Devotionals for the Heart: Why we need to clear out the clutter in our life

Clearing Out the Clutter
A devotional by Colleen C. Howard

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”—Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

When the snow melts away and the colors of spring cover the landscape, we get the urge to celebrate the occasion. We update our wardrobe to suit the weather and put away the blankets that are no longer needed.

If you’re feeling super ambitious what else can you do? You make your way from room to room, begin decluttering and fill in a big box for the local thrift store. This is the beginning of some serious spring cleaning. Full disclosure: I must admit that organizing spaces is one of my favorite things to do. I have no fear of giving things away or throwing them out and it gives me great joy to stand back and survey the newly organized closet. This is my happy place.

Expert organizers agree that the best technique for decluttering is to take everything out of the closet and off the shelves. Before you begin taking items out, designate a place for three piles—keep, donate, or throw it out. Why go through all this trouble? The purpose of a closet is not to store every pair of black shoes you’ve ever worn or pants that span from size six to 12. Items that you can’t wear or don’t wear are not allowed to occupy real estate in the closet. Let’s face it, do you really need that favorite shirt with the holes in it?

When you stand back and survey the empty closet you appreciate its purpose. It looks more spacious and invites you to think carefully about which items have earned the right to reside there for the next six months. Closets were meant to store items you use in an organized way so you can find them with ease.

Similar to closets, too much clutter in our lives hinders us from living abundantly. When our lives become overly busy our hearts and minds become weary and hinder our view of what’s important. Our bodies, minds and souls need time to rest. What can you do to get the rest you need? When you crawl into bed tonight, surrender everything to God. For the next six to eight hours, you are officially off duty. Trust God for rest. He is our fortress and offers freedom from worry and anxiety.

Clean out the clutter from the corners of your mind and hand it over to God. As rest your head on the pillow, He will renew your heart and restore for your soul.

Let’s Pray: Dear Father God, I thank You for the many ways You bring my focus back to You. When I feel distracted, anxious, and weary, please remind me of your goodness. Help me to surrender my distractions to the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort. I can rest in your arms, and You will give me rest. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

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Song of Reflection #1: “God So Loved” (Live at Ocean Way Nashville) by We The Kingdom. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Open the Eyes of My Heart” by Jordan G. Welch. Listen to it here.

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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.

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Connect with Colleen:
Website: authorcolleenchoward.com

Devotionals for the Heart: How to rely on and rest in God's love for you

Resting in God’s Love
A devotional by Lynette Allcock Yoon

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.”

—1 John 4:16 (NIV)

“Let’s just go home,” I gulped to my husband as I looked at the line of people at the driving test center. My already fragile courage started to give way at the thought of a long wait and the potential for grumpy, overwhelmed employees. “We can come back another day.”

I had come to the center to do the paperwork for my Korean driver’s license. I hate doing paperwork in my own country, the United Kingdom, so I was even more anxious about administration in a language I only partly understood.

What if I missed something important? What if I didn’t understand and someone got snappy with me? What if I filled out something wrong and they refused to give my license? Thankfully, I could rely on my Korean husband to help me. With his help to translate, I completed all the paperwork without incident. My dire imaginings, which had loomed large in my mind, did not materialize.

In the same way I rely on my husband’s love to get me through the anxiety of administration in a foreign country, I can rely on the love of God to guide me through life’s other anxieties. My worries can be loud. It can be so easy to fixate on the problem, even in my prayers. I may be directing my words to God, but my mind is whirling, trying to figure out its own solutions and guess the ways God might help me, based on what I can see.

What if, instead of focusing on my problems, I turned my gaze towards God more often? The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV), “Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.” (Italics supplied.) I can leave my cares with God more easily when I remind myself of His character, choosing to focus on His love in my prayers.

Instead of reminding God constantly about my need, I remind myself of His goodness by saying, “Lord, I know that You love me. I know that Your ways are higher than mine, and that You are creative beyond my imagination. You are faithful. You see me. You promised to provide for me. Because of this, I choose to trust You with my problem.”

This is not a “one and done” deal. I often have to repeat this process daily of moving my thoughts from my problems to God’s character. But this intentional shift in focus does help me to rest in His love for me. The Bible says in Psalm 131:2-3 (NIV), “I have calmed and quieted myself. I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.” A child can quiet themselves because they are securely attached to their parent, because they trust in their parent’s love. They know, from experience, that their parent will respond to them.

When I am fretful, I remember when Father God responded to me and met my needs. Most of all, I remember when He proved His love in the most significant way He could: through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Bible explains in Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) why we can trust God and have complete confidence in His love for us: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I can rest in this love. I didn’t earn it, and I don’t have to continue to perform for it. This love offered freely by God is unfailing. Even in my lowest moments, when I don’t feel the energy to redirect my thoughts and actively speak truth to myself, I know I can rest in His love.

It is this true and unconditional love from Father God that I always rely on. My friend, when you are anxious, may you have power to renew your mind and fix your gaze on God. May you sink into the love of God and rest there.

Let’s Pray:

 

Dear God, 

Help me to know and rely on your love in deeper ways. 

In Jesus’s Name I pray,

Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “I Will Carry You” by Ellie Holcomb. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” by Audrey Assad (feat. Fernando Ortega). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “I Will Rest in You” by Jaci Velasquez. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Lynette Allcock Yoon is a writer, teacher, and former radio host. 

She grew up in three countries and now lives in South Korea with her husband.

Lynette writes about life abroad, faith, and relationships from an expat, Third Culture Kid (TCK) perspective.

Outside of work, Lynette enjoys musical theatre and long walks with good friends.

