Devotionals for the Heart: What to do when life feels like a roller coaster

Waiting With Hope
A devotional by Casey Wayne

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” 

–Psalm 27:14 (ESV)

Not long ago I responded to a post someone shared on social media. It asked people to comment with one word that described their summer.

Intrigued by the reflective nature of the question, I pondered it for a moment and chose to respond with: Roller Coaster. It was the best way to describe the ups and downs of the previous months. There were so many beautiful opportunities, moments and highlights to the summer. Family vacation, pool time, adventures with the kids and so much more. Unfortunately, if I’m honest, I would also say I struggled to be present and enjoy it. The summer was also filled with stress, pain, fear, worry, and uncertainty. Things that brought tears to my eyes and burden to my soul. Weeks turned into months where I teetered between faith in God’s future for me and hopelessness in the waiting.

I felt the strong tension in my heart and mind as Satan tried to drag me into believing his lies and forfeiting my identity in Christ. My heart was crushing under the weight of it all and trying to have the strength, mentally and physically, to move forward. The battle raged on as I fought for what I knew was God’s truth.

Lamentations 3:25 (ESV) says, “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” By God’s grace, as I sought Him daily, I was reminded of His faithfulness enough to get through one day at a time. The sinking sand slowly changed to solid rock with more support to move forward with bigger steps. Healing and restoration is a process. And as much as I dislike that reality, God often does His most beautiful work in the waiting. So I rested at the feet of Jesus Christ and prayed for the Spirit to restore me. I held tightly to what Scripture says in Romans 8:5-6 (ESV) which reads, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

If you are in a season of life where you feel like you are living in that tension between who you are in Christ, His faithfulness, and the weight of what this broken world throws at us, I encourage you to bring it to the feet of Jesus. Allow the restoration and nourishment of your soul by the Holy Spirit. Be intentional in reminding yourself of God’s faithfulness in the past and set your mind on God’s Truth. Satan wants nothing more than to bring us down with lies and hopelessness—dragging us into a life of “death”. Be conscious of that battle, but know that Christ has already won and offers us a life of hope, peace and purpose for God’s glory.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the hope and peace we have in Christ. As we come to You, restore our hearts and encourage our trust in Your faithfulness. I pray for continued strength to seek you daily. In seasons of waiting, remind me of my identity in Christ and protect me from the lies of the enemy.

In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Never Been A Moment” by Micah Tyler. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Casey Wayne is a wife and mother of two children. 

She enjoys time with her family doing simple things like movie nights and cooking together.

As a devotional writer, Casey strives to share her story with relatable honesty, showing how God is faithful throughout the big and small moments of life.

She has a heart for encouraging the faith walk of other moms, praying they gain a deeper connection with our Heavenly Father.

Her family lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.

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Connect with Casey:
Website: https://www.caseywayne.org/
Blog: https://peaceoffaith.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caseylwayne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peace.of.FaithCaseyWayne

Devotionals for the Heart: Warfare

Seeing the Warfare
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Have you ever been to one of those 4D interactive theaters, the kind where instead of watching a screen and hearing the sound, you get those special glasses that transform the images into an illusion of three-dimensional solidity? Synchronized special effects also occur in the theater, like vibration, mist, wind, and more. It’s a multi-sensory cinematic experience.

But here’s the thing: When you take your special glasses off, the screen is blurry. You can’t see anything. You have a vague sense of what is on the screen, but it’s not clear.

Then, when you put the glasses back on, everything is right again.

This reminds me so much of the spiritual warfare going on all around us every single day, and how many of us can’t really see it—or don’t understand it’s there at all.

A few weeks ago on my blog, I shared about some of the troubles going on in my life lately: car issues, needing to replace our washing machine and refrigerator, a widening hole in my deck, six months spent living in our guest room because our pipes froze and flooded our bedroom, my daughter’s ongoing struggles with debilitating anxiety, and loved ones battling cancer including my nine-year-old niece, Kendall.

