Devotionals for the Heart: God can turn your brokenness into beauty

A Good Work
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

It’s hard to be confident in our comparison-heavy society.

Mustering up courage is a monumental feat. Standing your ground in knowing that God is true, faithful and for us, can be a challenge. We can succumb to the challenge more than we realize.

Not that we intentionally succumb, but we allow ourselves to entertain subtle lies from the enemy that erode our confidence in God.

How can we overcome? For starters, we can note the promises of God as we find them in Scripture and record them in an accessible place to go to when the doubts or lies creep in. We need to immerse ourselves in the Truth.

Once we have this going, we can begin to see what God is capable of and is already doing in our lives for His glory. One of those things is working good in us. He is doing a good work in us. He is molding us and making us into the image of His Son. He is sloughing off the rough edges and causing us to shine more brilliant with His light.

He is allowing us to be a broken vessel so more light will shine through to reach more people, the people who need to hear how God is working through each of us. Our story may not be for everyone, but that is God’s decision. We need to be a willing vessel to let Him work in us.

I will admit being a broken vessel is painful. I’ve been in suffering for more than three years and it does not get easier with each passing day. It gets harder. New realities set in, old habits die hard and expectations either go unmet or unnoticed.

But God allows brokenness in us to shine His light brighter. It is when we are weak, He is strong in us. When we admit our weakness and boast about our weaknesses as the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, we boast so the power of Jesus Christ may rest upon us. We admit our brokenness to a lost and hurting world so God can use our vulnerability to minister to others.

Aren’t you more attracted to the one who is vulnerable, weak and honest? Doesn’t the mere message of humility shine forth from one who recognizes God’s work and knows this work is good?

God’s work is good. It may be hard. Even excruciating, but it is good. Our loving Father calls it good. If we look closely at Philippians 1:6, we see that He is working in us. Circumstances can be quite difficult around us, but God will use them to do the good work in our hearts, minds, souls and strength. He is causing all things to work together for our good through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:28).

He is good and does good things for our good (Psalm 119:68). And He is working good in our hearts. That’s a lot of good. I happen to circle the word good every time I see it in my Bible because I want to see it and remember and be comforted in knowing His goodness is here for me.

With God working good in us, one fruit displayed by the Spirit is goodness (Galatians 5:22) pouring out for all to see. By walking in the Spirit and allowing God to have access to our hearts, we in turn can be used as a light with fruit demonstrating to others the good work He is doing in our lives. God is continuing this work and will not be done until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6).

What God has set out to do He will complete, and He will do this in His goodness.

Let’s Pray: Father God, thank You for being good. This is so reassuring in this topsy-turvy world because I can trust in Your faithfulness to be the same, always. May I allow You to carry on the good work in my life and may I truly boast of my weaknesses and my brokenness so Your light will shine brighter to those around. May my thoughts center on You and Your goodness and not on my brokenness because I truly want all the glory to be Yours. In the Name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

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Song of Reflection: “All Things Are Working” by Fred Hammond. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children and one brand new daughter-in-love, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served in the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the United States of America to raise their family.

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 23 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s.

Whether it’s singing in our church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than eight years, a Bible study writer for two years, and a devotional writer for about one year.

Kerry Sue writes about finding God’s Sovereignty in our pain and suffering.

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Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/

Devotionals for the Heart: Confidence

Confidence in the God Who Sees
A devotional by Tema Banner

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” – Genesis 16:13 (NIV)

Let’s talk about the Bible story of Hagar who was an Egyptian slave to Sarai and Abram.

Frustrated that she could not have children of her own with her husband (Abram) and not willing to wait any longer on God to fulfill His promise of blessing Abram with a child naturally through Sarai’s womb and make him the “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:1-8), Sarai gave Hagar to Abram in hopes of producing her longed-for son.

In our time that seems anything but honorable, but it was a common practice in Biblical times. But when Hagar becomes pregnant by Abram, Sarai quickly changes her mind when she feels her position is weakened. She mercilessly mistreats Hagar to the point that Hagar flees. She finds herself in a desolate place, alone and with child.

Imagine the distress and treatment that would cause her to flee to a barren, desolate land. How many times have we found ourselves in such a place?

It may have been our own choices and actions that place us there—I know this is true for me. But for others, it is treatment forced on them. My journey to the barren land has always been driven by my own desires instead of being obedient to God. However, had I not known it before, the last few weeks have shown that many in the country in which I live (United States of America) have been marginalized, mistreated, silenced, and ignored all because their skin is a different color.

But there is hope because Elohim Roi (The God who sees) is our God. He is just and has told us to “act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly” with Him (Micah 6:8).

Despite my unfaithfulness and foolish choices, God saw me in my isolation, and He did not leave me alone. He is ever faithful. How much more will He see those who are mistreated and alone all for the way He created them? He will surely rescue them and deliver them from oppression. He is the God who sees. If you follow Him, you will be part of that rescue by His Holy Spirit working in you and through you.