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Connect with Lynette:
Website: https://www.lynetteallcock.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should pray to God instead of worrying

God Answered My Prayer . . . Now what?
A devotional by Leslie Bake

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

—Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT)

Less than a year into living in our home, which is perched halfway up a mountain and battered by 45 mph winds during storms, we need to replace shingles on our roof. Our homeowners’ insurance covers only three-fourths of the cost, and the remaining balance—several thousand dollars—has caused us significant anxiety.

Yet I forgot to pray. Worry consumed me.

We shared this concern with my dad and his family. While I failed to pray about it and only worried, my husband mentioned the issue to them. They offered to help cover what insurance wouldn’t. At first, he was hesitant. Was the offer conditional? My husband had several questions he didn’t get the chance to ask.

Nevertheless, a check arrived. While I know my husband appreciated the gift, he also admitted he struggled with receiving it. He’s not alone. Many of us hesitate to accept monetary or tangible gifts. We think we should handle difficulties quietly. We don’t want to burden others. Accepting help feels like revealing incompetence or weakness. We worry that we owe the giver something to make things even.

I knew the proper response was gratitude. I promptly wrote a “thank you” note to my family and thanked my Heavenly Father (God) too. Due to this experience, I couldn’t help wondering—was there another lesson God was teaching us?

Much has been written about how to respond when our prayers seem unanswered and God appears slow to respond or even denies our requests. In those moments, we’re encouraged to move forward with thankfulness and praise, trusting God’s perfect timing. But how should we respond when our prayers are answered right away? Do we simply thank Him and move on to the next request? Yes, but I believe more is required of us.

When my mother-in-law visited earlier this year, I gave her Robert J. Morgan’s book Worry Less, Live More: God’s Prescription for a Better Life. It is a biblical guide to overcoming anxiety. Soon after that, my Bible Study Fellowship group ended for the summer. I didn’t want to go two months without accountability—that’s never ended well. So, I looked for other church-based studies, but none fit into my schedule. One of them focused on the Bible book of Philippians, which I sensed I needed. I prayed that another opportunity would come up.

Then my husband returned from visiting his mom. Sitting on our kitchen table was the book I had given her. “She wanted me to return it to you,” he said. There it was again—Philippians. The Holy Spirit was clearly drilling something into me, especially Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV) that says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

As we wrap up my message today, I’d like to share a quote by Morgan from his book Worry Less, Live More: God’s Prescription for a Better Life. He said, “When worry barges into our brains, it brings along a gang of accomplices—discouragement, fear, exhaustion, despair, anguish, hopelessness, pain, obsession, distraction, foreboding, irritation, impatience—none of which are friends of the Holy Spirit. We have to throw the bums out of our hearts and minds. Prayer is how we open the door, shove them out, and let the peace of God rush in to secure our thoughts and feelings.”

A few days later, after I decided to not attend another church’s summertime Bible study, another neighbor—a homeschooling mom active in a local church—offered to lead a Bible study for me and a few other neighborhood moms. Our boys often play together. And the study she suggested? Philippians. I immediately sent her a “thank you” text. But then I wondered—what’s the next step? What is required of me now? God revealed the answer to me in one word: obedience.

How do we treat God less like a cosmic vending machine and more like the Creator we depend on and trust? With every answered prayer, we should be developing a deeper level of trust, trust that emboldens us to pray bigger and bolder prayers. I recommend keeping a prayer journal to write your prayers to God, make your requests to Him then record the dates of how and when God answers. During dry seasons, when you feel unheard, return to these pages to remember God’s faithfulness.

We also need to thank God for revealing His character—His faithfulness and provision—especially when we struggle with doubt. We need to fight back against the enemy’s lies with truth and renewed confidence that God is who He says He is.

We should also look for ways to bless others and listen for The Holy Spirit’s leading then we should obey God and follow His lead. I send encouraging prayers—usually starting with my husband and kids. I’ve written more “thank you” notes. I even volunteered to lead our Sunday School class. Finally, we need to ask ourselves: What is God teaching us about worry through answered prayer?

He knows our needs, but He waits for us to seek Him humbly. Pastor Timothy Keller said, “Worry is when we don’t trust God to get it right. We have not surrendered our own agenda and we want God to get on board and make it all happen according to our plan. It’s a form of pride.”

How have you responded to God when He answers your prayers? Do you pause to rejoice and thank Him? What is He teaching you through them?

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are our faithful provider in all things. You know our needs before we ask. Thank You. Help us release our pride and forgive us for trying to hold on to our agendas. You are sovereign. Your ways are always better than our ways. Keep our hearts and minds open to what you are teaching us through answered prayer. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

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

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Author Bio:

Leslie Bake grew up Lutheran in Des Moines, graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with an undergraduate degree in English, and with a new understanding of what a relationship with the Lord could look like. 

She spent a few years reporting and editing in small town journalism and then began pursuing a master’s degree at Iowa State University in teaching English to speakers of other languages. Then she got married and later went through a divorce, which deepened her relationship with God and transformed her life.

Leslie taught English as a second language for three years at Kansas State University, then returned to writing and earned a master’s degree in creative non-fiction in Pittsburgh. Her memoir will eventually be published. It details the process of how the Lord created beauty from the ashes of divorce.

Pittsburgh is also where she met and married her second husband. They are now the parents of two wonderful children—one in fifth grade and one in first grade.

Leslie and her husband make their home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Leslie has been a stay-at-home mom for the past 11 years and actively growing her writing career alongside her two growing children.

She now maintains a monthly blog of her own and is working toward expanding her writing ministry on Substack. Her heart’s deepest desire is to help others connect with God through writing.

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Connect with Leslie:
Website: lesliejoybake.com
Substack: lesliebake.substack.com
E-mail address: Leslie.bake@yahoo.com

My Review of "Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart" devotional by Lysa TerKeurst

I was delighted to receive an offer from Momentum Influencers Network to participate in a book promotion campaign by reading Lysa TerKeurst’s new devotional "Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart: 50 Devotions for Sleeping Well in a World Full of Worry", and writing a review! 

