Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should seek God's Kingdom first

Seek First: What Has to Move Before Everything Else Falls into Place
A devotional by Heidi Lewis-Ivey

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”—Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

There’s a word most of us skip right past in our anchor text above: first.

We read it in Matthew 6:33 the way we read a stop sign we've driven past a thousand times—technically registering it, not actually stopping. Seek first the kingdom of God? “Sure. Of course,” we may think. Then we go right on seeking whatever we were already seeking, with God added somewhere near the top of the list instead of in first place at the very top.

I've read this verse more times than I can count. But sitting with it again recently, I got stuck on that one word in a way I hadn’t before. Not “seek God” in general. The word first, which means everything else in me has to be willing to move.

The verse was never really about what to add. It's about what needs to be reordered. When we read The Holy Bible, we see that Jesus Christ doesn't hand this verse about first seeking the kingdom of God to His disciples out of nowhere. Prior to the “seek ye first” sermon, Jesus spent several verses talking them down from anxiety. According to Matthew 6:31–32 (NKJV), Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

I want you to notice something here: Jesus doesn't treat worry and misplaced priority as two separate problems. He treats them like the same problem. The anxious questions “What will I eat?” or “What will I wear?” or “Will I be okay?” are really questions about what’s sitting on the throne of a person's heart. Worry is what happens when something other than God has been quietly put in charge of your security. His prescription isn't “worry less.” It's “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, NKJV). Not “Manage your anxiety better.” Reorder what you're seeking.

What Was Actually Sitting There

This is where it stopped being theoretical for me. I had to ask myself honestly: What have I been seeking first? Not what I’d say out loud in church. What my calendar says. What my mind drifts to the moment nothing else demands it. What I reach for when I'm anxious.

Jesus had already named the competition a few verses earlier, and I think it’s easy to read past this one too: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20–21, NKJV).

Treasure isn't only money. It's whatever I've quietly organized my life around protecting. And most of us have treasure we've never actually said out loud. Treasures like comfort, approval, control, the appearance of having it together. Seeking the kingdom first was never about adding God to a list that already has a king on it. It's about letting Him remove whoever's currently sitting there, even when what's sitting there feels harmless.

A King Who Actually Did This

While I sat with this passage about seeking God first, I kept coming back to the Bible stories about King Solomon. God gave him about as open an offer as a person can receive ask for anything. He could have asked for wealth, long life or the defeat of his enemies. Instead, King Solomon said, “Give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9, NKJV).

He sought something aligned with what God had actually called him to, not just what would make his own life easier. And Scripture tells us exactly what happened next: God gave him the wisdom he asked for and the wealth and honor he never asked for. Remember: King Solomon didn’t seek riches and hope wisdom would tag along. He sought rightly, and the rest was added.

What Actually Gets Reordered

Here’s what I needed to hear myself: Seeking the kingdom first was never about abandoning the rest of life. Jesus says those things are added, not stripped away. But they need to come second. Paul puts it in slightly different words when he says this in Colossians 3:2 (NKJV), “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

That’s not a call to disengage from work, family, or responsibility. It’s a call to hold all of it with an open hand instead of a closed fist to let God's kingdom be the thing everything else gets organized around, instead of squeezing Him into whatever space is left over after I’ve secured everything else first.

Where I Landed

I walked away from sitting with this passage less concerned with what I needed to add to my life, and much more aware of what needed to move. Seeking God's kingdom first was never about doing more for God. It’s about letting Him take the first place that something else—comfort, control, approval, even things that are good—has been quietly occupying. The Bible says in Psalm 37:4 (NKJV), “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

Reordering costs something in the moment. It always does. But it's the only way the rest of it ever actually falls into place. Think about what needs to be reordered in your life. Write it down. Don’t condemn yourself. Allow God’s Holy Spirit to show you what’s out of order. Ask Jesus, “Lord, what am I still holding on to that You are asking me to place on the altar?”

You don't have to have it all figured out before you come to Him. He’s not waiting for a perfect response, just an honest one. Whatever comes to mind as you sit with that question, don’t push it back down. Bring it right here, right now, and let this be the moment you lay it down. Let’s turn that honesty into prayer.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

I confess that I haven't always sought You first. I've let comfort, control, approval, and a dozen smaller things quietly take the place that belongs to You. Forgive me for the ways I've managed my own life instead of surrendering it for the times worry revealed exactly who, or what, I was really trusting.

I don’t want to just add You to what I’m already seeking. I want You to lead. Take the throne of my life back: my time, my decisions, my fears, the things I hold too tightly. Where I’ve built my own house while Yours sits unattended, forgive me, and give me the courage to trust You to reorder what I’ve let drift.

I trust that as I seek You first, You will take care of the rest, just as You’ve promised. Have Your way in me, Lord. Lead me, Lord, and I’ll follow.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “O Come to the Altar” by Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Withholding Nothing Medley” by William McDowell. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Just Want You” by Travis Greene. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Nobody But Jesus” by Kelly Price (feat. Vanessa Bell Armstrong). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “First” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “First Things First" by Consumed by Fire. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “Lead Me Lord” by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidi Lewis-Ivey is an affirmed prophet and an internationally acclaimed speaker. 

She impacts audiences with her authenticity and bold style of delivery. She has had the opportunity to minister in Trinidad, St. Thomas USVI, Manchester and Liverpool (England).

Heidi is an award-winning and bestselling author. She is the author of Can I Rest Awhile? and Black Girl Cry: What Black Women Need to Know to Amplify Their Voices. She is a co-author in Soulful Prayers (Volume 1 and Volume 2) and Soulful Affirmations. Heidi is the convener of the Encountering the Courts of God movement and the founder of Visions International, a training ground for five-fold ministry gifts.

She holds a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Boston University. Heidi is the CEO of Nael & Associates Inc and franchise owner of Patrice & Associates recruiting firm. She is a member of the Pentimenti Women Writers Group, a former mentor with Year Up, former board member for Friends of Young Achievers, and a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategist.

Heidi is the proud aunt/great aunt of 14 nieces and nephews and two bonus nieces. They are her joy. The older nephews have become her protectors.

Heidi is an NFL football fan. As a child, she taught herself the game. In 2017 she won her NFL.com fantasy football league. Heidi is an avid reader (Audible listener) of romance novels, a lover of purses and handbags, and a tea snob who believes bling is always appropriate.

She lives in Boston, MA.

~*~
Connect with Heidi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamheidi01
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/heidi-lewis-ivey

"Praying God's Blessings in Christ as We Suffer" (book) by Dr. Lauri Hogle

The Story Behind Dr. Lauri Hogle’s book, Praying God's Blessings in Christ as We Suffer: Scripture Prayers for the Hardest Days:

Several years ago, after a second brain surgery that brought only partial relief, I lay in bed wrestling with unrelenting chronic pain.

Kind friends, wanting the best for me, would say they were praying for God’s favor and blessing so that the suffering would finally stop. Their words were full of love, yet each time I heard them I felt an anguished cry rise within me: But I already have His favor and blessing!