I could be tempted to think these are simply “tough times.” But my eyes are now trained to see it for what it is, and I absolutely know beyond the shadow of a doubt that much of this is spiritual warfare. It’s the evil one causing cracks in my life to get my focus off God and the work God intends for me. And because I know what’s going on, I also know how to counter it. I know to stay in prayer and God’s word constantly. I know to keep faith and hope, and I know that God will always triumph over evil.

With my eyes open, I can see so much.

I couldn’t always see this. I grew up in churches that didn’t talk about the enemy (the devil, the evil one) very often, let alone spiritual warfare. But as an adult, my faith has deepened. I have distinctly chosen to follow Jesus Christ, not just in my belief but in the way I live my life. I have committed every area in my life to him, and because of that, I do certain things that help me draw and remain close to him—prayer, worship, daily Bible reading, surrounding myself with other Christians, etc.

I am well aware that good and evil exist in the world, and that there is a vicious battle going on for this world. On one side is God and God’s heavenly armies, fighting to shine his light into the darkness. On the other is the enemy, the devil, using his demons and others to sow seeds of distraction and discord and evil.

Make no mistake: The devil is real. In 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV), we’re told, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

The Gospels tell us Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1). Satan entered Judas Iscariot the night of the Last Supper (John 13:27), and Judas went and betrayed Jesus to those seeking to arrest and kill him.

In 1 John 5:19, we’re told “the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”

But we are not of the world. As the apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3:20-21, “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

There is a mighty spiritual battle going on, all around us. Some of us cannot yet see it, but some of us can. And it is indeed real.

But there is hope. As Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Because God loves us who are his children—those of us who follow Christ and who believe and repent of their sins—he helps us fight the battle.

In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us about one of those helpful tools: the armor of God, provided by the Lord to help protect us.

As the apostle Paul writes, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:11-13).

This armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet readied with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:14-17).

God provides this armor of God for our protection. He loves us, and he knows how difficult this world can be.

Jesus talked about that in John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The battle is real. We don’t need special 3D glasses to see it. As we grow in our spiritual journey with Jesus and draw closer to the Lord, these “special glasses” of faith gradually begin to replace our regular vision, and we start to see the daily battle clearly.

But take heart: God wins at the last. The One who created time knows how it all ends: with God in control. Some of the people on this earth who are not aware of the spiritual battle might find themselves becoming casualties of war, snapped up in their unsuspecting state by forces of evil who want to steer them away from the Lord.

Don’t be led astray.

In closing, remember this promise from God in James 4:8 (NIV): “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

Let’s Pray: Lord, help us see the spiritual battles going on in our lives and use the tools You give us to counter them and draw a cloak of protection around us and our loved ones. Help us stay strong and keep our focus on You in the storms of life. In Jesus’ s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: "Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies)" by Chris Tomlin. 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. Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. 

Jessica 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: A life lesson about the providence of God

The Paper Bassinette
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

“When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.” 

–Exodus 2:3 (ESV)

One day when I drove up to the parking space near the daycare provider’s home, my son told me that he wanted to walk to her door alone and that I should watch him.

I helped him out of his car seat. When he slid down to the pavement, he turned to me and reiterated that he wanted to go alone. I watched him make his way to the door and knock. When Marge opened the door, she looked at him standing there alone. She looked up at me standing beside the car and waved with an understanding look at my grieving face. She then hugged him as they went inside. I sat in the car for a while and cried. My only son was four years old and exercising independence and autonomy.

School is back in session. Many parents are simultaneously celebrating and grieving the transitions that their children are making. Whether it is daycare, kindergarten, first grade, middle school, high school, college or the workplace, parents are watching their children leave the protection of home to sail into new life dynamics.

Perhaps the story of Moses is illustrative of the overarching providence of God and the partnership with parents in creating the destinies of our children.

Born in a time of government sponsored genocide, Moses survived. His parents protected him as long as they could. At the end of their “family medical leave”, his parents took a leap of faith and constructed a paper bassinette. It was cunningly waterproofed with a primitive form of Flex Seal. After ensuring that the bassinette would float, they stayed within the letter of the law and cast the baby into the Nile, albeit a protected cove of reeds and cattails.