Lysa is one of my favorite Christian authors. She only writes nonfiction in the Christian Living category. This is the first devotional I’ve read that was written by Lysa and her guest writers. It was a wonderful read!

I’m happy to share my review with you but first, here’s a word from Momentum Influencers Network about Lysa’s new book:

God not only has the whole world in His hands; He's holding the details of your life in His faithful hands as well.

What lies heaviest on your heart as you lay your head on your pillow? Are paralyzing fear and anxiety stealing tomorrow's peace? Listen to this invitation from Jesus: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28 NIV).

Experiencing this kind of rest won't come from escapism, more vacation days, or stuffing our feelings. Jesus Himself provides rest to our weary souls. While He may not always fix everything right away, we can fix our thoughts on His Word. In doing this, we can sleep at night with ease knowing that God has it all under control. Through the pages of “Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart”, written by New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst and her friends at Proverbs 31 Ministries, you will be equipped to:

- Quiet fearful and anxious thoughts that always seem to be the loudest before bedtime by incorporating the Bible into your nightly routine.

- Find relief from the stress of daily obligations and pressures through 50 encouraging devotions and guided prayers written by women like you.

- Release the heaviness you feel about hard situations in your life so you can wake up refreshed and walk into the next day with courage.

Learn more at www.ClearMindPeacefulHeart.com

~*~

Now, here’s my review of "Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart" by Lysa TerKeurst:

Reading this devotional book is like sipping a cup of lemon balm tea. It quiets your mind and soothes your soul as it provides encouragement for your heart.

It truly lives up to its mission to help you focus on God and His Word, not the craziness and catastrophes happening in our world today. I found that reading one of these devotionals every night before going to bed helped me to focus on all the hope given by Jesus Christ. Hope for a hurting world. It was beautiful!

I appreciate how Lysa had guest writers to help fill the pages of this book with their real-life stories and experiences served to the reader in devotional format. It was encouraging to read something different by a new writer each day. Not everybody is the same. So I believe that having different viewpoints from a variety of writers helps to reach a wider audience of readers.

Each devotion in this book was refreshing and well-written. I also appreciate the interior and exterior graphic designs that make this book not only attractive but complete. If you’re struggling with chaos and losing your sense of peace, I encourage you to read this book, and also read the best book (The Holy Bible) prayerfully. God will meet you on those pages and provide comfort.

If you have not read this devotional yet, I encourage you to buy it online or in a local bookstore. Perhaps even ask if your local library carries it and if not, request that they make it available to borrow because it effectively addresses a felt need for so many people in our world today!

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Giveaway Contest: 

Enter this giveaway contest for your chance to win a $5 Starbucks gift card! Open the link below to enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway contest widget here:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8dcb68c499/?

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Disclosure: Many thanks to Harper Collins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

#ClearMindMIN #clearmindpeacefulheart #newbacktoschoolroutine #MomentumInfluencerNetwork @tnzgift @lysaterkeurst @proverbs31ministries

Devotionals for the Heart: What car trouble taught me about trusting God

Car Trouble Taught Me about the Goodness of God 
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.” 

—Psalm 69:16 (NIV)

When we’re in a season of affliction or trouble, crying out to God for help is a natural response for most people. Enduring relentless pain or scorn can be unbearable at times. Excruciating at others.

King David wrote Psalm 69, and he knew trouble. He knew hardships, running, enemies, pain, affliction, and he knew the mercy of God. It is what makes this Psalm so relatable.

There are three attributes of God’s character he calls on in this one verse: goodness, love and mercy. It reminds me of another Psalm written by King David. Psalm 23:6 (NIV) says, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

God’s goodness is beyond measure and something inexplainable with mere words. His goodness passed before Moses when he was in the cleft of the rock (see Exodus 34:6). The Lord’s goodness is so great, He had to hide Moses. Only then could Moses glimpse God’s goodness.

Have you felt the goodness of God before? Have you felt His Presence so powerful and real that you felt enveloped in His love? How did it make you feel? Overwhelmed? In awe? As if you were standing on holy ground?

There are times in my life when I have felt His goodness and I was left in awe because of it. These moments are powerful in that they left me without a doubt of His being in my life, in the here and now and in my moments of deep desperation.

On a recent trip out of state, we had five hundred miles to travel on a lonely two-lane highway for much of the time. Not more than three hours into our trip we experienced significant truck engine issues—so much so, we had to backtrack 45 miles to get help as it was the nearest town with nothing being ahead of us for many, many miles.

We were desperate, we needed saving, we needed help and we needed it fast. We needed God to show us His mercy in this situation, His guidance and His goodness. And He did. Multiple times over. Before we knew we needed a solution, it was there. Before we could worry, He had an answer.

As the day wore into evening, and we were again experiencing more engine troubles, we cried out to God for His mercy. As we drove along the desolate stretch of highway, with my husband driving, I was praying out loud for God’s mercy because we had nowhere else to turn. No town was ahead of us, no town behind us. It was pitch dark outside, late and getting later, colder and darker. We cried out for His goodness to follow us, to lead us and for His mercy to sustain us. He did just that. When we were tempted to worry, God reminded us of His goodness. When we were tempted to take our eyes off of Him and onto the desolate road in front of us, He reminded us our help was found in Him, and Him alone. When we were tempted to turn around and go back, He reminded us we needed to God forward in Him, not backwards. With the Lord’s complete guidance, we did in fact make it to our destination, intact.

As we put our trust, hope and hearts upon the Lord, we experienced His peace, His grace and His love. We were so thankful for this demonstration of God’s presence in our lives in real time and in our very real moment of desperation.