In the quiet of my tears, God reached into my hurting heart. He flooded me with the rich truths of Scripture and the voices of faithful hymn writers who had walked through their own valleys. Songs like “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “Blessed Assurance” became lifelines. Ephesians 1:3 exploded into living reality: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” I began to see that the greatest blessings are not the absence of pain but the presence of Christ Himself—pardon, peace, adoption, eternal life, the indwelling Spirit, and a guaranteed future glory.

These truths did not remove my affliction, but they reframed it. They gave me language to pray when words failed and songs to sing when sorrow threatened to drown out hope. That experience birthed this book, Praying God's Blessings in Christ as We Suffer. I wrote it because I desperately needed these truths myself, and I know many others do too.

Too often, Christian teaching on suffering focuses primarily on asking God to take it away. While there is nothing wrong with crying out for relief, Scripture invites us into something deeper. Even in the darkest nights, we are called to remember what God has already given us in His Son (Jesus Christ). The Apostle Paul, writing from prison, could still praise God who “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing.” If that was true for Paul in chains, it is true for us in chronic illness, grief, disability, or any form of ongoing tribulation.

This book is not a theological treatise or a step-by-step guide to “victorious living.” It is a lament prayer book. Each chapter draws from God’s Word and pairs it with hymns and prayers that help us speak Biblical truth to our souls when pain, fear, or doubt scream the loudest. Each chapter is filled with the honest tension many of us feel—prayers for earthly comfort colliding with the deeper reality of spiritual riches we already possess.

I wrote this book for fellow sufferers who know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Whether your pain is physical like mine, emotional, relational, or the heavy burden of watching a loved one endure hardship, these pages are for you. I also wrote it for those nearing the end of earthly life who wonder if greater tribulation awaits.

My prayer is that this book will function as a healing balm and a gospel trumpet for weary souls. I hope readers will discover, as I did, the power of praying Scripture back to God—thanking Him for His past faithfulness, His present mercies, and His future promises. I want sufferers to be able to sing with fresh confidence: “Blessings all mine and ten thousand beside!”

I hope the book helps shift our gaze from what we lack to what we possess in Christ. When chronic pain flares, when grief feels crushing, when the future seems frightening, may these prayers and songs anchor us in the unshakeable reality of our union with Jesus.

One of the old hymns included in the book says it beautifully: “Ten thousand blessings it contains/Divinely rich and free/or helpless, wretched, ruined man/Though vile and base as we.”

That is the heart of the gospel. It is not a message for the strong or the comfortable only. It is especially sweet for the weak, the afflicted, and the needy. I pray this book helps readers feel welcomed at the throne of grace, not as those who must first “prove” their worthiness or “fix” their circumstances, but as those already purchased by the blood of the Lamb.

Writing this book has been an act of worship born out of my ongoing chronic pain. It has forced me to preach the gospel to my own soul day after day. Some mornings I can barely whisper the prayers; other days I sing them through tears. But every time I return to these truths, my heart finds rest. My hope is that your heart will too.

If you are suffering today, know that you are not alone. Bring your tears and fears to the Lord. Let His Word wash over you as you pray. May you leave these pages more deeply convinced that you are blessed in Christ—truly, eternally, and presently—whatever your circumstances may be. And may we together “bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

That is why I wrote Praying God's Blessings in Christ as We Suffer: Scripture Prayers for the Hardest Days. Not to offer false hope of earthly ease, but to point us to the living Hope who holds us fast. May He use these prayers to comfort, strengthen, and sustain you as you walk through the valley, until we see Him face to face.

In Christ’s love,

Lauri A. Hogle, PhD

~*~
Author Bio:

Lauri A. Hogle, PhD, music therapist, music educator, and church musician, heads Singing Christ's Hope, a nonprofit ministry found at singchristhope.org. 

Her words and musical offerings have touched lives across the globe. 

Lauri's Bible study prayer books, including "Praying God's Blessings in Christ as We Suffer," "Near to God," "Praying God's Promises Into Suffering," "Singing the Gospel to Job," and a children's book, "In the Valleys of God's Love," are complemented by weekly playlist gifts for suffering Christian women.

Her lifelong passion is to glorify God through music, teaching, research, and writing. By God's gracious blessing, in many years of serious illness, her great joy is as wife, mother, and Nana.

~*~
Back cover copy for Lauri’s book: 

Amid chronic suffering, tribulation, or our life's final days, where does a Christian find hope? This poignant and powerful book invites you to discover the unshakable blessings already yours in Christ, within your deepest suffering and pain.

Written during Lauri’s journey of severe, chronic physical affliction, this book weaves together short lament prayers, Biblically grounded hymns, and Scriptures about God’s unending favor toward His beloved in Christ. This 90-day devotional is a tender companion for anyone facing trials, offering a pathway to sing and pray of God’s past, present, and future blessings to those united with Jesus.

Whether you’re enduring chronic suffering, fearing future tribulation, or seeking peace in life’s final moments, Praying God's Blessings in Christ as We Suffer is a healing balm for your soul. Let it lead you to cry, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2 ESV), as you rest in our faithful Lord’s continual blessings in Christ.

~*~
Connect with Dr. Lauri:

Website: singchristhope.org

Substack: https://lauriahogle.substack.com

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@singingchristshope?si=cYHRjf5fA1Y9_gyE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SingChristHope

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauribellehogle

Devotionals for the Heart: Life lessons learned from the time our house stunk

Our Stinky House 
A devotional by Melissa Henderson

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

—Psalm 46:1 (NIV)

In May 2026, Alan and I began a journey of problems with our home.

We experienced two floods that were totally unrelated. One was from a new washing machine drainpipe that jumped out of the wall and filled the laundry room with water. A week later, on the opposite side of the house, a condensation line broke and dripped water into the walls and the floor of one of our bedrooms.

Throughout the months of heartache, we have found joy. Our once nice-smelling house has now become a stinky house. These things are major to us, but minor in comparison to what other people are experiencing in their lives. We lived with dehumidifiers and fans for 18 days. Workers replaced the flooring and now have to replace some of it again, due to the wrong sheen. Painters have worked repairing drywall and painting, while trying not to spill paint on new carpet.

As each day comes and goes, Alan and I worry, lament, and fuss over the mess we are trying to handle. Yet, with all those problems, along with my medical issues, we find joy. Recently, Rowan and Eden (our grandchildren) came to “help” move boxes and see the mess. Eden opened the back door, walked into the living room, and said, “Your house stinks.” We laughed because we knew she was correct. The cardboard boxes, new carpet, paint, and dust do have a certain stinky smell…especially to a young child.

We explained why it smells and that everything would be back to normal soon. The house will have new paint and carpet. Eden and Rowan walked into our bedroom and immediately noticed the softness of the carpet. They sat and rubbed their fingers across the new carpet. “Nice. This feels good. I could sleep here.” Their comments were reassuring.

Alan and I have been dealing with many odd and unusual experiences since June 2025. We realized that spiritual warfare is real. We’re holding on to God’s promises He will get us through these times. For every worrisome thing, there is something that makes us laugh and brings us joy.

As I write this devotional, we’re waiting for the painters to arrive. The local news reports that traffic is backed up on the highway that the painters take to get here. More delays. Yet, God knows what is happening. God knows His plan. We can rest and find comfort knowing His peace covers us in every moment.