Providentially, the baby was discovered by a princess (the Pharaoh's daughter) while she bathed in the river. She took compassion on Moses and decided to adopt him. The princess continued to nurture Moses as he grew up and eventually, she introduced him into Egyptian high society. Throughout the early part of his life Moses was divinely protected and providentially prepared for the tactical destiny that lay before him.

Our children can be similarly protected by divinity for their destinies if we as parents do the work of waterproofing the crucibles of our children’s development. From the cradle through the classrooms, parents can add ballast and buoyancy to the lives of our children by prayerfully and faithfully immersing them, daily, in spirituality and values-based education. As they mature, their characters can be honed by presenting them with scenarios and controlled crisis that prepare them for real world circumstances that will display their character and draw out their integrity.

The story of Moses demonstrates that even if given the best of environments, every decision or experience that our children will face may not be good ones and that the consequences of bad behaviors are not comfortable. Moses acted inappropriately based upon a misguided sense of destiny and entitlement. It cost him dearly. Our children will make some mistakes, poor choices, and errors in judgment. Like Moses did, they too can recover, do right and live well.

As did Amram and Jochebed, let’s make spiritual investments in our children. Cover them daily with prayer. Teach them timeless truths of faith, spirituality, principle centered living and life skills. Test them. Coach them. Buff up the image of God in their lives and teach them to see and validate the image of God in others. In so doing, we can waterproof the crucibles of their lives. Instead of sinking, they will float. Later they will sail. Later still, they may soar. The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31 (KJV), “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” It is important to pray for our children!

Let’s Pray: Almighty God, we lay our children before you today. As they have started school again, we ask your covering grace upon them, their fellow students, teachers and staff members. Make their schools into havens of peace, security, and harmony. Keep them safe while enroute, while they're and on their way home. Make our homes fortresses of faith, love and rest. Develop Your dreams for us within us and use us as Heaven’s Ambassadors within our spheres of influence. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: "When You Believe" by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Chaplain Paul Anderson served for 20 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Over 26 years of active duty, he was promoted through the ranks from Seaman Apprentice (E2) to his final rank as Commander (O5) in the Chaplain’s Corps.

Prior to his Naval career, Chaplain Anderson pastored in the Allegheny East and Potomac Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. His undergraduate preparation for ministry was completed at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md.

He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees: a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in Michigan, a Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and a Masters of Sacred Theology in Religion and Culture from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Anderson also completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also holds certifications in Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Civil Mediation, Alternative Workplace Dispute Resolution, Temperament Analysis, Marriage Enrichment, Workforce Diversity, and is a certified Life Coach.

You may connect with Chaplain Anderson via email at this address, psanderson75@gmail.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Following God's will and trusting His timing

Aligning God’s Will with His Timing
A devotional by Monique M. Anderson

Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.”

–John 7:6 (NKJV)

In John 7:6, Jesus Christ’s brothers urge him to prove he is the Messiah by revealing himself in Judea at the Feast of Tabernacles. They wanted him to show up in a grand way to make himself known to the public. However, Jesus knew the Jews sought to kill Him and did not want to walk into Judea.

According to the Blue Letter Bible, time in Greek is “Kairos”. It means due measure. It represents a suitable or seasonable time, the right time, and a limited period of time. Kairos refers to waiting for the right opportunity or moment to reveal itself. Kairos is not a form of time that is counted or calculated. It is knowing when the circumstances are most suitable to take action.

Afterward, in John 7:10, Christ’s brothers leave him to attend the feast. Shortly after, Jesus also makes his way to the feast in secret. He did not make the grand entrance His brothers wanted him to. However, once He arrived, He went into the temple to teach.

I wondered why Jesus initially turned down the invitation to participate in the feast, then decided to attend in secret, only to make himself known in the temple by teaching, knowing that this would gather a crowd.

