grown up with cats and cannot imagine life without them. My dream is to own an old fashioned seal point Siamese … but not while we have our young rescue cat as she hates other cats!

I love God and love going to a large lively church called Lifecentral. I cannot imagine life without God. He gives a peace even when life does not. He guides my life. He is my Rock.

Devotionals for the Heart: The Light

Hold On To The Light
A devotional by Julia Wilson

“The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out.” 

–John 1:5 (MSG)

There are times in life when everything seems dark and uncertain. As we live through this pandemic called COVID-19, life has seemed like that at times. Everything we thought we knew, everything we used to do has gone. We have been in lockdown for months and now we are beginning to emerge into a strange new world.

In these uncertain times, there is one sure thing … God. God has not changed. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the Life-Light and He shines as brightly now as always. We do not need to fear because God is with us today and He sees our tomorrow. He is the Light of the world (John 8:12 NIV).

Have you ever noticed how when you are trying to sleep in a dark room, that just a small ray of light can illuminate and seems to light up your room? Jesus Christ is like that … when we cannot see our way through dark times we need just to look to Him and He will give us just enough light to see the next step. We do not need to see the whole way ahead, just the next place to plant our feet. Jesus asks us to trust Him to guide us through life with all its highs and lows.

I love looking at different Bible translations of the same passage. This is how the Passion Translation says John 1:5, “And this Living Expression is the Light that bursts through gloom – the Light that darkness could not diminish!” Wow! I just love the thought of light bursting through the gloom. Imagine the sun’s rays bursting through the clouds. Jesus is like that when He bursts into our life, He illuminates us and asks us to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV).

When Jesus is living in us, we are called to be bearers of His light. We are to show Jesus to a hurting world by all that we say and do. The Passion Translation tells us “So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so… they will give their praise to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 TPT).

St. Francis of Assisi said, “preach the Gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.” Our life is meant to point others to Jesus Christ. Our world can be very dark at times and people need hope. The good news is that we do have hope! Above all, hope has a name … that name is Jesus.

Light will always overcome darkness. Jesus is our Life-Light. We need Him in our life every single day, every step of the way. He is my hope and He can be your hope too! If you have never said yes to Jesus, I would like to give you an opportunity today and have this Life-Light in your life. May I lead you in a prayer?

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I choose to turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

My name is Julia Wilson but I also go by Christian Bookaholic.

I live with my husband and five cats in a small town in Worcestershire on the banks of the River Severn (England). We have four grown up children and three granddaughters.

I have always loved reading and have always been surrounded by books. I used to work as a teaching assistant for special needs in the local high school. Ill health forced me to stop working in December 2015. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (known as M.E.) and fibromyalgia. I now have plenty of time to read and review books!

Our eldest son set up my Christian Bookaholic blog. I review every book I read. I read over 300 books a year. I read Christian and mass market. I prefer stories set from 1850 onwards. My favourite type of books to read is stories set in WWI and WWII, and Russia under Czar Nicholas II.

I am a historian, having a Combined Humanities degree where I majored in History and minored in English. I also love swimming. I only learned how to swim in 2017 and go swimming four mornings a week for 90 minutes before breakfast, it keeps my joints going.

I am also a crazy cat lady. I absolutely love my cats. I have grown up with cats and cannot imagine life without them. My dream is to own an old fashioned seal point Siamese … but not while we have our young rescue cat as she hates other cats!

I love God and love going to a large lively church called Lifecentral. I cannot imagine life without God. He gives a peace even when life does not. He guides my life. He is my Rock.

Devotionals for the Heart: Jesus Christ can calm any storm in your life

When Jesus Is In Your Boat
A devotional by Julia Wilson

“They all got into a boat and began to cross over to the other side of the lake. And Jesus, exhausted, fell asleep” –Matthew 8:23 (TPT)

Since transport in Biblical times was on foot or by boat, I imagine the disciples because they were fishermen, were used to being in a boat. They would also have been used to being in rough seas. So I can only wonder what was different about this storm described in Matthew 8:24 as “a violent storm.”

There are times in life when we drift along being perfectly content. We are used to little blips and then it is calm again. But now COVID-19 has hit the whole world. It is a situation none of us have experienced before and it is frightening. Like the disciples we feel blown off course. Daily lives have changed. We cannot see our friends and family as we are in lockdown. Symptoms range from none to death. It is a scary time, but when Jesus is in your boat, you do not need to fear. In Matthew 8:26, Jesus said, “Why are you gripped with fear? Where is your faith?”

Nothing surprises Jesus. Nothing scares Him and that is why He sleeps as the storm rages. COVID-19 does not scare Jesus, and if we know Jesus, it should not scare us. Yes, we must obey the government’s rules to “Stay home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.” But we who believe in God and know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, have unwavering hope. We know that when fear comes knocking, we can run to Jesus because by faith, we know that He will calm us, just as He calmed the storm.

There is an old saying, “Do not tell God how big your fear is. Tell your fear how big God is.” When we have wobbles, and we all do, we must “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV). When we look to Jesus, He will calm the storm inside us, whether it is COVID-19 or anything else. We need to activate our faith muscle.

When Jesus is in your boat, you can rest assured He will never leave you (Deuteronomy 31:6). Whatever you face in life, Jesus will be with you.

What happens when a storm hits and Jesus is not in your boat? Cry out to Him and He will be with you. He never ever left you but sometimes in life, our fear blinds us to His presence. We fail to see, hear or feel Jesus but that does not mean He has left us, it merely means we took our focus off Him.

When I was little, the biggest, boldest, bravest person in my life was my Dad (I realize this may not be the case for everyone). My Dad protected me because he loved me. When I was afraid I could run to him. When I was hurting I could run to him. When I wanted to feel loved I could run to him. My Dad was always in my boat.

Jesus asks us to see Him in the same way. He wants to be in our boat of life. He wants to help us to feel safe, to heal us when we hurt and He wants to love us. 

Jesus is asking you today: Will you let me into your boat? Will you put your faith in Me so I can be with you through all the storms of life? Will you let Me love you?

COVID-19 is unknown and feels very scary. Jesus can help us overcome our fears when we rest in Him. In these uncertain times, why not put your faith in Jesus. If you don’t know Him, then you can, today, right where you are, just reach out to Him.

Let Jesus be in your boat today and let Him calm any storms that rage inside you.

If you have never said yes to Jesus, may I lead you in a prayer today?

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and I invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Saviour. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

My name is Julia Wilson but I also go by Christian Bookaholic.

I live with my husband and five cats in a small town in Worcestershire on the banks of the River Severn (England). We have four grown up children and three granddaughters.

I have always loved reading and have always been surrounded by books. I used to work as a teaching assistant for special needs in the local high school. Ill health forced me to stop working in December 2015. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (known as M.E.) and fibromyalgia. I now have plenty of time to read and review books!

Our eldest son set up my Christian Bookaholic blog. I review every book I read. I read over 300 books a year. I read Christian and mass market. I prefer stories set from 1850 onwards. My favourite type of books to read is stories set in WWI and WWII, and Russia under Czar Nicholas II.

I am a historian, having a Combined Humanities degree where I majored in History and minored in English. I also love swimming. I only learned how to swim in 2017 and go swimming four mornings a week for 90 minutes before breakfast, it keeps my joints going.

I am also a crazy cat lady. I absolutely love my cats. I have grown up with cats and cannot imagine life without them. My dream is to own an old fashioned seal point Siamese … but not while we have our young rescue cat as she hates other cats!

I love God and love going to a large lively church called Lifecentral. I cannot imagine life without God. He gives a peace even when life does not. He guides my life. He is my Rock.