The Bible says in Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV), “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is truth. God’s peace does guard our hearts and minds. He keeps us in peace and places protection found in His Presence around us so we cannot falter. And it is good. So good.

Are you needing His goodness, love and mercy in your situation? Why not cry out to God and allow Him to pour them over you and leave you in His perfect peace?

Let’s Pray: Father God, You are amazing and Your goodness, love and mercy are what I need, now and every day. Forgive me for when I have allowed myself to fret when I should have gone to You immediately. I am here, asking for Your goodness to follow me. Your love to chase me. And Your mercy to envelope me. I praise You for all You do. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

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

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Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Reasons why we should not overthink things

The Danger of Overthinking
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

—2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

The other day I caught myself thinking about a particular topic for an extended period of time. 

Not only did I think about it for a few moments, but I also hung on to that thought, and then that thought led me to think about other thoughts that were unrelated to my original thought. By the time I snapped out of it, I realized how unproductive it was to sit there thinking about the same thing and not even come to a conclusion.

I often wonder how many others suffer from overthinking—dwelling on a thought repeatedly and then allowing that thought to needlessly consume your time.

There are numerous reasons why people tend to overthink. People are genuinely afraid of making the wrong decision. Once they start overthinking, they are intimidated by all of the possibilities to consider. Instead of making a decision, they would prefer not to have that responsibility, so they just let someone else deal with it.

Another reason for overthinking is fear of failure. If it’s a business venture, opportunity, or a fork in the road, people will overthink it to the point of talking themselves out of it. In the end, they never pursue their dream.

Overthinking can be self-destructive. The root cause can be traced back to insecurity, low self-esteem, stress and worry. If overthinking gets out of control, it can become a hindrance to your life, your relationships with people, and even your relationship with God.

The good news is that God gives us a solution to overthinking in His Word (The Holy Bible). He wants us to surrender all of our worries to Him and allow Him to solve our problems. He cares about everything that concerns us and He has mercy on us when we are wrestling with our relentless thoughts. He doesn’t want us to be anxious about anything. Instead, He wants us to experience peace that surpasses all human understanding. We never have to fear when we allow God to take control.

The next time you start to overthink, turn your thoughts over to God, and watch Him make a difference in your life.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, Grant us peace and calm our troubled minds. Send Your Holy Spirit to abide with us, so that we may think on things that are of You. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Anxious Heart” by Jeremy Camp. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey.

 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

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Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com

Devotionals for the Heart: A remedy from God for worry, anxiety and fear

God’s Prescription for Fear
A devotional by Sarah Cole

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”–Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

In the classic folktale Chicken Little, the cowardly hen suffers a concussion after an acorn falls on her head. Convinced the sky is falling, she rushes from the woods to warn the king and creates mass hysteria among her feathered friends.

Chicken Little’s fear may be extreme, but aren't humans just as prone to expect the worst before gathering all the facts? When faced with crisis or uncertainty, we often turn to worst-case scenarios instead of God.

Fear is a liar. It is “False Evidence Appearing Real”.

At its core is a lack of control over a real or perceived threat. Like a spark to a forest fire, one anxious thought builds momentum, and before we know it, we're in a full-blown panic attack. But the good news is that when we surrender our concerns to God and meditate on His promises, fear doesn't stand a chance (Philippians 4:8).

In his letter to the Philippian church, the Apostle Paul provides a prescription for fear: the power of prayer. He tells them that by surrendering their concerns to God and thanking Him for what He's done and is about to do, they would experience peace. Thousands of years later, the same holds true for us.

Friend, God didn't design you to live in a perpetual state of anxiety. That's why He tells us 365 times in His Word not to fear. So, instead of letting stress keep you up at night or dilemmas eat away at your peace, take a dose of God's Word, and your heart will be calm (John 14:27).

The next time fear rears its ugly head, consider taking one or more of the following prescriptions and see how you feel. 

Turn your worries into prayers. When you transfer ownership of your cares to God, you can be confident He will take care of you (1 Peter 5:7). Keeping a written record of your prayers and God's answers builds your faith.

Capture your thoughts. Instead of letting your thoughts run wild, go on a fact-finding mission and measure them against God's word (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Practice gratitude. Even when things look grim, be grateful for God's faithfulness, sovereignty, and promise to care for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Learn the art of optimism. Someone once told me, “Things have a way of working out.” Expect a hopeful future, and your anxiety will dim (Romans 15:13).

Recall God’s faithfulness. Make a list of the times God answered your prayers, provided unexpectedly and healed and delivered you (Lamentations 3:22-24). Reminding yourself of God's goodness helps you expect the best.

Friend, fear doesn't have to run the show. When you know Jesus Christ, no matter what happens on this side of Heaven, you have eternity to look forward to (John 14:2-4). And that hope is the best prescription of all.

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, when my heart grows weary and my circumstances overwhelm me, I need not fear because You promise to take care of me. Thank you for delivering me from the fears that hold me captive. I trust in Your unfailing love now and forever. In Jesus's Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: "Fear Not" by Aaron Shust. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Sarah Cole’s interest in writing began in grade school when her poem was published in the local paper. As she got older, her mother’s chronic illness inspired her to design a line of greeting cards. Since then, she has written for her college newspaper and two community newspapers where she wrote restaurant reviews and articles for their “Best of” spread.

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

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

Since 2022, Sarah’s devotionals have been published in The Secret Place by Judson Press, as well as David C. Cook’s Devotions and The Quiet Hour. To this day, she smiles, pinches herself and gives God all the glory.

When she’s not writing, Sarah enjoys watching cooking shows, designing cards and mugs, and taking day trips.

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

Devotionals for the Heart: God will never forget you because He is Faithful

You Are Not Forgotten
A devotional by Patricia Russell

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” – Hebrews 10:23 (NLT)

One of my favorite movies is It's a Wonderful Life.