I soon realized that God’s will was not for Jesus to make a grand entrance. The opportune time (kairos) was not to be bold and grand in his arrival but to be bold and grand in his teaching. Christ’s teachings were a part of God’s will. He was not to be known for His controversy but as the son of God, Rabbi, and Savior.

In John 7:30 (NKJV), the Bible says, “Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.”

I noticed that the author used the word “hour” instead of “time” in this verse. Hour is “ora” in Greek, and according to the Blue Letter Bible, it means a certain definite time or season fixed by natural law and returning with the revolving year. Other definitions are “the daytime (bounded by the rising and setting of the sun)” hour, in this text, refers to the Chronos time, which is a specific amount of time or time of day.

Although the kairos (opportunity) was there, the Jews could not lay a hand on Jesus because it was not yet chronos (time). Some things may be God’s will but not yet His time.

Do you find yourself looking to pursue God’s will, but nothing seems to be working out? You’ve tried to set up the meeting, make the phone call, or send the email, but something constantly blocks it. It may be the right opportunity, not the right time or the right time but the wrong opportunity.

God’s will is in complete alignment with His timing. If the two don’t seem to be coming together, you may need to step back and ask, "What must I do first?"

Jesus still had work to do on earth before His death. The Jews could not capture Him then because He still had to forgive an adulterer woman, give a blind man sight, and raise the dead. What do you have left to do for God’s will and time align in your life?

Your arrival when starting to pursue God’s will may not be grand. You may not get noticed the moment you enter the door if God intends that for you. However, when you enter in secret and stand in your rightful place doing the work you came to do, people will notice your impact. That will be the right opportunity to fulfill God’s will as your Heavenly Father who knows best.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, I pray that you align me perfectly with your will and timing. Please give me the wisdom to know the right time and appropriate opportunity to fulfill your will for my life. Keep me in step with you, Lord. Holy Spirit, I patiently wait for your guidance and prompting. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “In His Time” by Maranatha! Music. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Monique M. Anderson is a writer, creator, wife, and bonus mom. She was born and raised in Mount Vernon, NY, where she still resides. She released her always present yet hidden talent of writing to the masses in June 2019. 

Monique always felt like God was chasing after her but was never ready to surrender. Finally, she reached a point in her life when things started going left, and she no longer felt in control. At this point, she was ready to hand over the reins to God. After forming her relationship with God, she always felt compelled to share the revelation’s that His Word gave her. She felt The Holy Spirit prompting her to write but was afraid of what people might think. So, her writing started in her journal. The journal turned into a book and the book into a blog.

Her obedience provided more opportunities. In late 2021, Monique became a partner with the notable YouVersion Bible App as a Content Creator. With her first Bible plan debuting in December of 2021, she will continue to provide content for the app as long as God allows her to.

In 2021, God revealed her prophetic gift and how He wants her to use it. Monique always felt compelled to pray for others but had no idea God would use her in this way. Through this gift as a prophetic intercessor, she’s not just writing about what God can do but showing what God can do.

Since God has shown her who He created her to be, she now feels it is her life’s work to help those taking their first steps in their walk with Jesus Christ. She is doing so through her blog, prayer, and soon-to-be-published works. She is excited to extend her reach to YouTube, podcasts, and speaking engagements soon.

Her blog is the stepping stone to fulfilling the vision God gave to her: “Sharing God’s revelations so we can all better reflect his image and fulfill His purpose.”

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Connect with Monique:
Website: www.yourstrulymoe.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourstruly__moe/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yours-Truly-Moe-140255684101423

Devotionals for the Heart: When you want to know the heart of God

The Heart of God
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“For He does not afflict willingly and from His heart or grieve the children of men.”

—Lamentations 3:33 (AMP)

Having been in a long season of suffering (8+ years total and counting), whenever I see the word affliction in Scripture, I apply the brakes. I ask myself questions like, “What is the circumstance surrounding this verse and what are the promises I can hold onto? And how does it point me to Jesus?”

About ten years ago I prayed Philippians 3:10 because I wanted to know Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death.