For now, the house is not stinky. When the repairs are complete, there will be a new floor, fresh carpet, and beautifully painted walls. The home will be new. Yet I pause to remember that our beautiful home on Earth is temporary. Our eternal home is with God in Heaven. Oh, what a joy it will be!

We thank God for grandkids who make us laugh and help us remember what is important. The stinky house now smells good.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank You for guiding us through each moment. Thank You for loving us. Prepare us for Heaven, Lord. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “How Good God Is” by Brandon Lake. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Trust in God” (feat. Chris Brown & Isaiah Templeton) by Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Somebody Prayed” by Crowder. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Award-winning author Melissa Henderson writes inspirational messages sometimes humming with humor. 

With articles, devotions, and stories in print publications and online, Melissa shares her love for God and life. Some of the inspirations for her writing come from family life.

Melissa and her husband Alan have been married for over 46 years. Their son Mike, and daughter-in-love Christine have blessed the family with two precious children: Rowan and Eden. These precious souls bring laughter, love, and many funny experiences, which can often be found in Melissa’s writing. The family motto is: It’s Always a Story with the Hendersons.

Melissa is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter, AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), CWFL (Christian Writers for Life), and many other organizations.

Melissa’s books for children include Licky the Lizard and Grumpy the Gator.

Melissa serves in Christian ministry as an Elder, Deacon, and Stephen Minister.

~*~
Connect with Melissa:
Website: https://melissaghenderson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaHendersonAuthor
Twitter: https://x.com/mimionlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissahendersonauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ahenderson312/

Devotionals for the Heart: God is our refuge when life wears us down

Finding Refuge When the Weight Is Too Much to Bear
A devotional by Erica Bryant

“Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.”—Psalm 61:1-3 (NKJV)

Life has a way of shifting on a dime.

One phone call, one doctor's report, one sudden change in circumstances, and the ground beneath us can feel unstable. Recently, I received bad news. It was a crushing weight that seemed only to grow heavier as it consumed my thoughts, leaving me completely overwhelmed in every sense of the word.

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, the word “overwhelm” means “to cover over completely” or “to overcome by superior force or numbers”, or “to overpower in thought or feeling.” This was my exact reality. I felt buried beneath the news, defeated before I even had a chance to process it. It was simply too much to carry, too much to bear. Yet, as we so often do, I tried to carry it anyway. Day after day, I dragged that heavy burden around, attempting to just keep “doing life” while carrying a load that was literally crushing me.

Then, I remembered to cry out to God.

Running to the Rock

In Psalm 61:1–3 (NKJV), King David wrote: “Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.” David knew troubled seasons well. While scripture doesn't detail the exact crisis behind this psalm, it reveals something far more important: In times of trouble, David knew where to run.

Notice how David opens this psalm: “Hear my cry...attend to my prayer.” He starts by asking God to hear and attend to his prayer. It wasn't that David doubted God’s willingness to listen. Rather, it was the raw cry of desperation; much like asking a loved one, “Do you hear me?” when the pain is so deep you just need to know you aren't alone. David knew God heard him, but he needed the grounding reassurance of God's presence in the midst of his trouble.

When life's circumstances push you to the edge and your heart feels submerged in waters that are too high, you don't need a quick fix; you need a higher foundation. You need to be led to the Rock that is higher than your circumstances. This is more than just a place where God lifts you above the immediate fray and surrounds you. That Rock is Jesus Christ, and that place is His presence.

Where Does Your Heart Lead You?

We all experience hard times, but the real question is: In those moments, where do you run?

When the weight becomes unbearable, it's easy to retreat into temporary numbing mechanisms:

• Escaping into alcohol, drugs, or food
• Retreating into oversleeping or endless doom scrolling
• Burying ourselves in busy work to avoid feeling the pain
• Acting like everything is okay while we're collapsing inside

None of these remedies can ease the load of an overwhelmed heart. They only delay the reality waiting for us when we wake up or put the phone down.

Instead of turning to things that temporarily dull the pain, we are invited to turn to the One who is a genuine shelter and fortress—a safe place for us, even while the storm continues to rage. You were never designed to carry life's heavy burdens in your own strength. When your heart feels overwhelmed, run to the Rock. Run to Jesus. He is strong enough to handle every problem. And He cares enough to carry you!

Running to the Rock

Running to the Rock means shifting your focus from your big problems to an even bigger God. When your emotions are spinning, running to Jesus is a step-by-step choice to trust Him.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, I advise you to take these three steps:

Step #1: Cry Out When You Are Overwhelmed

Psalm 61:1-2a (NKJV) says, “Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You.” David does not wait until he feels better to pray. He prays from his state of brokenness. Make prayer an immediate response, not a last resort.

Step #2: Ask God to Lift You Up

Psalm 61:2b (NKJV) says, “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” David recognized that the Rock is too high for him to climb on his own strength. He needs help to get there. Surrender control. Stop trying to climb out of your problems on your own. Ask the Holy Spirit to pull your mind and heart up to God's perspective.

Step #3: Remember the Goodness of God

Psalm 61:3 (NKJV) says, “For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.” David runs to God because he remembers God's perfect track record of protecting him. Practice holy remembrance. When a new storm hits, remember to intentionally look back over your life and list the times God has already protected, sheltered, and saved you.

The next time life threatens to overwhelm you, remember this Biblical truth: You don't have to carry the weight alone. There is a Rock higher than your circumstances, a shelter stronger than any storm, and a Savior (Jesus Christ) who invites you to come just as you are—broken, weary, and desperate. Run to Him. He is waiting.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

When the weight of life feels too heavy to bear, remind me that I was never meant to carry it alone. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I am. Help me run to Jesus, my shelter and strong tower. When I feel overwhelmed, help me to run to You first, not last. Lift my eyes above my circumstances to see Your goodness, Your faithfulness, and Your perfect love. In my weakness, be my strength. In my fear, be my peace. In my brokenness, be my healer. I surrender this pain to You, trusting that You care for me and that You can carry what I cannot.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Lead Me to the Rock” by Carly Fletcher. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “A Secret Place” by Karen Clark Sheard. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “One Thing I Know” by Selah. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Healer” by Kari Jobe. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “His Strength is Perfect” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Erica N. Bryant is a passionate Bible teacher, speaker, and author who desires to see believers live in the complete freedom and joy of the Holy Spirit. 

As the founder of Sparrow's Song Ministries, Erica invites a community of believers to get to know God by falling in love with His Word. Through Bible study resources, devotionals, teaching, and mentorship, Sparrow's Song encourages others to grow in intimacy with God and walk daily in the power of His Holy Spirit. She began The Word W.O.R.K.S. campaigns to help believers walk in Wholeness, Obedience, Righteousness, and Kingdom Success.

Erica is a writer with several published works including devotionals for adults and children, topical and textual Bible studies, and Scripture journals. In her debut book, Dwell: Living Life Fully Knowing that the Holy Spirit Lives in You, Erica draws from her own journey of healing from childhood trauma, rejection, and the struggles of fear and anxiety. With honesty and hope, she invites readers to embrace the life-giving truth that God's Spirit resides within them. Erica believes that when you know the Holy Spirit dwells in you, everything changes.