The story is based on the life of George Bailey, who, like so many of us, experiences many twists and turns in his life. Every time George was on the verge of moving in the direction that he dreamed, hoped, and planned, there was an interruption that would turn things upside down.

George remembers others. However, when it's his time to step into his dream, others forget him. 

There is a scene when Uncle Billy, who works at the family business building and loans office, makes a major deposit at the bank. Uncle Billy heads into the bank, places an envelope of money on the table, and walks away. Uncle Billy had tied a string around his finger to remind him of the reason he went into the bank in the first place. The string is strategically tied to his index finger so that he would remember. I'm sure you see where this is going – he forgot what he was supposed to do. As a result of his forgetfulness, George's life plans are derailed yet once again.

It feels great when someone remembers to keep their promise to us. It tells them that you have a place of importance in their minds, which is truly impactful. Whenever I travelled out of town or overseas, I would always bring back a gift for my family. I told them to look in my bag and see if there was something they liked. They knew what was theirs, and their smiles were priceless. I believe God wants us to feel this same way.

During this time of restriction and change, we may have felt somewhat forgotten. We have missed seeing each other at church and weekly gatherings. We are not bumping into people in the work hallways or the coffee machine, and the feeling of isolation is somewhat saddening. I know what this feels like. 

I also recall someone in scripture who understood these feelings all too well.

In the book of Genesis, we read the story of Joseph the Dreamer. Joseph is sold off to the Egyptians by his brothers. However, he finds favor in the eyes of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard, and is positioned to oversee his entire property. One day he is falsely accused by Potiphar's wife and is thrown into prison. Joseph might have thought, How could this happen? Has God forgotten the dreams that He gave me?

However, Joseph does not stop dreaming. Later, he has a dream about the butler. Joseph tells the butler his dream, and the butler promises not to forget Joseph. His promise, however, was as strong as Uncle Billy's string tied to his finger. He forgot Joseph.

Sit for a moment with how Joseph may have felt. Like George Bailey, he may have felt like every time he made a step forward, he was kicked down a few pegs. Feelings of loneliness that sit with the feeling of being forgotten are discouraging.

Can you relate to this picture? Have you been doing what you know to be right, and yet you feel overlooked? Have you been praying and waiting for something to change in your career, and you wonder if your prayers are being heard? You are not forgotten. I, too, have prayed and asked God for change. I have watched while others have been chosen and wonder if God has taken the string off his finger to remind him that I'm still standing in line for my answer, for my breakthrough.

What I've learned is this: While we wait and remain faithful, God is working in the background, and He has not forgotten us. The scriptures state that God can be trusted to keep His promise (Hebrews 10:23 NLT). My friend, the character of the One who has promised is that of faithfulness.

Let's Pray: Heavenly Father, your Word tells me you are faithful, which means you never change. You are the same yesterday, today and forever. There are days when I feel forgotten, but I will hold on to the truth of your word that surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Thank You Lord, for always remembering me. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen. 

*Note from Alexis: Patricia's devotional message today reminds me of the song "God of All My Days" performed by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.
~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia Russell is a speaker, worship leader, author, certified life coach and songwriter.  

Her gifts have been shared internationally with audiences to encourage, empower and share life lessons through words and songs. She has sung on national television broadcasts and shared the stage with several respected speakers. Over her 30 years in ministry, she has been a featured artist in musical cantatas locally and the United States of America.

Patricia had the honour of leading worship at the kick-off event for the 2006 the “Just Give Me Jesus” Toronto Revival with Anne Graham Lotz who is the eldest daughter of Billy Graham, a well-known American evangelist.

Patricia serves in ministry along with her husband Rev. Wayne Russell. Together, they have served as guest hosts on a local early morning call in program called “Nite Lite Live” that formerly aired on the CTS Television Network. They have two adult children: Raquel and Benjamin.

Patricia has recorded two CD’s: “Lord I Trust You” and a live recording “Draw Me Nearer.” She is also an author. Her first book is titled Lord I Trust You: Words of Encouragement. It is meant to further encourage and share life lessons as a result of her cancer journey. She is a co-author of a #1 bestseller book titled Crushed Diamonds Still Sparkle, and she has compiled the recent #1 bestseller book titled Stronger Resilience.

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should believe God and have faith

Do You Believe Me Now?
A devotional by Temeka Borden

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” 

–Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Many people use the words “faith” and “belief” interchangeably, while others argue differences exist. For the purpose of this devotional, I’m opting to use these two terms interchangeably.

I have a question for you. How many times have you worried about something, possibly loss sleep because of it, went to God about that thing, and He let you know in a variety of ways that everything will be okay? Yet, you still could not seem to shake that worry, or anxiety, or fear as you were going through that trial. However, in the end, it all turned out okay.

At that moment when you discover that everything worked out just fine, it’s almost as though you can hear God say, “Do you believe Me now?” Also, how many times have you experienced moments of doubt regarding something you know God is leading you to do? As humans, we experience our “moments”, but worry should not dominate our lives. Doubt should not dominate our lives either.

When I think about belief (or unbelief or doubt), Sarah from The Holy Bible comes to mind. After God said that Sarah would give birth to a son, Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” (Genesis 18:12) Sarah did not believe her being able to bear a child was possible. However, she eventually gave birth to Isaac (Genesis 21:2-3).

God kept His promise to Sarah. We must remember the Lord keeps His promises to us too. He does not lie. If God says He will do something, we must believe Him. This can relate to anything you can think of (from increase from a financial standpoint to complete healing physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually).

However, some things take true effort on our part and some things take time. In a piece I wrote some time ago, I stated that although we serve a God who can make anything happen at any time, we must be patient and wait for some things. Often, we must undergo a preparation period before we receive something or advance to the next level. Preparation periods are not easy, but they are necessary and worth it!

