Devotionals for the Heart: Jesus Christ paid for your sins so you can be free

Free from the Sins of my Youth
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Have you ever had a nightmare that stayed with you?

My dream that night felt like reality. In it, I came face-to-face someone from my past, someone who had deeply wronged me, though in truth, I had wronged them as well. When I awakened, I couldn’t stop thinking about that time in my life, beating myself up for all the ways I had erred and gone astray. The “if onlys” swirled … if only I had chosen this instead of that or done that instead of this.

I struggled all morning, consumed by memories. One memory edged into the next, and soon I found myself going back over my life, all the way from my childhood until now, thinking about the mistakes I’d made over the years. Shame washed over me. Stones, large and small, accumulated. I felt like a piece of garbage as one by one I owned those mistakes, many of them long forgotten. After all, I had been willful—and haven’t we all?

I squeezed my eyes shut. There was nothing I could do about any of this now, in spite of my regret. All I could do was own up, acknowledge my wrongdoing, and apologize, though I knew nothing I could say would fix anything. God, I’m sorry, my soul cried out. Truly, I’m sorry.

The balm of God’s peace blanketed me. And in a flash, I remembered that extravagant, almost unbelievable truth: I’m covered! My mistakes are forgiven! Even if I do feel like a piece of garbage for having made those mistakes, in the eyes of God, I’m redeemed. And it’s all because of Jesus Christ—only because of Jesus. Because of Jesus, I’m washed clean. There’s no regret or repentance or sacrifice I can make strong or deep enough to apologize or make right any wrongs I’ve ever done in my life. It’s only because of Jesus that these wrongs are made right, that my sin-debt is paid. What mercy.

It’s the same for all of us. Perhaps you have experienced this, too, that weight of guilt and anguish when you remember certain ways you went wrong in the past. It doesn’t matter how “bad” it was, or how it stacks up when compared to others. Lying and selfishness are every bit as awful as murder in the eyes of the Lord, and one sin is just as horrible as twenty. When we finally get to that point of owning up and realizing how wrong we were, it’s like a knife to the chest. How could I have done that? Who was that person?

Yet we know the truth: No matter how bad, how wrong, or how ugly, Jesus washes us clean. Our belief and our repentance are the first step, but he’s the real savior.

Now, my heart is settled, for I know I’m forgiven. Even if I have a bad dream every night for the rest of my life, every day I have the chance to wake up and remember that beautiful truth all believers can experience: through Jesus, we’re forgiven.

But I ask you: Where are you with the weight of your own past sins? Are you worn down by pain and regret, beating yourself up? Or are you living the liberated and joyful life God has provided, free now to do all the wonderful things God has in store for you to bring about his kingdom here on earth? I hope it’s the latter.

It is OK to experience the occasional regret when you recall way that you went astray. We’re all human. But here’s the thing—Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24). Picking up our cross means embracing our struggles and temptations, our sins and our pain, and coming to Him anyway. It means walking on His path just we are at this very moment, in spite of it all, trusting He will make it right.

Just like that sinner who was crucified next to Jesus, who asked Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom, Jesus says the same thing to us when we repent that he did to that man: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NIV).

This gift is echoed in God’s words to the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 57:17-19: “‘I was enraged by their sinful greed; I punished them, and hid my face in anger, yet they kept on in their willful ways. I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,’ says the Lord. ‘And I will heal them.’”

We can’t comprehend the extravagant love of God. We can try to, but knowing he gives us the chance to live with him in eternity simply for following Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is truly inconceivable. It’s like winning the lottery, only a billion times better. We don’t have to understand how we got to be this lucky or beloved by God. We simply have to accept this gift, and in that gratitude help spread the good news so others receive this gift, too.

If you are struggling right now with memories of days gone by, things you’ve done or things done to you, perhaps now the time to experience freedom—the freedom that comes from setting these burdens down at the foot of the only one who can do anything about them, Jesus Christ. In Jesus we have liberation now and forever.

Let’s Pray: Lord, forgive me for all the ways I’ve done wrong, all my sins and shortcomings, all the ways I’ve hurt you—the things I remember and the things buried so deep I cannot remember. Thank you for your forgiveness and your love. Help me remember the words of Jesus to the sinful woman in John 8:11, “Neither do I condemn you … Go now and leave your life of sin.” I love you, Lord. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Jesus Paid It All” by Kim Walker-Smith. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden. 