I was focused more on knowing Christ. Now I am starting to realize God was sanctifying me in all three areas, not just in the knowing. Knowing sounds romantic, feels good and “easy”. Understanding His power is for the super-spiritual (this was my thought process at the time), and I was wanting to work up to this level. Suffering? Well, that was for the uber-spiritual like Corrie ten Boom, Jim Elliot, Hudson Taylor, Billy Graham, Amy Carmichael.

God’s ways are not my ways and that is good because God’s plans and actions are far above anything I could possibly ask or imagine. My hard-working efforts and pursuit of my dreams stop at the ceiling. But God’s ways of providing and blessing His children are limitless.

Why do I settle when He has so much more? I truly wanted to know Christ in a very real and intimate way. Deeper than I had ever gone before. I wanted to know everything about Him that I could possibly acquire. Everything.

I think God understood that prayer.

Jeremiah beautifully explains his thought process in Lamentations 3. He declares and mourns his lot in life. Yes, things were bad. Awful, in fact. But he turns a corner in verse 21, saying, “Yet this I recall to mind and therefore I have hope.”

Jeremiah continues to spell out God’s character, His compassion, His faithfulness, His goodness. He speaks of God’s heart and wants to follow His will. It’s all there. We have a front seat in Jeremiah’s prayer closet, and it is overwhelmingly intimate. One can feel the anguish, the release, the worship, and the honesty of a child with his Abba Daddy.

Want to know the heart of God? Read the third chapter of Lamentations. Want to recall to mind the goodness of God because it’s been awhile since you’ve actually remembered God is good? Life happens and life can get messy, upside down and painful. When we recall to mind God, our God, something breaks: We do. Our stubborn hearts begin to crack, and we allow God to come in. We allow Him to have His way.

As we read Lamentations 3:33, we learn God does not willingly afflict His children. It’s that word willingly that catches the heart. But, because He is a good Father, He knows there are times when affliction and suffering will be the best teacher. We learn that God is Sovereign. Lamentations 3:37 (NIV) accurately describes the Sovereignty of God: “Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?”

Everything filters through God’s hand. Let me say that again: Everything filters through God’s hand. Everything like pain, sorrow, suffering, trials, tribulations, scorn and mockery from others, bad things and good things. Since God is Sovereign it means He is always in charge of everything and everyone— including me and including you. He is aware of everything that happens here on this Earth and throughout the universe. You cannot pull the wool over His eyes.

The enemy wants us to believe certain things don’t matter or because God has so many other children and an universe to care for, He’s too busy to help us. Nothing could be further from the Truth. We matter to God! We are created in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). We are made to enjoy and glorify Him forever. We are here to lift Him up and worship Him. We are to praise Him with our breath (Psalm 150).

God is good and we can trust His heart. He is a loving Heavenly Father with our good and His glory in mind all the time. Will you trust Him?

Let’s Pray: Oh Father God, You indeed are magnificent. You are powerful, amazing, and love us endlessly. Your heart is limitless and Your faithfulness is forever. You are good and what You do is good (Psalm 119:68). Please forgive my doubts, my secrets, and my fears. I believe and I trust You. I renew my commitment to You to follow and not lead. To be still and to know You are God. Thank You, God, for everything. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Good Good Father ft. Pat Barrett” by Chris Tomlin. 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: Why we need to learn how to forgive others

A Promise of Forgiveness
A devotional by Essie Faye Taylor

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” –Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)

Many people advise married couples not to go to bed angry with one another. I understand the concept, but I wholeheartedly disagree.

Every bit of that disagreeable disposition could be seen as I rolled out of bed, cranky and sour-faced. I was angry with my husband, yet again. We had a disagreement the previous night. It wasn’t exactly his words that angered me, but it was his tone that had rubbed me the wrong way. I was angry. I hadn’t yet figured out how to move past my anger or even where it was coming from.