You may be in a season of difficulty right now. You may feel as though things will never get better. You may feel as though there is no way out of the situation you’re currently in. You may be so overcome with worry, anxiety, and frustration that you are unable to see God working in your life. Everything may appear chaotic, confusing, and just crazy. You may feel as though you have been waiting on God for something for a lifetime. However, remind yourself that anything is possible with the Lord, and He can fix anything in your life and create a blessing out of the chaos.

The phrase “Everything is going to be okay” is a very common one. However, what about those times when things don’t go as you planned in your life?

We should always ask that God’s will be done in our lives. At times, our flesh will get in the way and cloud our vision of what God wants for us. At times, we do not consult with the Lord as we should, and at times, failure to consult with the Lord will land us in some predicaments.

Thankfully, we serve a forgiving and patient God who can bless us even when we “mess up”, although we are expected to learn from our mistakes.

When you follow the Lord’s instructions and do things the way He wants them to be done, everything will be okay. Things may not turn out the way you always expect, but you will be okay. So don’t wait until you come out of the trial or receive that blessing to believe that the blessing will happen for you. Have faith and remember that God always keeps His word.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, help us to trust You. Build within us a faith that survives every trial and overcomes every doubt. Help us to believe more in You. Teach us how to trust You. Thank You for always being there for us and for keeping Your Word. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Note from Alexis: Temeka's message reminds me of the song "Broken Places" by Plumb. Listen to it here. 

~*~
Author Bio:

Temeka Borden, better known by her pen name “Positivity Inspires,” is an author, speaker, minister, PharmD, multi-state licensed pharmacist, founder and owner of Positivity Inspires, LLC, and most importantly, a servant of the Lord.

She was introduced to Christ at a very early age and was raised in the church. Her ministry focuses on encouraging Christians to love God first, to love all people, to continually strengthen their bond with Christ, and to study His Word, and live His Word daily.
​
Dr. Borden has been blessed with a variety of gifts, and she has gained much professional experience in a variety of settings. She also has served in administrative roles in the professional and church settings. In addition to obtaining her PharmD, she also obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology (minor in English), and she is working on her third degree. What’s more, as stated in her words, “I completed a specialty pharmacy residency that prepared me for the workforce and made me a force to be reckoned with.”

Temeka is a long-distance runner, a drummer, a singer, and she has a strong “fashion sense.” She also can read and type at almost supersonic speed in some instances.

Dr. Borden loves to learn and is constantly looking for new ways to challenge herself.

She loves God and she loves people. She is “crazy about her family,” and she adores her friends. She strongly encourages others to show kindness, respect, and love to everyone.

Temeka loves and welcomes diversity and flourishes in culturally diverse environments.

Dr. Borden loves to laugh and loves to make other people laugh. She also is passionate about giving back to the community. Her favorite sayings are “Speak Up!” and “Watch God Work!”

~*~
Connect with Temeka:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PositivityInspiresPage/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/positivity_inspires/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pinspires

Devotionals for the Heart: Our Mission

Purpose and Productivity
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

–Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

Have I somehow made “being productive” and “finding purpose” an idol in my life? I am aware, as most of us are, that God’s version of things like love, peace, happiness, and success are often very different from what the world expects. So my fear is that along the way, I have turned God’s calling and purpose for my life into an end goal it was never supposed to be.

I grew up in the church. I never felt a call to be a missionary or a pastor, but I always thought that somehow, with whatever talent I possessed, I would someday do “big things” for God. Yet here I am, in middle-age, feeling let down and afraid that I might have missed that one thing God had for me to do.

As I was pondering that rather depressing thought, a realization hit me that I know could only have come from God: He doesn’t need me to worry about doing big things or small things or even anything at all. He just needs my willingness and obedience for those moments when He does ask me to do something.

I only have so many days, so many years, and only this one life and I don’t want to waste it. But I have spent a lot of energy trying to figure out my purpose. What if what God really needs from me is to be still, listen to His voice, love Him and the people around me? What if I miss that because I’m looking to do something bigger? What if there really is no “one purpose”, but just day-to-day trust and obedience?

My father-in-law remarked once that when his kids were little, he’d gotten a video camera. He spent so much time trying to capture memories of school concerts and vacations, that he ended up only really experiencing them through the lens, feeling like he’d missed the event itself. I don’t want to be looking so hard for something that I miss the things around me.

Not all of us will have a platform for evangelism like Billy Graham, or have the resume of a Moses or King David. But we all have people in our lives who need to hear the Truth. We have children to raise to know Jesus. We have jobs to do with integrity so that people know we are people of good character. We have small kindnesses to do in our corner of the world. We can support others doing work in places around the world we will never see.

Worrying takes away a lot of joy. And if we are spending time with God, He is not going to let us miss out on what He has for us. He doesn’t need me to find my own version of purpose or productivity. He just needs me to listen and act.

“The Mission” song by Steve Green sums up my points today. Listen to it here.

Let’s Pray: Father God, You know everything about me, the world, and my place in it. Please help me to see where You want me to be, what You want me to do, and who You want me to share You with, however that looks. I know You have things set aside for me to do, but help me not be so focused on “doing”, that I forget how to just “be”. I love You. In Jesus’s 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: Defeat

A Beautiful Defeat
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” 

– Colossians 1:17-20 (NLT)

Why are we afraid to fail in front of others?

Recently, I found myself in a situation where the fear of failure stalked me.

It began during a lunch break at teacher conference a few days before the start of school. I had received an email message with evidence that I had relayed wrong information to a parent. I had thought a glitch in our new registration system was the culprit, which would have been easy to fix, but the harsh reality was I had made the mistake. It had occurred months previous to this, when a grade point average minimum policy removed the student and I had missed officially informing the parent.