God told Hagar to return to Sarai, but He also told her that she would give birth to a son. Hagar would find herself back in the desert when Abram, at Sarai’s insistence and God’s agreement, sends her and her son, Ishmael, away. Again, God sees her, alone, afraid, expecting to die for lack of water. He provides for her needs and promises that her son will live and become a great nation.

God always sees us, though sometimes we struggle to feel His presence. It is most often in our times of greatest distress, when situations are beyond our control, when we are at our weakest, that He reminds us that at such times His strength is there to lift us up.

When the world seems the most out of control, have confidence that God is not surprised by any of it and He sees you.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank you that You see me, that You love us so much that You sent Jesus, your son, our Savior to rescue us. May your peace and love fill our hearts to overflowing, spilling onto all those who come near. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

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Author Bio:

Writing stories that take the reader on a journey to parts unknown has been a lifelong love for Tema. She enjoys all history and continues daily to hone both her knowledge of history and her writing skills.

God is her guiding light and the reason for every endeavor in her life. She is a member of the South Carolina ACFW chapter as well as an active member of her local RWA chapter, Carolina Romance Writers.

Tema has served as past President and Secretary as well as holding various chair positions. She is the honored recipient of the Harold Lowery Service Award, presented by the Carolina Romance Writers.

God has gifted her with a loving husband, two children and three grandchildren who are the delight of her life. In her spare time, she gardens and digs into genealogy for nuggets to use in her stories.

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Connect with Tema:
Website: https://temabannerauthor.com
Blog: www.temabannerauthor.com/blog
Instagram: Instagram.com/temabanner

Devotionals for the Heart: Confidence

What is Your Confidence Level in God?
A devotional by Temeka Borden

“Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.” 
– Jeremiah 32:17 (KJV)

What is your confidence level in God?

Specifically, how confident are you in His abilities and capabilities. How confident are you in His wisdom? As Christians, we should be 100% confident in the Lord, correct?

Well, I always state that if you are human, you will have moments of fear and worry. However, the Holy Spirit who abides within you has a way of comforting you and reminding you how powerful our Lord is.

Life is full of challenges and can have its scary moments. You will be placed in many uncomfortable situations. You will encounter people who are not the kindest, and you will be faced with many big decisions. Thankfully, we don’t have to face life alone, and as with David, we do not have to fight our battles by ourselves.

When I think of confidence—Godly confidence, I think of David. Most of us are familiar with the story of David and Goliath and how the Lord used David to slay that “giant.” David was confident in the Lord, and He spoke to Goliath without hesitation regarding what the Lord was going to do.

David’s confidence is an excellent example of how we should see and speak to our trials.

Keep in mind that Satan will do anything he can to get you off track and take your focus off of God. One way he does this is to present the problem you are facing as greater than it is and essentially unsolvable.

However, remember that no problem, regardless of how large it is, is greater than the Lord!

Don’t forget whom you serve. Don’t forget that God is all-powerful! Don’t forget that nothing is impossible with Him.

Don’t lose your Godly confidence. Be 100% confident in the Lord.

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Author Bio:

Temeka Borden, better known by her pen name, Positivity Inspires, is an author, speaker, minister, and servant of the Lord. She was introduced to Christ at a very early age and was raised in the church. Her ministry focuses on encouraging Christians to love God first, to love all people, to continually strengthen their bond with Christ, and to study His Word, and live His Word daily. 

After recently experiencing what she describes as the "lowest point in her life," Positivity Inspires wrote the following about herself to serve as an encouragement and reminder of who she is in Christ:

"I am a child of God. He loves me unconditionally. Although I have my shortcomings, He has blessed me with a desire to do what is right. I have been blessed with many natural and spiritual gifts. I am an author. I am a speaker. I am a teacher. I am a runner. I am a drummer. I am a singer (when I’m in the mood), and I have a strong 'fashion sense.' I am loved. My family and friends are my heart, and I know they will support me no matter what. I am educated. I currently have two degrees (one of them a doctorate), and with God’s help, I will complete a third degree soon. I am a multi-state licensed medical professional who completed a specialty residency, which prepared me for the workforce (and made me a FORCE to be reckoned with). I am a leader. I have served in administrative roles and was successful in those positions because I made a difference (with God’s help). I am ambitious, and I know that with God, all things are possible. I know He is going to do great things through me."

Positivity Inspires loves God and she loves people. She strongly encourages others to show kindness, respect, and love to everyone. Positivity Inspires loves and welcomes diversity and flourishes in culturally diverse environments. She also is passionate about giving back to the community, and her favorite mantras are: "Speak Up!" and "Watch God Work!"

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Connect with Temeka:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/positivity_inspires/
Facebook - www.Facebook.com/positivityinspirespage
Twitter - https://twitter.com/PInspires/