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

She released an Advent devotional for those seeking true closeness with God, which you can find at https://www.jessicabrodie.com/advent. Learn more about Jessica’s fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. She has a weekly YouTube devotional and podcast. 

You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, 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.

Devotionals for the Heart: God doesn't remember our sins after He forgives us

No Condemnation
A devotional by Aubrey Taylor

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”—Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

The Scripture above is a favorite verse for many Christians, yet how often do we struggle to walk in its truth? We may not even realize that we are living in constant condemnation, as if the devil himself is walking alongside us, whispering in our ear, nitpicking about every possible thing!

Have you ever taken the opportunity to read an account of a historical event from a different perspective than you are used to? It is amazing how different two accounts of the same event can be. Stories told about the same individual can take on totally different tones depending on whether the writer saw them as a villain or a hero. One author’s goal is to catalogue a person’s sins; the other’s goal is to remember this person with respect, admiration, and even love. They may still address shortcomings and sins, but they are able to see the individual as more than the sum of their iniquities.

Satan’s goal is to weigh us down with guilt. He would like to drag up as much condemnation as possible, framing things in a way that makes us look wicked and unforgiveable. He would like to see us live in shame for the rest of our lives. He knows that a constant awareness of our sin and unworthiness will hinder us from living the full life God has for us, and silence our witness among the lost.

Too often, I have walked through life burdened by a sense of condemnation, as if there is something hanging in my past from which I cannot escape. Or, I am afraid that I am teetering on the edge of sin, even though I’m not! Unfortunately, a lot of Christian teaching echoes these sentiments, leading us to believe that we truly can’t do anything good.

Taken outside of the context of the entire Bible, Romans 3:10 (NKJV) seems to corroborate that: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Thank God, there are many other places in the Bible that speak of new life, walking in freedom, and how we no longer need to walk in the sin that used to entangle us. Clearly, God does not want us to keep operating as though we are sinful and unable to do anything good. He wants us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14 NKJV) and “walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6 NKJV).

God knows us intimately, yet because of the blood of Jesus, God has chosen not to remember the sins of our past. He can also see when we are honestly struggling to overcome sins that we no longer want in our lives. He looks at us with the eyes of love and affection and has cast our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).

There will be things throughout our lives that need to change, but “condemned” is not our status before God. Our status is beloved and forgiven. Unless God is truly pointing out something that needs to change, believe today that He is pleased with you. Extend this message of love and grace to others in your life who still seem to be walking under the weight of condemnation.

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus, thank You that there is no condemnation for those who are in You. Thank You that You enable me to walk in newness of life, and that by Your power I can overcome my sinful nature. My former sins have been erased and I no longer need to walk around with a burden of shame. Please help me remember that today as I walk more confidently in You. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

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

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Author Bio:

The only child of a single parent, Aubrey Taylor filled her younger years by creating characters and writing stories. This ended around age sixteen when music, friends and part-time jobs began to fill her time. After that came college, work, marriage, and children. 

It wasn’t until the world was beginning to come out of the COVID pandemic that God led her back to her love for writing, coupled with a passion she’d always had for history. It was time to start a new adventure!

Along with writing devotionals, Aubrey is the author of the German-perspective 20th Century Fiction series, Gott Mit Uns. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and three children. When she’s not writing or taking care of her home and family, she enjoys singing and dancing with friends from a German choir and a Bavarian folk dancing group. She is also a lover of Jesus Christ, The Holy Bible, history, German culture, tea, and cats!

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Connect with Aubrey:
Website: https://www.aubreytaylorbooks.com
Blog: https://www.aubreytaylorbooks.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aubreytaylorbooks/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aubtaybooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aubreytaylorbooks/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21846520.Aubrey_Taylor
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/aubrey-taylor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Aubrey-Taylor/author/B0973KWXV8

Devotionals for the Heart: When you need God to give you a new heart

Give Me a New Heart, Lord
A devotional by Dr. Jessica B. Turner

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” –Ezekiel 11:19 (NIV)

Have you ever experienced a moment with the Lord where you are head over heels in love with Him? You promise to give Him your all and to live a life of surrender to only find yourself stumbling over the same old sins that used to rule your life, mere days after this powerful encounter with God?

I know I have. I also remember it leaving me beaten down and convinced that I was incapable of true transformation. I suspect this is one of the biggest lies the enemy tells us. If we aren’t careful, we may believe him and give up on following God altogether.

While there are many testimonies out there displaying radical transformation that occur within a moment, I’ve discovered that it’s much more likely to experience a more drawn-out process of change.