To make matters worse, I was nowhere I could call the parent or talk to my colleagues in person. The only alternative was to email them with the news, but it was late in the day so I knew I wouldn’t hear anything back until morning. That night as I lay in bed, I played out every scenario in my mind: From my boss’s condescending lecture, to the look of disappointment on the head of counseling’s face, and the yells of anger spewing from the parent on the phone.

I was in mental hell, wrapped in steal blankets of imagined humiliation and defeat. I prayed but felt nothing. No peace. No alternative answer. No way out.

That morning, I resolved to call the parent immediately, then to face my boss and so on. In the parking lot I sought God. His question rose, “Are you done striving in your own defeat?” I surrendered everything over to him. “Now that you have placed me between you and the world, I can fix this,” He replied, then prompted me to text my church life group and ask them to pray for me. After they positively replied, I went into work feeling unburdened.

A half hour later, after I had told the parent the truth, I waited for the yelling, but it never came. Instead I was met with a calm voice of understanding and acceptance. Afterward, my sense of failure washed away on a morning tide of forgiveness. I opened my email anticipating my boss’s curt response, but my inbox was empty. My self-inflicted moments of anticipated humiliation dissipated like a vapor. The outcome of my failure was nothing I had imagined it. I’d been ready to face my failure and defeat but had forgotten that His cross had already done it for me.

So often we forget the power of the cross. We get comfortable among the world when things are going right and seek to fix our problems with the world by our own actions and words when they aren’t. Then we wonder why we are tormented by the spirits of humiliation, anger, and fear of failure.

God is the ultimate overcomer, but He is also a gentleman, which is why His word tells us to ask of Him. When we ask Him for help and surrender our situation to Him, we place the power of the cross and His blood between ourselves and the world.

As we lay everything down at His feet the tormentors are ceased, and the battle is won by our Savior through the victory of His blood that He shed for us. He washes us clean once again and lifts us back up rich in hope and acceptance.

We are made humbled and reconciled, but it is a beautiful defeat wrapped in the freedom of His love as we face the world again; this time, with His cross before us.

~*~
Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter and theatre director/producer from Northern Virginia. She teaches television production at C.D. Hylton Senior High School. 

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is a member of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), ACFW Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.

Mirachelle is passionate about awakening creativity and the gifts of God in everyone. She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII, inspired by her time studying theatre education in London, England.

In her spare time, she also writes and directs Christmas and Easter passion plays at Christ Chapel Assembly of God in Woodbridge, Va.

~*~
Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mirachelle77/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan

Devotionals for the Heart: Hope

Had I Not Believed
A devotional by Sharon Musgrove

“I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.”
 –Psalm 27:13-14 (AMP)

In a recent conversation with my sister-in-law, she shared with me a heart-to-heart talk she'd had with her son. In their private moments together, Jan’s twenty-something child expressed a deep concern for the world.

“Mom,” Jan recounted his words, “I’m afraid that the world may not exist when I am your age.”

A resident of San Francisco, my nephew had been experiencing the destruction of California’s Camp Fire. According to National Public Radio’s news coverage on November 20, 2018, the blaze was called “the deadliest and most destructive, destroying more than 13,000 residences, as well as 514 commercial structures and more than 4,000 other buildings.” At that time, the death toll was 83. This fire left San Francisco with possibly the most polluted air in the world at that time.

“He is a worrier,” Jan shared. “But the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

I’ve reflected on that conversation many times, feeling sorrow for such a heavy burden on my nephew’s mind. For him, what began as grief over horrific losses, by worry, had become fear of the end of the world! What an overwhelming feeling!

God shares His love and concern for us throughout Scripture, telling us not to worry. Like a parent to a young child He says, “I am with you.” (Isaiah 41:10 ESV). “I will not leave you as orphans.” (John 14:18 ESV). “I am head over all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11 ESV). He tells us to cast all anxieties on Him (1 Peter 5:7 ESV) because He cares for us.

God gives us a solution to our fear, yet we choose to worry. Worry that grows sorrow into feelings of hopelessness. Rather than giving God our worries, we are choosing hopelessness.

Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology defines “hope” with these words: To trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future. This definition shows “hope” as a projection of positive thinking into future events, while hopelessness projects negativity into the future. Hope says, “Better is coming!” While hopelessness mumbles, “Things will never change.”

How do we change our thoughts from hopelessness to hopeful? By choice…by evaluating all the information available rather than just focusing on the negative….by factoring God into the equation rather than excluding Him.

God’s command not to worry indicates that we have control over our minds. So, while we don’t have control over the events of this world, we do have control over how we think of them. We can choose not to worry. We can choose not to despair. We can choose to tell God that we are saddened by tragic affairs but are grateful that He is caring for us as a loving parent for a helpless child.

The Amplified version of Psalm 27:13-14 is wonderfully encouraging in using the words that echo the definition of hope: “wait for” and “confidently expecting.” I love the undertones of confidence! The Bible says, “I would have despaired, but I was too busy believing in God’s goodness.” (Psalm 27:13-14 AMP)

Hope does not ignore that there is ugliness and tragedy in this world. It does not slap a happy face on a sad and frightening experience. Hope looks at the world’s pain and says, “I have the courage to believe in God and He is working this out.” Had I not believed, I would feel hopeless!

I pray for us today, that we cast away worry in exchange for hope!

~*~
Author Bio:

Sharon Musgrove is a self-proclaimed sociologist. The opportunities opened to her, over the years, have led her on a fascinating journey observing human behavior.

She has a diverse background in business, fitness and health industries. This background led her to a unique position writing curriculum and teaching for two private, Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both recovery programs served women primarily from the homeless community.