Not many people talk about the essentiality of forgiveness in our relationships. Marriage in particular requires a forgiving heart and cultivating the art of forgiveness. We have this promise from God: If we forgive others, He will forgive us. We all have experienced anger. We’ve all found ourselves in a place of hurt due to someone’s actions or words. We’ve felt the reality of the injustice we’ve experienced. We didn’t deserve to be hurt or mistreated, yet we were. Our feelings are real and valid. The situation is unfair and sometimes unwarranted. Yet, we must forgive. To forgive is to grant pardon or a remission of an offense. It is to cancel a debt or to cease to feel resentment against someone.

Forgiveness is not easy, yet God requires it of believers. Forgiveness can be challenging, yet it is possible. To forgive in a world that promotes revenge requires a paradigm shift. We must begin to think like our Heavenly Father (God). He has forgiven us for offending Him and He continues to do so because of His great love for us. He forgave us for living a life without Him, although He created us and provides for us daily. He granted us salvation upon request (John 3:16) and gave us access to Him by faith in the name of His Son who is our Savior (Jesus Christ). He has gone farther and has given us a new beginning by tossing our sins into the sea of forgetfulness, never to be remembered. What an incredible demonstration of His love!

In our text above, the disciple Matthew writes about God’s command to forgive.

I’m sure Matthew was speaking from experience as he was forgiven much. Before deciding to follow Jesus, Matthew was a tax collector who was known to cheat others out of their funds. Yet, Jesus chose him as a disciple when he was hated and rejected by others. He was forgiven and accepted, as are we when we are born into the family of God. As believers in God who follow Jesus Christ, we are required to forgive others because God forgave us. We are called to extend grace to others as God has extended grace toward us. If we forgive others, we will be forgiven by God. If we do not forgive others, we will not be forgiven by God. I don’t know about you, but to me, those consequences are pretty hefty. Choosing to forgive others is a no-brainer because I desperately need God’s forgiveness in my life. I’m imperfect and flawed. Many times I just don’t get things right and I value the promise of God’s forgiveness daily.

In letters to the church of Ephesus and Colossae, the Apostle Paul admonishes followers of Christ to forgive. He says, “And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32 KJV). Paul encourages us with these words: “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:13 KJV). Forgiveness causes us to be tenderhearted and kind. We must remember that we make mistakes and at one time we needed forgiveness. Admitting that we will need forgiveness in the future also helps. Empathy and compassion helps along this journey to forgive. When you are hurt or angry, it is difficult to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, but practicing empathy can soften our hearts so that we can forgive.

God teaches several lessons regarding forgiveness. Forgiving others frees you from the burden of anger and resentment. It releases the debtor and the one to whom the debt is owed. Forgiveness doesn’t have to be earned; it is freely given. Learning to forgive is a skill that must be practiced. All have fallen short of God’s requirements. Therefore, we all need to be forgiven at one time or another.

God grants forgiveness as a promise. He says, if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). No matter the sin–great or small–God is willing and ready to forgive, if we confess it.

Call to Action:

1. Check yourself. When you harbor unforgiveness, search yourself to discover what is at the root of your feelings and actions.

2. Practice empathy. Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and see things his or her way.

3. Practice forgiveness daily in your relationships. Learn to forgive quickly, even when it’s not the easiest. Free others of their debt and free yourself of anger, resentment, bitterness and hurt. Remember, the Bible says if we forgive others, God will forgive us.

4. Be conscious of your mortality. Realize that as humans, we make mistakes. This means that you and I will inevitably make a mistake and we will need to be forgiven.

5. Remember, our God is faithful to forgive us. Let us be faithful to forgive others.

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, I thank You for your gift of forgiveness. Thank You for forgiving my sins and embracing me with great love. Thank You for loving me despite my flaws and shortcomings. Thank You for your love that covers a multitude of faults. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me deeply. Help me to practice empathy and have compassion so that I can forgive the hard things. Lord, heal my heart, my mind, and my memory from the words and actions that hurt me so deeply. Give us the strength to forgive as you command. Thank You, Father, for hearing and answering me. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Forgiveness” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Essie Taylor is an author, educator, minister, youth advocate, recording artist, podcaster, and improviser. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rockford College. 