But what if you are someone who feels as if you are constantly falling into the same transgression? You know your actions bring you farther away from God, yet you can’t seem to muster up the self-discipline to break the cycle of this specific sin. This “thing” you battle with is an idol in your life, claiming a piece of your heart.

This division is what leads to a life that feels more like a roller coaster than a joy ride. Not because everything in life is perfect and easy. We know as believers we are promised to face trials (John 16:33, James 1:2-4). More so because we are unable to control the way we respond to such challenges and when things get too hard, we lean on what makes us feel better. Because we are human, comfort typically comes in the form of over-indulgence, destructive habits, and toxic relationships.

If you relate to this, you are not alone! In my own experience, my coping mechanisms were rooted in years of unaddressed trauma. Even after realizing this and seeking counseling to help me process why I did certain things, I still struggled with turning to God as my source of everything. It wasn’t until I truly invited Jesus Christ into my heart that lasting change occurred. He took a heart that I was convinced would never be whole and made it new. He softened places that had been hardened for years and brought forth forgiveness. Jesus did what only He could do and, in the process, filled me with the Holy Spirit so I could walk in this transformed life.

So, if you are still carrying a heart that is tied to your past, find comfort in knowing that Jesus is in the business of giving out new hearts! Hearts that are so in love with Him that you no longer rely on the things that used to bring you down. Hearts that invite you to be His hands and feet through how you love others.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for the restorative hope that can be found in receiving You as my Lord and Savior. Touch my heart, Lord. Make it new. Cut all ties that are leading to a divided heart and direct my devotion to You and only You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and strengthen me to live a transformed life. Use me to be a light unto others, sharing hope that can overcome any suffering. I love You and I trust You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Create in Me a Clean Heart” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Dr. Jessica B. Turner is a wife, mom, and LSU graduate with a degree in veterinary medicine. 

After practicing small animal medicine for six years, she traded in her stethoscope to become an online wellness coach, motivational speaker, and writer with a passion for mental health advocacy. This major life change was sparked after Jessica struggled with postpartum depression soon after she birthed her twin girls.

Along with Jessica’s career change came the discovery of who Jesus Christ really is and how He was the missing piece for her to be able to move forward in past trauma that she had suppressed for decades. Jesus walked alongside Jessica as she underwent a transformation like none other.

God transformed Jessica’s life from a broken mom who struggled with depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and PTSD from witnessing an attempted suicide, to using her experiences to make her a powerful vessel for Him. To this day, God enables Jessica to touch the lives of others through her often unfiltered, yet inviting form of storytelling.

Throughout this process of refinement, Jessica has shared her life story with the world through her social media platforms, in-person events, blog posts, and podcasts. She values the gift of transparency and has discovered that what so many people need to know is that they are not alone. Jessica has walked in their shoes, and she wants the world to know that Jesus is walking with them as well.

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Connect with Jessica:
Website: www.jessicabturner.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicabturner/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicabturner/

Devotionals for the Heart: Choices

Who Will You Choose to Be?
A devotional by Amy Odland

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 

– John 8:6b-9 (NIV)

Ever been to a restaurant with a group of people and have someone in the group who doesn’t know what they want to eat?

First, they let everyone else order before them to buy more time. Then they possibly ask the waiter a bunch of questions, trying to narrow their decision by eliminating items they were considering. Or maybe they listen to what those who ordered before them got and just copycat someone else’s order that sounded tasty.

Maybe at some point we’ve all had a turn at being this person...unable to make a decision and then as the pressure mounts, we either make a decision in haste or just resort to accepting the decision someone else made and substituting it for our own. I assume many of us can identify with having moments of indecision and feeling stuck when trying to make a difficult decision in a moment of pressure...especially decisions more paramount in life than just what to order for dinner while dining out.

The religious leaders in the scripture verse above had a difficult decision they needed to make at a moment's notice. After Jesus knelt and wrote in the dirt, they decided to abort whatever scheme they were trying to carry out. Their silent, inward examinations led to the woman’s forgiveness and pardon. There was a second group of religious leaders in Acts 7:57-58 who were spurred on by their anger and rage in response to the truths and exhortations Stephen spoke in his self-defense against the false accusations they’d brought against him—their rash, impulsive, and selfish decision led to his death.

Here’s the thing: As Christians, we get to decide every day, in little decisions sprinkled throughout our day, who we stand with. Do we stand with the righteous who are trying to uphold the law and “rules” of our faith or do we stand with Him who ushered in a new law? Jesus said in John 13:34 (NIV), “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.”