Sharon has traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the rural Maasai communities. She's been privileged to participate in Leadership camps for maturing young women. These annual camps have a mission of encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often abused young Maasai girls.

Easily identifying personally with the brokenness of the women she's served, Sharon now sees all people as needing more encouragement regardless of cultural or socioeconomic status. Within these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its transformative power has become her passion.

In her leisure time, Sharon enjoys her garden, health food, travel, and a good story. She and her husband, Jeff, make their home in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. They have two grown children. Currently, Sharon is writing her first Christian historical fiction novel utilizing her study, experience, and understanding of self-destructive behaviors.

Thankful Thursdays: God is with me

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful for the fact that God is with me!

All of yesterday (Wednesday, May 29) was filled with worry, anxiety and depression for me. I woke up with a million things on my mind, rushed into my activities for that day and returned home even more upset.

There were moments when I calmed down after talking to a few God-fearing sister-in-Christ friends but as soon as our conversation was over, the anxiety picked up again. I was so overwhelmed about several serious, real-life situations that I could barely see the light of day or any hope in the severity of it all. These situations have been on my mind a lot lately but on May 29 the thoughts of these crowded every ray of sunshine out of the picture.

A few hours before midnight, a counselor encouraged me to “tap into (my) spirituality” because they know that helps me. So I did. For the first time that day/evening/night, I opened my “True Identity” Bible and searched for Scriptures that would speak to my situation.

After spending time in God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and talking to Him through prayer, I felt better. As I closed my Bible, I started singing these words, “Sovereign in the mountain air/Sovereign on the ocean floor/With me in the calm/With me in the storm.” 

When I realized that these were words to a song that I first heard years ago, I immediately went to YouTube and typed in the first few words. The song “Sovereign” by the Contemporary Christian music artist Chris Tomlin showed up first in the search results. 

I selected the lyric video version and listened to it while I read the lyrics only to find that every single lyric spoke directly into my situation! These song lyrics silenced my worries and reminded me that I can trust God no matter what because He knows everything I need and He will always provide for me.

As the song faded out, I realized that God just spoke to me through it. I know it was His message for me that night not only because of the lyrics, but because of the fact that I hadn’t heard that song in years and had forgotten the lyrics until that night (May 29). I know that it’s not a coincidence that these lyrics came to mind after I spent time studying God’s Word!

It’s also important to note that before I started reading The Bible that night, I asked God to speak to me through His Word and He did, not only through Scripture but through the lyrics of that song reminding me that He is Sovereign.

The dictionary defines the word “sovereign” as “possessing supreme or ultimate power” and the synonyms to this word that stood out to me are “boundless,” “unrestricted” and “unrestrained.”

This definition applied to God, shows us that not only does He have the ultimate power over the entire universe and everything in it, it shows that His power is unrestricted, meaning that nothing and no one can stop what He wants to do!

God’s plans for your life and my life cannot be stopped. No one and nothing (not even the evil forces) in this world or the entire universe can stop Him from blessing you! So when God seems silent, just keep trusting Him and knowing that He is working together everything for your good (Romans 8:28) because He loves you (John 3:16) and He has GOOD plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11)!

Be encouraged, dear friends with this: No matter what happens in human history on this planet Earth, the Creator of the Universe (God) is with you. He will NEVER leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) and His Son Jesus Christ (our Savior) says in John 16:33 that in this world we will have trouble but “take heart” because He (JESUS) has “overcome the world!”

Romans 8:31-39 (NIV) says that we are “more than conquerors” with Jesus Christ on our side! Let’s read the full passage:

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, either height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

These Bible verses give me hope that no matter what happens in this life, God is with me. I hope that these verses give you that same hope.

Love,

Alexis A. Goring
Founder of “God is Love” blog

P.S._Here's the lyric video that I watched of the song "Sovereign" by Chris Tomlin:

Devotionals for the Heart: On Worry

Worry is a Distraction
A devotional by Temeka Borden

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” 

– Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

What are you worried about right now—a family member, your job, your health, making ends meet, an upcoming exam, other people’s opinions of you? 

Now, how many times have we worried about something and everything turned out just fine? Speaking for myself, I can say numerous times. 

I think many of us worry unnecessarily, perhaps more than we would like to admit. Thankfully, over the years, I have grown substantially in that area once I finally got it—once I finally realized that worry does absolutely nothing for me.

I have been saying the following for years: Worry is a distraction. Worry is a tool the enemy uses in an attempt to get your focus off of God. Worry is a tool the enemy uses in an attempt to make you forget that the Lord has all power and authority. Worry is a tool the enemy uses in an attempt to dampen your spirit and make you feel all hope is lost. Worry is a tool the enemy uses in an attempt to distract you from your spiritual mission. Simply put, worry is not of God.

The Scriptures remind us to not worry. The Scriptures remind us to not fret. The Scriptures remind us to place all of our trust in the Lord. The Scriptures remind us that if we “seek the Kingdom of God first and His righteousness” then He will take care of us. The Scriptures remind us of how powerful God’s wisdom is. Thus, we are to trust His wisdom, despite how things look. We are to trust His wisdom and be confident and comforted in the fact that He knows what He is doing, even when things don’t quite make sense to us.

I understand that because we are human, we will have our moments. However, we must remind ourselves of who dwells within us. God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit) lives in us, and a fruit of the Spirit is peace (Read Galatians 5:22).

When worry tries to seep into your soul, remind yourself of what the Scriptures say about who God is and who you are because of Him. Remind yourself that God has everything under control. Remind yourself that nothing is too hard for our Lord. Remind yourself that all things are possible with God. Remind yourself that God is our Shepherd and that He provides for His sheep.

Just think of the Israelites and how God fed them with manna and quail as they journeyed through the wilderness. He met their needs, and when we continue to place the Lord first, He will meet all of our needs as well.

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Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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