Erica is a passionate speaker who effectively communicates God’s Word with clarity and conviction. She speaks a relevant word to hearers and ministers to their hearts, inspires practical application, and empowers them to grow in faith and purpose.

Erica is a devoted wife and loving mother who actively serves in various roles at Strait Gate Deliverance Center.

Ultimately, she is just a girl in love with God and she is a soldier for Jesus Christ.

Devotionals for the Heart: What roadwork construction taught me about God's plan for our life

When We Are Under Construction
A devotional by Colleen C. Howard

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

—Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Lately, most places I go there’s construction.

Signs are screaming these words: Road Work Ahead.

Giant flashing arrows and orange cones litter the neighborhood. I find these setbacks annoying and inconvenient, especially during rush hour.

Since I can’t avoid it, there are only three options: Stay at home, rent a helicopter or follow the signs. The first option is not practical, and the second option is definitely not in my budget. By process of elimination, I have no other choice than to take the detours, plan for the extra time, pack my patience, and follow the signs.

In the current technological culture, I often wonder why the construction process moves at such a glacial pace. Like an enormous iceberg taking years to melt, I feel it’s been going on forever. So, I did what any reasonable person would do: I opened my laptop and clicked on Google, where all roads lead to a conglomeration of information.

This is where I found the step-by-step process for road renovation, which sounds a little like how God has been working in my life over the last few years.

Here is a concise overview of the process:

1. Pre-plan traffic patterns then create detours

2. Demolition of the road

3. Debris removal

4. Level the ground

5. Pour and smooth out the asphalt

6. Wait for it to dry

I believe these steps have a lot in common with how God renews and refreshes us as He renovates our lives to be more like Jesus Christ. If we were to use the roadwork construction process and apply it to our lives, here’s what it might look like:

#1: Plan. God has a master plan, and He’s in control of the traffic in our daily lives. He puts up the necessary road signs and lets us know when it’s time to take the detour. I’m convinced that His plan is better than mine.

#2: Demolition. Sometimes we have to tear things apart to build them back up. This can happen with a renovation project or even a relationship. We must confront the mess before we can ask God to show us how to straighten it out.

#3: Debris. Once demolition begins, there will be debris. But what do we do with the garbage, rubble, or trash we no longer need? Often, when we renovate, there are broken shelves, nails and dried paint. It makes sense to dispose of it. In the same way, we must reject and remove old hurts, bitter memories, and embrace redemption when we decide to forgive others or ask for their forgiveness.

#4: Level the ground. The ground serves as the foundation for the asphalt and if the ground isn’t level, the road won’t be either. If this step is skipped this could cause drivers to lose control of their vehicle. The same applies to our faith walk. We must look at everything through God’s eyes.

#5: Pour and smooth out. With Jesus Christ as the foundation of our faith, He pours into us, smooths out the bumps, equips us for the road ahead, and asks us to follow.

#6: Wait. Most of us dislike waiting. Imagine if vehicles were permitted to travel on a construction site that wasn’t ready, or if we ignored the detour signs. The same danger awaits when we wrestle with waiting, fighting to get past it when God wants to teach us something through the journey. God wastes nothing, and He uses the wait-time for our good and for His glory.

The purpose of the detour signs is to guide me to the safest path. God has been showing me the sweetness of slowing down in everyday life. Now, I take more time to notice my surroundings. I do this by speaking with the neighbors on my morning walks instead of rushing by and noticing the beauty of God’s world that surrounds me.

When I listen for God’s voice, He shows me parts of my life where I need to slow down so I can keep moving forward. God has a master plan, and He builds a firm foundation on which you can stand.

Acknowledge Him as the master planner of our lives. Accept His plan: Do the demo, clear out the debris, level the ground, and wait for Him to lead the way.

Let’s Pray:

Dear God,

How great it is to trust in Jesus Christ as the ultimate builder! He lays a foundation of faith in our hearts and draws us into a closer relationship with Him. When we acknowledge Him as the master planner of our lives, we will be able to live abundantly and rest in Him. We give gratitude to the King of Kings and stand on His firm foundation. Thank You, Lord!

In Jesus’ name, 

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Thank God I Do” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “The Church’s One Foundation” by Rouchelle Liedemann (soloist) and Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Wait on the Lord” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Just the Beginning” by Kurt Carr (feat. Vonnie Lopez). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “I Know the Plans (Audrey’s song)” by Damaris Carbaugh. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “Trust His Heart” by Babbie Mason. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Colleen C. Howard is a follower of Jesus Christ, educator and writer. She lives with her husband in the Arizona desert where the sunsets are spectacular, the summers are relentless and the winters are a little slice of Heaven. 

Colleen earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. This degree opened opportunities to write science curriculum, develop district programs, work with Arizona teachers, community leaders, and more. With NASA Grant funding, she was also able to work with teachers all over the country and expand their knowledge of teaching science as a collaborative effort.

Over the last few years God has 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 Him. Although some days bring trials and others bring joy, Colleen believes that if you fix your eyes on Jesus then you will see the heart of God.

Colleen’s writing has been published in the following online publications: Living By Design, Her View From Home, Inside Out Worldwide, Inkspirations, and in anthologies like From Ruins to Restoration, Mountains Moved: 45 Devotions of Bold Faith, and The Miracle of Prayer. She is a monthly blogger for Dressing in God’s Love.

~*~
Connect with Colleen:
Website: authorcolleenchoward.com

Devotionals for the Heart: What to do when you feel overwhelmed

Putting the Overwhelm on a Shelf
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”—Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

Have you ever been so stressed out, overwhelmed, and anxiety-filled that you thought you were going to go mad with the turmoil?

I’ve been there! A lot of us have. My daughter recently started attending college as a freshman. I can only imagine how these kids feel having to deal with living in dorms and having all this freedom and yet also having to keep up with classes and not become overwhelmed.

Then there are the people who have just lost a job or a spouse, or been hit with a horrible health diagnosis, while life piles up around them. I imagine people living in nations overrun by war, famine, religious persecution, or political hostility. People who must worry about how to provide for their families in the midst of this turmoil. And then there’s the overwhelm many of us deal with just in regular, everyday life—the constant pressure of work and bills and family and responsibility. Maybe you’ve become weary in hearing all that talk about work-life balance, the need to be purposeful while also just getting through it all. It becomes overpowering at times and can make you feel like you’re drowning in the ocean.

It’s time for us to put the overwhelm on a shelf and trust that God is going to see us through it. This is all easier said than done, of course. Still, the metaphor of turning all that stress mess into a tangible item and placing it on a shelf, is a powerful one for me. I first learned how to do this about a decade ago when my young daughter who is diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, was being helped by a wise counselor who said exactly that: Visualize putting it on a shelf. Take all the stuff swirling through your mind, all the fears, and imagine taking it in your hands, putting it in a box, and just sticking it on the shelf. “Tell yourself you can always come back to it later,” she counseled. “Later you can take it out and deal with it if you really want to, but right now the best thing you can do is just put it on the shelf.”

Her counselor’s wise advice resonated with me on the soul level because it’s exactly what Jesus Christ spoke about in The Holy Bible. He taught his followers in chapter six of the book of Matthew not to be anxious about our daily needs, for God will provide for us just as he does for the birds. There’s no point in worrying because it won’t add even an hour to our lives. Rather, we need to fix our eyes upon God’s Kingdom—that’s our real priority.

“Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble,” Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 (ESV). It’s a message repeated throughout Scripture: Do not fear. Trust the Lord.

Fear is not just concern for your mortality; it’s also that burning, soul-crushing worry about how we’re going to get through a situation, the sort of worry that consumes us, getting in the way of everything else. That sort of fear can be paralyzing. It becomes a wall between us and the Lord.

Maybe we think worry is harmless. Maybe we scoff, “How can I not worry?” But if we realize the wall it builds—the wall that stands between us and our Creator (God), how it interferes with joy and hope and God’s purpose for us—it might make it easier to stuff that fear in a box and put it on the shelf so we can focus on the truly important.

I’m not sure who needs to hear this today. Perhaps we all do. I know I certainly do. But I hope you’ll name the worry in your heart, visualize putting it in a box, and set it aside. When you strip it of its power over you, the Lord replaces that space with more than you can imagine.

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, some days it all seems like too much. My mind swirls with the press of it all. Help me surrender and lean on You, to have true faith that You are sovereign and will get me through anything in front of me right now. Help me to be still and know in the depths of my soul, in the entirety of my being, that You are everything, You have all the answers, and there is nothing on this earth that outweighs this. I love You, Lord. Help me, I pray. I give all of this to you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “No Fear” by Jon Reddick. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Everything” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. 

Her two Christian contemporary novels, The Memory Garden and Tangled Roots, are Amazon bestsellers and her third novel, Hidden Seeds, is out now and is a top release. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. 

She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism.

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to not neglect our physical body

Why God Wants Us to Take Good Care of Our Body
A devotional by Erica J. Hill

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”—1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NIV)

Honoring God is not just about praying and reading God’s Word (The Holy Bible)—it’s also about taking care of the physical body He gave us.

Too often, we prioritize convenience and comfort over care. We sit for hours binge-watching shows, scrolling through our phones, and ignoring the body's need for movement and strength. But if we truly believe that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, then caring for it is an act of worship. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NIV) tells us, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

When we neglect our physical bodies, we can sometimes find our energy and focus lacking as well. Not getting enough rest can make it harder to get up early and meet with God. Honoring our bodies doesn't have to begin with dramatic changes. Discipline may begin very simply: taking a walk, drinking more water, stretching, getting adequate rest, turning off the phone, preparing nourishing food, or consistently making time for movement. And when we add God into it, we are honoring our spirits as well. We can incorporate God into every walk, run, and workout—not only building our physical strength but our spiritual strength as well.

Ephesians 6:11 (NIV) tells us to “put on the full armor of God.” Let’s be real—armor is heavy. However, a soldier doesn’t show up to the battlefield unprepared. They go through rigorous training—what we call “bootcamp” today—to condition their bodies and minds for the weight they must carry. Training happens beforehand, repeatedly, until the body adapts. Similarly, we as believers carry burdens daily: the weight of our calling, the struggles of our families, and the challenges of standing for Jesus Christ in a broken world.

Like bootcamp, our faith walk with Jesus includes building physical strength through movement and discipline, spiritual endurance through prayer and Scripture, and combat readiness through spiritual warfare. We face trials. We lean on our community. We practice sacrifice. And through each of these experiences, God is developing our endurance. One workout cannot build strength, just as one morning of prayer cannot sustain an entire spiritual life.

Consistency doesn't mean we never miss a day or never struggle. It means we keep returning. It means choosing to spend time in God’s Word when we would rather scroll, praying when we don't feel particularly spiritual, and continuing spiritual habits even when immediate results aren't visible. We shouldn't wait until the crisis comes to develop discipline. We can pray consistently before the diagnosis, conflict, loss, temptation, or disappointment. We can study Scripture before we desperately need to remember what God said. We can strengthen our bodies before life requires stamina from us.

There will be mornings when we don't feel like exercising. There will be evenings when prayer feels difficult. There will be seasons when spiritual growth seems slow. Just as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV), “I discipline my body and keep it under control.” Discipline says, “My feelings don't get the final vote.” We aren't doing this just to win, but to give God the glory.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (NIV) reminds us (I am quoting part of these two verses, not all of it), “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” We may have difficult days, slow seasons, and moments when we need to begin again. But we can continue moving forward, trusting God to strengthen us along the way.

Following Jesus invites us into a life of growth and faithful obedience. Let’s honor God with our soul and our body. Move your feet in prayer. Stretch your faith and your limbs. Train for the fight. Not because we must prove ourselves, but because we want to steward well what God has entrusted to us.

And when we stumble, we don't have to stay there. His grace gives us the freedom to begin again. We don't have to get everything right. We can simply return to what matters, trusting God to meet us in the small, faithful choices we make each day.

The goal isn't perfection. It's faithful preparation. One prayer. One step. One healthy choice. One act of obedience at a time. And with God beside us, we can keep showing up.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for making my body a temple of Your Holy Spirit. Forgive me for the ways I’ve neglected this gift. Teach me to care for my body with the same intentionality I give to my spiritual life. Help me train like a soldier—strong in faith and firm in body—so I can carry the armor You’ve given me with grace and endurance.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “The Battle is The Lord’s” by Yolanda Adams. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “The Battle Belongs to God Praise Medley” by Nathaniel Bassey. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “I Will Follow Christ” by Clay Crosse, Bebe Winans & Bob Carlisle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Be the One” by Al Denson. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Erica J. Hill is a wife, mother, and proud grandmother living in Georgia. 

With a career spanning both elementary education and higher education, she has served as an elementary and middle grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher and now works as an administrative assistant in higher education. Currently pursuing her master’s degree in Instructional Technology and Media Center Specialist, Erica’s love for learning and teaching runs deep.

Raised in the Southern Baptist tradition, she has faithfully served as a Sunday School teacher and now as one of the youth directors at her church. A lifelong writer at heart, Erica once set her passion aside to pursue other career goals—but recently felt God’s undeniable tug to pick up her pen again, this time to write for His Kingdom.

She is currently working on her first book, Worthy. Whole. Woman. It is a devotional that she hopes will be an encouraging resource created to uplift and empower women—especially women of color—to walk confidently in their God-given identity.

Through her words, Erica blends faith in God, personal reflection, and practical wisdom to inspire women to heal, grow, and embrace the fullness of who God created them to be.

Originally from Atlanta, Erica now calls Macon County home, where she lives with her husband and children. In her free time, you’ll usually find Erica curled up with a good book, working on DIY projects, or planning her next travel adventure.

~*~
Connect with Erica:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leahsgrace2931/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahsgrace2931/

Devotionals for the Heart: When our garden needs to be pruned by God

Sometimes Our Spiritual Garden Needs a Little Pruning
A devotional by Alicia Searl

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”—John 15:5 (NIV)

When I was a young lady in college, I remember sitting in a small church, listening to the pastor explain this verse, and thinking to myself: Am I a true follower of Jesus Christ? 

At the time I didn’t think so. The loneliness I experienced in those years brought me to a place of longing to know who I was and who God really was.