In Luke 10:27 (NIV), Jesus told an expert of the law he’d answered correctly to Jesus’s question of what is written in the law. He’d said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus emphasized the idea of us loving God and loving others in both of these examples. In effect, He said to only worry about these two laws, effectively erasing all the laws man had warped or perverted over the years since Moses had brought down the stone tablets from Mount Sinai.

Just like when ordering at a restaurant, we need to each decide what we stand for, what we believe, and who we’re following. We need to decide for ourselves and not piggyback off the order/decision of another. We need to make a decision and not delay to the point of missing our chance. We need to rededicate ourselves to that decision each day and remind ourselves of this: Will we let love rule the day or will we let prideful righteousness win?

We are only responsible for our own choices. You won’t have to give account for my decisions and I won’t have to give account for yours. We have only our own sinfulness to account for.

Here’s a thought: Do you make your decisions based on the fact that Jesus will judge you for them? If you made a chart representing each day of your life, with a dot representing every day and assuming you lived to the age of exactly 85, you would have 31,025 dots on the chart. Each of those dots symbolizes a new day, a new chance to make the right decision, to make a choice like the group of religious leaders in John 8 did: to choose love and drop your stone in the dust instead of throwing it at someone.

What will you choose when you interact with other humans, Christian or otherwise? Will you choose to keep your pride, to condemn and throw stones or hurtful words, or to shut your ears and eyes to the truth when someone speaks it to you? Will you realize your own shortcomings and offer forgiveness to those who seek it or be kinder than is deserved and listen to truth no matter what it costs you? What will the dot for today in your life represent when Jesus recounts your whole life to you someday?

In closing, let’s reflect together on these words from Jesus found in John 13:35 (NIV):
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Note to the Reader from Amy: To read more about the judgment of believers, you can read 

2 Corinthians 5:6-10 and Revelation 20:11-13 or this article here ... 
https://www.intouch.org/read/blog/the-judgment-of-believers

~*~
Author Bio:

Amy Odland has been serving in church ministry as a volunteer leader for over 16 years, in various worship, prayer and women’s ministry roles.

Her passion for helping women stems from her own struggles and lessons learned in her journey as a Christian since first deciding to follow the Lord in 1994.

Amy’s priorities after her faith include her family — husband Rick, and their four kids — as well as extended family who all live close in proximity and the many friends she’s made over the years.

In addition to a love of teaching and helping her husband with the bookkeeping for their many businesses, Amy has recently expanded her stay-at-home work to include leading author’s book launch teams for publishing companies like Baker, Revell, Barbour, and Lifeway.

She also enjoys teaching new authors about platform building, self-launching, and online marketing.

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Connect with Amy:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/amyodland
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amy_odland
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amy_odland
Website: https://amyodland.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Forgiveness

The Grace of Forgiveness
A devotional by Allison M. Wilson

Key Scripture: 
John 3:16, Romans 6:10, Romans 7:14-25, Psalm 103:12, 1 John 1:9,

 Ephesians 5:26-27, Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 is one of the first verses I remember memorizing as a child. It’s taken most of my life to truly grasp a part of what that verse says, though.

God so loved the WORLD. Who does that encompass? Everyone, it seems. However, not everyone will embrace the sacrifice of Christ and accept that forgiveness. The forgiveness is offered, though, to everyone. Those who receive it will be saved.

Those of us who have believed in Christ as our Savior are forgiven for all of our sins. (Romans 6:10) Not just a few. Not just the “big ones,” as some might want to imagine. A “little white lie” on my part put Christ on the cross just as much as someone who murdered countless people. Yes, I’m forgiven of all my sins.

The problem comes when we, as believers, don’t let that forgiveness permeate our being. We continue to beat ourselves up for things we do wrong. We think we should be perfected in our behavior, though there’s nowhere in the Scriptures which says that will happen on this side of heaven’s gates. In fact, one of the most prominent writers of the New Testament tells us that he does the things he hates, and doesn’t do what he knows is right (Romans 7:14-25). If the apostle Paul couldn’t get it right, after being personally taught by Christ, why do we demand perfection from ourselves?

Our focus on the sin takes our focus off of our Savior. It may even be easier to give forgiveness to others who hurt us than it is for us to forgive ourselves when we mess up. We forget that we couldn’t save ourselves, and think we can change ourselves. As if it’s up to us to get it right.