She is a veteran educator of Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, and Spanish Language Acquisition with National Board Teacher Certification. She is an advocate of lifelong learning, language learning, and multiculturalism.

Essie is the CEO of KenMar Press, an author agency, and The Essie Faye Collection. Essie is the author of Finding the Love You Deserve: 30 Lessons in Self-Love & Acceptance, and Finding The Love Your Deserve: A 60-Day Healing Journal For Women of Faith.

She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path. She loves God, people, and helping others.

Essie has been a Christian for nearly all of her 39 years. She was born again at 15 years old. She has been a bilingual worship leader and interpreter for 10+ years. By the grace of God, Essie helped to establish bilingual ministries at five churches in her young life. She is a survivor of domestic violence (verbal and emotional abuse) and marital abandonment in a prior marriage.

Essie is a Chicago native. She lives in Chicago with her husband Donald Taylor II.

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Connect with Essie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/
Website: www.essiefayetaylor.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Learning to take a step of faith and trust God

Step of Faith
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” –Matthew 6:34 (KJV)

Worry and fear can be nearly paralyzing when considering an unknown future.

There are so many “What ifs?” in this life. Such as, "What if I fail the exam? What if the test comes back positive? What if life never gets better than this? What if God never shows up?" 

These questions make us feel suffocated in our hearts, minds, and souls. If we allow these fears, worries, and doubts to continuously enter our thoughts, we are destined to start believing our future is bleak and hopeless. We begin to believe we are justified in our worries and things will always turn out badly.

But such a negative focus could not be further from the truth. Maybe the test will come back positive. Maybe we will experience the worst possible scenario in our situation. God never promised our lives would not be filled with problems and sorrow. However, God did say that He would never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). Additionally, Jesus promised that the victory is already His because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

We will face trials, heartache, and failure. No one can claim the remainder of their life will work out perfectly and without problems. Your future does hold difficult seasons, but you were never meant to walk in those seasons alone. Our Heavenly Father walks beside each of His children in the darkest of valleys and the highest of mountaintops.

Lay your future in the hands of the Creator. He knows all things in the past, present, and future. God knows every worry that consumes our thoughts and He is calling us to release them to Him. Today, will you release your fear, your worry, and your doubts? Remember: There is no dark valley along your life journey that God’s Light cannot break through. There is no worry that the peace of God cannot still. The peace of God passes all of our human understanding (Philippians 4:7). His peace is so strong that it can ease our worry even though the situation that is bringing our worry remains.

I know that God is the One who directs my paths (Proverbs 3:5-6) and leads me toward a future that I am uncertain of (Jeremiah 29:11). I also know that God is calling me to release the worry that is weighing me down. He continues to whisper just one simple request, “Trust Me.”

Trust is a choice. It is a step of faith. Will you choose to trust the Lord Jesus Christ and simply take one more step of faith today and every day of your life on Earth?

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for offering Your peace and presence to us. Please help us to release our worry and fear to You. Grant us the faith to entrust our future to you and simply take another step of faith. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Trust Me” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Tessa Huckstep grew up in rural Illinois. She was born to Christian parents and has known Jesus Christ personally since the age of five. 

Currently, Tessa is attending community college and majoring in elementary education. In the future, she plans to teach in the public school system, hoping to bring the love of God with her.

Tessa enjoys being active in her local church. She serves as a co-teacher for the two-to-five year old class where there is never a dull moment.

It is Tessa’s passion to be a girl after God’s own heart and through her studying of God’s Word, Tessa longs to draw closer to her Savior. Through her writing, she longs to take others with her on this journey of faith.

Tessa loves all things Regency, needlework, and dainty teacups of every size.

When she isn’t writing or studying for exams, she can be found in the kitchen with more flour in her hair and on the floor than in the bowl, though the mess is always half the fun!

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Connect with Tessa:
Blog: https://beautifulbeloved937002841.wordpress.com/