Honestly, it’s a journey we must all face. However, if you have currently (or have ever) questioned your faith, it can be comforting to know that we have the Bible that gives us glimpses into the lives of Godly people that also encountered trials in their faith. Some doubted God, others denied Him, many drifted or went astray, and a few failed to see the purpose of this life. Thankfully, God’s Word (The Holy Bible) provides answers and delivers the hope we need to soothe our aching hearts and confused souls.

In John 15, Jesus Christ is teaching His beloved disciples one final invaluable lesson. As He dined with His friends for one last meal, He wanted to make sure they understood the importance of how much He loved them, but also how much they would need to rely on Him to mature in their faith.

Jesus, being the greatest storyteller, uses the illustration of a vine and branches to demonstrate the precious relationship with Him and their Heavenly Father (God). While He is addressing His disciples in this passage, it easily pertains to us as believers. Jesus refers to Himself as the vine, the sustainer of life. While referring to God as the gardener (John 15:1). Then Jesus implies that we are the branches, and God cuts off branches that do not produce fruit, while pruning others to produce more fruit.

As a girl who dabbles in gardening, I can tell you pruning is essential for growth and life. Some branches need to be completely cut off to help the plant survive, while others show signs of possible life and only need a good trim to help the plant thrive. God’s love for us is similar because He sees our potential as He shapes and molds us, pruning and cutting away things that don’t serve us, so that we can be more of a reflection of Christ.

If your faith is in question or you find yourself in a spiritual drought, go back to the basics and reclaim the truth out loud for your heart, mind, and soul to hear: God is our ultimate sustainer of this life and He exists in three persons: Father (Gardener), Son (Jesus Christ as the Vine), and Holy Spirit (our spiritual guide to tend to us as the garden). Allow God to do a great work in and through you to revive and awaken your faith!

The truth of the matter is that we cannot thrive and produce “good fruit” (Galatians 5:22-23) of the Holy Spirit without being “rooted” in Christ. Our personal connection to Jesus doesn’t allow us to just merely get by; it allows us to flourish and live this life abundantly. We are designed to connect intimately with Jesus. And through that connection we are reminded that we are chosen. We are loved. We are a friend of God.

Let’s Pray:

Faithful Father,

You are so very good to us! We are grateful that You tend to us in every shape and form—from the nature of our hearts to the foundation of our faith in You. Give us the ability to soften the soil in our spiritual gardens so that we can grow deeper in our faith walk with Jesus Christ and draw closer to You. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “The Garden (Acoustic)” by Kari Jobe. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Graves into Gardens” ft. Brandon Lake | Live | Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Friend of God” by Israel Houghton & Churchome Music. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Alicia Searl is a Christian author, writer, writing coach, and speaker who is passionate about sharing God’s Word to spread hope and healing. 

She has an educational background and a master’s degree in advanced literacy. She is a contributing writer for iBelieve, Crosswalk, Christianity.com, and Your Daily Prayer. She has authored two devotionals, a children’s book of grief, and several Bible studies and prayer journals.

Alicia enjoys helping new and aspiring writers follow their calling and pursue their God-given purpose and shares personal faith stories on her blog. Her heartfelt words and authenticity are portrayed in each of her literary pieces in hopes of bringing her readers a sense of understanding, comfort, and encouragement on their faith journey.

Alicia resides in Texas where her family is currently fixing up a tiny home in the Piney Woods in East Texas to spread hope, bring healing, and share God’s love with others.

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should pray to God when provoked

Provoked to Pray: What Do You Do with the Thing That Won’t Leave You Alone?
A devotional by Heidi Lewis-Ivey

“And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.”—1 Samuel 1:6 (KJV)

There’s a word most of us don’t like—provoked.

When we hear it, we think of something negative. Someone provoked me. Something set me off. It’s the word we use for irritation, for conflict, for the moment right before we say something we regret. We talk about being provoked to anger, provoked to violence, provoked to say the thing we can’t take back once it’s out of our mouths. Go back and think about the last time you used this word. I’d bet it wasn’t in a positive sentence.

And yet, if you trace this word through Scripture, you’ll find it doesn’t always point downward. Sometimes it points a person straight to the throne of God.

There’s a woman in the Bible whose whole story turns on this word. Her name is Hannah, and her story is found in 1 Samuel chapter 1. What happens to her—what’s done to her—is described using this exact word: provoked. But watch what she does with it. She doesn’t let it turn her bitter, or hard, or cynical—though she has every reason to. She lets it turn her toward God.

That’s the whole idea I want to sit with here: the same pressure that could break you can also be the very thing that drives you to your knees. The provocation doesn’t determine the outcome. What you do with it does.

Let’s explore this Bible story in the book of 1 Samuel, starting with the setting:

Hannah is married to a man named Elkanah, who loves her—the text makes that clear. But Elkanah has two wives, which was not God’s original design but was common in that culture. His other wife, Peninnah, has children. Hannah has none.

In that ancient world, a woman’s worth was often measured by her ability to bear children. So, Hannah isn’t just dealing with personal disappointment, she’s carrying a weight her whole community would have recognized, and in some cases, judged her for.

Peninnah knows it. 1 Samuel 1:6 (KJV) tells us Peninnah “provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.” This wasn’t occasional teasing. It happened year after year, every time the family went up to worship in the house of the Lord at Shiloh. Hannah’s pain had a source, and the source had a face, it was a person in her own household who knew exactly where to press.

Some of you know exactly what that’s like. Maybe it’s not a rival. Maybe it’s a coworker who never lets you forget your mistake, a family member who brings up the same wound at every gathering, or a voice in your own head that sounds suspiciously like someone from your past.

This wasn’t a one-time offense Hannah could shake off. It was a pattern, a season, where she had to keep showing up to the same feast, in front of the same rival, carrying the same wound, over and over again. Some of us aren’t dealing with a single provocation either. We’re dealing with a recurring one: the same argument at every family gathering, the same diagnosis update at every appointment, the same empty side of the bed every night, the same bill in the mailbox every month.

Hannah didn’t get to escape Peninnah. She was bound to that family, required by her faith to go up to Shiloh every year right back into the presence of the person who hurt her most. Many of us can’t escape our provocation either. We can’t quit that job yet. We can’t walk away from that family member. We can’t undo that diagnosis.

So, the real question Hannah’s story forces on us isn’t, “How do I get away from what provokes me?” For most of us, that’s not on the table. The question is: What am I going to do with it, since I have to keep facing it?

What Provokes Prayer

Provocation isn’t always sin, and it isn’t always someone else’s cruelty. Sometimes it’s just the ache of unmet longing, of delay, of grief and God can use that ache to move us toward Him.

God will use whatever gets your attention. For Hannah, it was a rival’s cruelty. For you, it might be a diagnosis, a prodigal child, a marriage that isn’t what you hoped, a bank account that won’t stretch far enough. The question was never whether you’d be provoked because life provokes everybody. The question is: Provoked toward what?

Peninnah and Hannah shared the same husband, the same household, the same yearly trip to Shiloh. But Peninnah had children and Hannah didn’t. That difference gave Peninnah daily intimate knowledge of exactly where Hannah was wounded, and she used it as a weapon rather than showing mercy. Hannah, with no equivalent advantage to strike back with, had only one real option for her pain and she chose the altar instead of retaliation. Two very different situations, but what stands out is what each woman did with what she had: one used her advantage to wound, the other brought her lack to God.