Grace came for forgiveness. I don’t like to use the phrase “covered my sins.” My sins aren’t covered so much as they are washed away. They are no more. They are as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12) I’m now a co-heir with Christ. All that God has promised to His Heir is mine, too! God wouldn’t be giving those riches to someone who wasn’t cleansed from all unrighteouness.

1 John 1:9 we are told that confessing our sins brings cleansing. That word “confess” means “to agree with” in the original language. We agree with God that what we did/said/thought was disobedient to His calling on our lives. His forgiveness was already given at the cross. Our agreement is just for our sake, not His. He already knows what we did wasn’t our best. He sees the perfected product that the sacrifice of His Son bought. The journey to that perfected product is where sanctification happens. In God’s eyes, you are already without spot, stain, or blemish. (Ephesians 5:26-27) We shouldn’t agree with the enemy that we are any different.

Walk in His truth of who you are and whose you are.

Let’s Pray: Father God, we allow ourselves to be swayed by our feelings and thoughts so often, rather than having our feet firmly grounded on Your Word of truth. Speak that truth to our hearts when the lies come to tell us that we’re not worthy, or not good enough, or that we’ve done something wrong to make You mad at us. Before Christ went to the cross to cleanse us, You wrote the words in Zephaniah 3:17 saying that You rejoice over me “with shouts of joy.” Let that sink into my heart to remind me that You are not disappointed in me. Your love has already gone beyond all my mess-ups and counted me a joy to You. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

A very early reader and lover of the written word, Allison M. Wilson has been writing since the age of 8 with the heart to impart stories and God's truth.

She has judged countless contests for the last 25 years, reviewed for several online publications, professionally edited, and written articles and devotionals.

Wife, mother, writer, editor, teacher, mentor, and mompreneur, God keeps her busy while living in east central Florida with her family.

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Connect with Allison:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allisonmwilson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amwilson

Devotionals for the Heart: Survivors

Never Forget
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” 

–Colossians 1:13-14 (NASB)

January 27, 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the worst of the six German extermination camps from World War II. One of the most brutal chapters of human history was, if not closed, then certainly dealt a stunning blow on the day the Allied forces took over and released the seven thousand Jews and others still alive there. 

Unfortunately, more than a million people had been killed in that place before it was shut down. Those lives can never be replaced. I cried watching news stories of survivors walking back through the gates of a place that will no doubt always haunt them.

I watched as a woman stood in a gas chamber, reciting the names of people she’d known, and singing a prayer over the dead. She pleaded at the camera that they not be forgotten. Then a man in his nineties told how he had only recently shared with his family that he was a Holocaust survivor. I can’t even imagine how it feels to keep such a secret for so long.

By the grace of God, none of us will ever have to decide how to deal with a tragedy like this in our own lives and I pray for a world in which these horrors never happen again. But as I was reading these verses in Colossians, I was struck by the fact that in the spiritual realm, we who are believers in Jesus are the rescued, released from the captivity of sin, no longer in darkness, given new life in a new kingdom.

So, as a forgiven people, how should we then live in the world? What should our response to liberation be? Do we have an obligation to tell others about our own rescue, so they can come out of the darkness as well? If we keep quiet, how will anyone know the amazing love and grace we’ve been given? We are witnesses to the greatest miracle of history, but if we don’t tell anyone, how does the good news spread?

We can not live in our sins or remain in our darkness. But we can never forget the rescue. God no longer holds our sins against us and promises in Hebrews 10:17 (NASB), “…their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” There is a delicate balance between not wallowing in the past and not forgetting where we came from. With God’s help and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can find that perfect, narrow path.

Only Jesus can save our souls. We can’t, but we must always be ready with a hand to pull someone through those gates, helping them throw off the darkness and step into the light. Never forget each of us has been on the other side of that gate as well.

Let’s Pray: Lord, allow me to use the darkness I’ve been rescued from to bring light to others. I want to be there to share and encourage as we walk this path together. May you use me to help people who suffer, in both body and mind, everywhere I go. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume.

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two teenage children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting. You can find her at www.glynisbecker.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: A word for those who are struggling in their faith

Lost and Wandering
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” 
– James 5:19-20 (NIV)

“Don’t you know by now why the chosen are few? It’s harder to believe than not to.” This line from a Steve Taylor song resonated heavily with me when in college I began to question everything. I was trying to discover who I wanted to be and what I wanted out of life.