Hannah, provoked by a rival, becomes a woman of prayer. The provocation was real. The pain was real. But none of them let the provocation have the final word. They let it become the first word of a prayer instead.

What Provoked Prayer Looks Like

So, what does it look like when someone takes their provocation to God instead of letting it curdle into bitterness?

1 Samuel 1:10 (KJV) tells us this about Hannah: “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.” Her bitterness didn’t disappear before she prayed. She didn’t clean herself up first or wait until she had the right words. She brought the bitterness with her into the presence of God.

1 Samuel 1:15 (KJV) gives us the phrase worth camping on: Hannah tells Eli, “I have poured out my soul before the Lord.” Poured out—not measured out, not carefully worded. Like a jar tipped all the way over, holding nothing back. Eli watches her lips moving with no sound coming out and assumes she’s drunk. That’s how undone this prayer looked from the outside. This wasn’t a tidy, church-appropriate prayer. It was a woman laying her whole broken heart out in the open, and it looked strange enough that a priest misread it entirely.

God is not asking us to compose ourselves before we come to Him. He’s asking us to come to Him. That’s the same invitation Jesus Christ gives in Matthew 11:28 (KJV). He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He doesn’t say come once you’ve set your labor down. He says come as you are, and He’ll meet you there.

Many of us think prayer has to be dignified that we need the right theology, the right vocabulary, our emotions under control, before we’re allowed to approach God. A lot of us have been trained, not by Scripture but by habit and tradition, to believe God only receives the well-organized version of our pain. Therefore, we come to Him with our hurt filtered and edited when what He’s looking for is the truth. Psalm 62:8 (KJV) puts it plainly: “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” God doesn’t say to come to Him after you’ve cleaned it up. He wants the unedited version of your prayers.

Provoked prayer isn’t neat. It isn’t quiet. Sometimes it’s tears with no words, like Hannah’s. I can remember my own seasons of sitting in God’s presence with nothing to say not because I had nothing to bring Him, but because the weight of it was too heavy for words. Just tears, silence, and a God who didn’t need me to explain myself before He understood. If that’s where you are, you’re in good company.

A Word on How to pray to God when you feel provoked 

It’s fair to ask: How do I do this? How do I take what’s provoking me and turn it into prayer instead of bitterness? Here are a few practical handles:

Name it out loud, to God, specifically. Hannah didn’t pray a vague prayer. 1 Samuel 1:11 records the actual content of her vow. She names her condition, her affliction, and her request. Vague pain produces vague prayer. Specific pain, named honestly, produces the kind of prayer that pours out a soul.

Don’t wait until you feel spiritual enough to pray. Hannah didn’t wait for her bitterness to pass she brought it into the prayer. Philippians 4:6 (KJV) says to bring everything to God “by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” in everything, not after everything is resolved.

Let prayer be a place, not just a moment. Hannah kept going back to Shiloh. For people who are provoked, prayer usually isn’t one dramatic outburst that fixes everything it’s practice, a return trip, or a place you keep going back to.

Bring your provocation to God before you bring it to people. Hannah’s pain went to the altar before it went anywhere else. James 5:13 (KJV) asks, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.” Not, let him vent to everyone who’ll listen. That doesn’t mean you never talk to trusted people about what you’re carrying, but the reflexive move should be toward God first.

None of this requires a theology degree or perfect words. It requires what Hannah had: enough desperation to stop pretending, and enough faith to believe God was listening.

What Provoked Prayer Produces

Eli tells Hannah, “Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him” (1 Samuel 1:17). Verse 18 adds something small but significant: “her countenance was no more sad.” This is important to note because it means Hannah was no longer sad about her situation before she’s even pregnant. Nothing had changed circumstantially, but something had shifted in her because she’d poured out her soul and trusted God with the outcome. Sometimes peace comes before provision. Sometimes prayer changes you before it changes your situation.

The story doesn’t stop there. Hannah conceives and names her son Samuel “Because I have asked him of the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:20). Samuel grows up to anoint Israel’s first two kings and hold a nation together in one of its most unstable seasons. His whole existence traces back to a woman who took her provocation to an altar instead of letting it turn into poison. Worth noting, too: The text says her answer came “in the process of time” (1 Samuel 1:20), not that same night. Lesson learned: If you’ve been praying a provoked prayer for a long time and you’re still in that in-between, remember her peace came before her pregnancy, not after. God sometimes gives peace before the answer because He wants you to trust Him, not just His timeline.

One more detail matters. When Hannah brings Samuel to Eli, she names publicly what happened “For this child I prayed” (1 Samuel 1:27) and then gives him back to God. Hannah said, “Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:28). The very thing she was provoked to pray for, she surrenders the moment she receives it. Her prayer was never about winning an argument with Peninnah or proving something to her community. It was about giving God something He could use the difference between provoked prayer that stays selfish and provoked prayer that becomes worship.

I see the same pattern in ordinary lives, not just ancient ones. Some of the most fruitful ministries and faithful intercessors I know didn’t start out that way. They started out provoked by a loss, an injustice, or a need nobody else was meeting. Somebody buries a child and starts a ministry for grieving parents. Somebody survives an addiction and spends their life walking others out of the same pit. None of them would have chosen the provocation. But each one laid what was breaking them at an altar instead of letting it turn them hard and on the other side of that surrender, God did something with it they couldn’t have engineered on their own.

Where Is It Sending You?

Something in your life right now is probably provoking you. Maybe it’s a person, like Peninnah was for Hannah. Maybe it’s a circumstance, or a season of being hunted and misunderstood. Maybe it’s grief, delay, injustice, a diagnosis, or a silence from God that’s gone on longer than you expected.

You don’t get to choose whether you’ll be provoked. That’s just life in a fallen, unfinished world. None of us are exempt from it. But you do get to choose where the provocation sends you. It can turn you bitter, sharp-tongued and resentful—the way it could have turned Hannah toward Peninnah instead of toward God. It can turn you cynical about prayer altogether—so worn down by asking that you stop asking. It can isolate you, convince you that no one not even God really sees what you’re carrying.

Or it can send you to the altar of God. It can drive you to pour out your soul to Him without polish or pretense, trusting that the God who saw Hannah’s lips moving with no sound sees you too. It can turn you into someone who reaches out even when you have no right to expect anything. Someone who refuses to quiet down just because the crowd is uncomfortable with your desperation. Someone who keeps pressing even after it sounds like the answer is no.

So, here’s the question worth sitting with: What’s provoking and where is it sending you? If it’s sending you toward bitterness, toward silence, toward isolation, I want to invite you to let it turn. Not because someone’s telling you to, but because Hannah showed us there’s somewhere better to go with the pain to go.

Don’t let it make you bitter. Let it make you pray. And if that ache has no words yet that’s alright. Hannah’s lips moved and no sound came out, and God still heard her. You don’t need the right words. You just need to go to God.

Let’s Pray:

Lord,

Thank You that You don’t ask us to get ourselves together before we come to You. Thank You that You meet us in the mess, in the bitterness, in the ache we haven’t found words for yet.