What I thought would be a philosophical exercise ended up a multi-year fight for my soul. Not everyone who enters adulthood asks deep questions that end up unraveling them, but all children of believers do face a similar challenge, taking the faith of their parents and culture and turning it into a real, saving faith of their own. It’s in that struggle that many end up lost.

Suffering is another test that separates churchgoers from believers with a saving faith. There are folks who show up every Sunday, go to all the meetings, sing all the hymns, do all the right things, but their hearts are still untouched. Then a loss, a sickness, a hit of some kind blows their life up. If they never truly repented and put their faith and trust in Jesus, then their faith can’t sustain them and they lose their way. They think God has abandoned them when they never really let Him in to begin with.

It’s not always a dramatic event either. Sometimes it is years of doubts that have been left to ruminate. It becomes easier to think of church as a building where you go if you’re a good person and not, instead, a group of people united by faith that should feed your soul or hold you accountable. People let church become a social club, a place to belong to, and over time, it becomes less important, less vital until it’s virtually meaningless.

It’s up to us to spot folks in our midst who are struggling or those who seem to be wandering. In our church families, we need to hold each other accountable, to check in with each other. We need to be real with those around us and not content to assume that just because someone is in a pew on Sunday morning that what they truly believe constitutes a saving faith. And for those that we can see wandering, we must be brave and seek them out. Have those tough conversations because it’s life and death. 

Grace truly does cover a multitude of sins and no one is beyond the mercy of God, but we’ve got to tell them that. People can hear a sermon in church every weekend and still not understand the Gospel.

God has placed us on earth to reach out to the lost and wandering and share with them the life-changing, earth-shattering truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Be bold, friends.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction.

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Confession

On Confession
A devotional by Lisa Lickel

“And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” ~James 5:15-16 (ESV)

“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” ~John 20:23 (ESV)

"In acts of mutual confession, we release the power that heals. Our humanity is no longer denied but transformed. "~Richard Foster, The Celebration of Discipline

I am in awe that being a Christian is a process, a journey of many steps that is a call for continual renewal and examination. When I accepted Jesus Christ into my life and confessed him as my Savior and Lord, I became a Christ-follower. We share the ABCs of faith: Accept, Believe, Confess. Confess Christ as the Savior, yes, as well as allow ourselves to confess to each other that the Belief part—the part where I act on what I believe—is often a quagmire of ugliness from which I need help to escape.

Admitting I’m wrong or make mistakes has always been a hotbed of fear for me because the punishment was old-fashioned—swift and sometimes physically and always emotionally brutal. I have been harder on myself, too, for the desire to make excuses, to not take the time to make certain the information is correct, for taking the easy way out. I have lashed out at others in fear and pride; I still cluck my tongue at others’ intentional or accidental acts of insensitivity when I’ve committed similar acts in the past.

Often, the worst thing we can do is treat others as we want to be treated. Those are the times we need to step outside of our comfort zones and examine our motives. Forgive me, my neighbor, for not noticing your need. Forgive me, Lord, for glossing over spending fifteen minutes with you and you only. Forgive me, friend, for sharing a thought that was painful for you.

Having a physical prayer partner or a being part of a small group Bible study which has a sharing time can fulfill this need to confess and accept forgiveness. I realize that unconsciously I have participated on both sides with my new friends in Christ and desire to be more intentional; hearing confession is never a time to store gossip fodder. Confession is good. It is healing. It is a lesson in growing and becoming, in transforming my life. 

Confessing should result in genuine change. I don’t want to confess simply to relieve my personal sense of guilt and shame—sure, that’s the bandage effect, but not the antibiotic to heal the deep sin-wound in my soul. 

My confession makes me want to spend more time getting to know my neighbor; for realizing that my Jesus is waiting for me—me!—to sit down with him; and for listening more than spouting off platitudes, even if personally I would rejoice in the response.

My Prayer: Thank you, Lord of my life, for reminding me of your loving presence, always waiting patiently for me to come and share the best and the worst of myself with you.

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Author Bio:

Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives in the rolling hills of western Wisconsin. 

A multi-published and award-winning novelist, she also writes short stories and radio theater, is an avid book reviewer, blogger, a freelance editor, and workshop leader.

She is a member of Chicago Writers Association and part of Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp and Writing Retreat, Inc., mentoring writers from across the United States and Canada.

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Connect with Lisa:
Website: http://www.LisaLickel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lisalickelauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/lisalickel
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lisajlickel
Amazon author page: http://amzn.to/2bPxi2X