You know what’s been provoking us, the face behind the pain, the weight we’ve carried year after year, the thing we’ve prayed about before and am still waiting on. We don’t ask You to explain the timing. We ask You to meet us in the waiting the way You met Hannah, with peace before the provision, with Your presence before the answer.

Our hearts are too heavy for words right now. You saw Hannah’s lips move with no sound, and You heard her. Hear what we can’t say out loud.

Turn what could make us bitter into what drives us to You instead. Where we’ve been holding onto resentment, loosen our grip. Where we’ve gone quiet instead of praying, give us the courage to pour it out. And whatever You do with what we bring You now, let it be for Your purposes not just our relief, but Your glory.

We pour out our heart and soul before You. Receive us as we are.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “A Secret Place” by Karen Clark Sheard. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “The Lord’s Prayer” by Jubilee Worship (feat. Phil Thompson). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Jireh” by Elevation Worship & Maverick City. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Take It to the Lord in Prayer” by Aeolians of Oakwood University. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “Come Just As You Are” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidi Lewis-Ivey is an affirmed prophet and an internationally acclaimed speaker. 

She impacts audiences with her authenticity and bold style of delivery. She has had the opportunity to minister in Trinidad, St. Thomas USVI, Manchester and Liverpool (England).

Heidi is an award-winning and bestselling author. She is the author of Can I Rest Awhile? and Black Girl Cry: What Black Women Need to Know to Amplify Their Voices. She is a co-author in Soulful Prayers (Volume 1 and Volume 2) and Soulful Affirmations. Heidi is the convener of the Encountering the Courts of God movement and the founder of Visions International, a training ground for five-fold ministry gifts.

She holds a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Boston University. Heidi is the CEO of Nael & Associates Inc and franchise owner of Patrice & Associates recruiting firm. She is a member of the Pentimenti Women Writers Group, a former mentor with Year Up, former board member for Friends of Young Achievers, and a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategist.

Heidi is the proud aunt/great aunt of 14 nieces and nephews and two bonus nieces. They are her joy. The older nephews have become her protectors.

Heidi is an NFL football fan. As a child, she taught herself the game. In 2017 she won her NFL.com fantasy football league. Heidi is an avid reader (Audible listener) of romance novels, a lover of purses and handbags, and a tea snob who believes bling is always appropriate.

She lives in Boston, MA.

~*~
Connect with Heidi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamheidi01
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/heidi-lewis-ivey

Devotionals for the Heart: When you let God help you move the mountain

When the Mountain Won’t Move
A devotional by Kim McGovern

“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”—Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV)

Are you so worn down that facing one more battle feels impossible?

Grief and endless demands can leave us staring at the ceiling at night, whispering into the dark, “I can't do this anymore.”

I carried that ache into a women’s retreat in the Colorado mountains, hoping the change of scenery might thaw my ice-cold, weary soul. But my grief felt as ancient and unyielding as the peaks around me—frozen beyond tears, untouched by the warmth I had come seeking.

On the first evening of the retreat, as voices rose in worship, I lifted my hands, not in adoration, but in surrender. My shoulders sagged under the weight of unanswered prayers as I begged God to break the hardened ground of my soul.

He met me there, not with spectacle but with a whisper strong enough to crack the ice within: “Daughter, I am fighting for you.” Not “I will fight.” Not “I fought.” But “I am fighting” at this very moment.

But how do you keep believing that God is fighting for you when everything in front of you still says otherwise?

The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk wrestled with that same question. Violence and injustice ran through his own nation, and God seemed to do nothing to stop it. So, Habakkuk dared to say the words most of us keep locked inside: “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2, NIV).

God’s answer unsettled Habakkuk. Judgment would come to God’s people through a violent foreign army soon to sweep across the land. Still, he did not walk away. Habakkuk chose to watch, wait, and stay in conversation with God until hope stirred again.

God did not remove the threat or shorten the long wait ahead for His people. The danger still loomed on the horizon, and nothing in front of Habakkuk had changed. Yet neither had God's promise that “the righteous person will live by his faithfulness” (Habakkuk 2:4, NIV). He called Habakkuk to trust Him in the middle of it, and as the prophet kept bringing his fears and questions to God, trust slowly took root again.

By the end of his prayer, Habakkuk envisioned trust not as escape from the climb but as strength to keep walking, like a deer steady on rocky heights. The Bible says in Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV), “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” God does not always move the mountain in front of us—but He does give us deer’s feet to climb it.

Maybe your mountain won't move either. Grief lingers. The marriage hangs by a thread. Responsibilities crush you, and loneliness refuses to lift. You have prayed, you have worshiped, you have poured out your heart—and still the path stretches steep and unrelenting before you. Take heart, friend. The same God who steadied Habakkuk and met me in my own dark night, walks with you now. He doesn’t ask you to be strong enough; He gives strength for each step, just enough for today, and then the next.

Our strength begins where Jesus Christ won our victory. At the cross, He climbed the steepest mountain we never could, bearing the full weight of our sin and death. And because He conquered that ultimate summit, rising from the grave on the third day, He now gives us sure feet for every climb we will ever face.

We are not promised that every earthly battle will turn out the way we hope, but in Christ we hold an eternal victory that cannot be taken from us. Nothing can separate us from Him—no failure, no heartbreak, not even the deepest grief. What Jesus completed on the cross holds firm forever.

The mountains still stood outside my window the next morning, as did many of the burdens I had carried into the retreat. But something within me had begun to shift. The ice around my heart was cracking. For the first time in a year, tears flowed freely as God began to thaw the frozen places within me. My circumstances had not changed, but I had. I left knowing I was no longer facing the climb alone.

Your mountain may not move today. But the Sovereign Lord is your strength. He gives you deer’s feet to take the next step when the path feels impossible.

Let's Pray:

Heavenly Father,

When grief lingers, prayers seem unanswered, and the mountain before us remains unmoved, remind us that You have not abandoned us. Thank You that in Jesus, the victory has already been won—one we would never achieve on our own. Help us trust You in the waiting and find our strength in You as we take the next step in faith. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Trust in You” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Into the Sea (It’s Gonna Be Ok)” by Tasha Layton. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Worn” by Tenth Avenue North. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Battles” by The Afters. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “Fighting for Me” by Riley Clemmons. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “Victory Belongs to Jesus” by Todd Dulaney. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “Move Another Mountain” by Helen Baylor. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Kim McGovern is passionate about helping women reorient their hearts to the uninterruptible love of Jesus Christ. 

A former IT professional turned writer, she meets women in the messy middle of faith—where grief, joy, doubt, and hope often collide. Her work draws from decades of ministry leadership, special needs advocacy, and personal seasons of surrender that deepened her dependence on God's presence.

Kim's writing has been featured by Proverbs 31 Ministries, Encouragement for Today, Joyful Life Magazine, (in)courage ministries, Truly Magazine, and numerous other faith-based publications.

She and her husband savor the quiet rhythms of life on Florida's west coast in Homosassa, where the river serves as their backyard playground. They have four grown children and grandchildren who daily remind them that the best stories are still being written by God's grace.

~*~
Connect with Kim:
Website: https://kimmcgovern.com/
Substack: https://kimmcgovern.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kim.mcgovern/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimEMcGovern/