Devotionals for the Heart: How to take refuge under God's wings of protection

Under His Wings
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”

–Psalm 57:1 (KJV)

Where do you go to find refuge when life gets tough?

Where can we go when everything around us is falling apart? Do we try to find refuge by diverting our thoughts or distracting ourselves with busyness?

I recently started researching the idea of resting under the wings of God and what that means to me. One thing I have found is that under the wings of God is a place of refuge and restoration. If I am hidden under the wings of God, I am concealed from the world around me so that I cannot be harmed or negatively influenced by the world. I am concealed from the opinions and words of others because the outside world no longer matters. When I am safely trusting under the wings of God, only He matters. The voice of the world is muffled by the feathers of God’s wings and my soul can find rest and refuge in silence and peace.

The most amazing part of being hidden under the wings of God is that I am so much closer to Him. There is no closer or more intimate place to spiritually stay than under the wings of God. When we choose to find refuge under the wings of God, He draws us closer—closer to His heart, closer to His love and goodness. When we rest under God’s wings, we can rest in the knowledge that He is by our side. God is always with us, but when we rest under His wings we feel His strong presence beside us.

How are we to find refuge under the wings of God? Is it an elusive spiritual place that only the spiritually mature and capable can find? God calls each of His children to find refuge under His wings—this is not a privilege for the spiritually mature. God wants to draw us near to Him and He wants us to feel at peace knowing He is by our side.

We can learn to rest under the wings of God by building our relationship with Him. As with all relationships, we need to spend time with God to grow closer to Him. Praying and reading your Bible might seem basic, but this is the communication that will bring you closer to God. If you are seeking to deepen your relationship with God, I highly encourage you to keep a prayer journal. Whenever you feel distant from God, you can simply look back on previous prayers and rejoice at how faithful God has been in hearing you and staying with you through each step of the way.

The more you pray, the more visible the feathers of God’s wings surrounding you will be evident to you. This will help you see that God was with you the whole time. He has never left you and He never will. Sometimes, we just need to lean in, seek a deeper relationship with God, and wait for Him to reveal just how good and faithful He has been to us. There is peace, rest, and safety under the wings of God.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for calling each of us to find refuge under Your wings! Please help us to remember Your faithfulness and that You are present with us in all things. Help us to lean into Your goodness, love, and kindness. Open our eyes to the endless possibilities and fulfillment that will come from a life fully lived under Your wings. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Under His Wings” by William Cushing. 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/

Devotionals for the Heart: Watching the Olympics taught me about prayer

Developing a Dedicated Heart of Prayer
A devotional by Peg Arnold

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”—Hebrews 12:1-2a NIV

Did you watch the Olympics?

I loved watching and hearing the stories of commitment and persistence. I am always amazed by the athletes’ discipline and determination. I wonder what would happen if we approached our prayer life with the same dedication. When reflecting on the competitors and what takes them to the top of the podium, I recognized several commonalities.

First is Passion. Every athlete demonstrates a passion for their sport. To improve our prayer life, we need to cultivate that same unsatiable hunger for intimate communication with the Savior. Prayer is a way to interact, praise, and seek guidance from God. Do you have a passion for connecting with Him?

Then comes Preparation. Athletes prepare with strict diets and training, and with expert coaching, they refine their skills. To nurture a competitive lifestyle of prayer, reading Scripture, studying prayer books, or even fasting are foundational steps. We can deepen our understanding by praying the words of Scripture, joining a prayer group or Bible study and connecting with a prayer partner. How are you preparing to connect with God in your prayer life?

Practice is another critical element. Athletes train for hours each day to excel. How do you practice prayer? Do you seek God each morning, perhaps even before checking your phone, or do you talk with God continually, as Paul encourages in 1 Thessalonians 5:17? This means you strive to be aware of His presence throughout the day with gratitude and acknowledgment. What habit can you practice to help deepen your prayer life?

Perseverance is vital, both in sports and in prayer. We've seen stories of Olympic athletes overcoming tremendous challenges. Similarly, in our prayer lives, we will face obstacles that undermine our confidence and instill fears and doubts. Hebrews 12:1-2 encourages us to persevere by fixing our eyes on Jesus Christ. What distracts you in your prayer life? How do you stay persistent, especially when walking in the valleys of life?

Finally, there's Pursuit. Athletes compete in pursuit of a temporary reward. 1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV) says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” However, God invites everyone to enter His throne room and communicate with Him, not for a fleeting moment of glory on top of a podium but for an eternal connection with the Lord, who delights in us and brings us joy and peace.

How do you pursue a relationship with God? How will you make prayer a daily pattern in your thoughts, words, and deeds? Which areas need more focus in your prayer life: passion, preparation, practice, perseverance, or pursuit?

Challenge yourself to train in prayer with the same dedication as an athlete then see if it deepens your relationship with the living God.

Let's Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for allowing us to communicate with You anytime, anywhere! We love You and desire to grow in our relationship with You. Forgive us when distractions detour us. Please help us fix our minds on You with more commitment than an athlete to their sport. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Keep On Climbing” by Wintley Phipps. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Peg Arnold, Speaker/Author/Teacher is a Drama Queen for Jesus. 

Her vibrant, interactive, and soul-stirring messages encourage all to embrace their God-given value. As a mom, wife, nana, mentor, with a master’s in counseling, she connects on a personal basis by sharing her joys and challenges of many life experiences through her dramas, messages, and witness. Whether talking with a friend over coffee or addressing hundreds of people at a conference, her passion for equipping women is contagious.

She has published devotions on YouVersion and in the Upper Room. In addition, she has contributed to two Chicken Soup for the Soul books, three anthologies, numerous articles, and blogs. Her devotional, Devotions for the Distracted Heart, received a 2022 OASIS award.

Peg desires everyone to know that their story is important and has a purpose. She grew up in Michigan and raised her family in Maryland. Later in life, Peg and her husband relocated close to their family in Colorado.

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Connect with Peg:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arnoldpeg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pegarnoldwow
Website: https://pegarnold.org/ Get some freebies when you visit!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC51V_iWr0RfGAQvQnWVXEoA
Devotions for the Distracted Heart blog: https://pegarnold.wordpress.com/
YouVersion: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/22261-devotions-for-the-distracted-heart
Holiday YouVersion: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/28680-holiday-devotions-for-the-distracted-heart
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wonderofwomen/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/peg-arnold-wow

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should heal people like Jesus heals us

Jesus Heals, So Should We
A devotional by Essie Faye Taylor

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”—Matthew 10:8 (KJV)

At times life is extremely difficult, even with faith.

Our faith doesn’t always move our mountains. But it does give us strength and courage to climb them. As I write these words, tears stream down my face because of this truth. In life, we are hurt by people, things, and circumstances. Yet, God makes healing available. He heals the ache of loneliness and abandonment. He heals the ache of abuse and neglect. He is the Lord our Healer, who lovingly repairs our brokenness. I know this from experience.

I remember looking into the mirror and feeling so broken. It seems that my life—the pretty picture I presented to the world—had shattered into a million tiny pieces. I would never seem to be able to put it back together again. I was heartbroken. It turns out, God never wanted me to put that picture back together. He would heal my heart and mind and grant me a new vision for my life.

In Matthew 10:8, Jesus Christ is talking to His disciples. He had chosen 12 men to teach and train for leadership in His kingdom. He gave them authority to perform miracles and to preach the Gospel in His name. He sent each disciple specifically to the children of Israel to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and to cast out devils. He commanded them to operate in the power of God so that the lives and hearts of His people could be repaired and restored to health. God commands His disciples to serve with an open mind, an open heart, and open hands. Jesus expects all His disciples in this modern day to do the same.

It is important to note that God uses people to restore other people to health. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. Some extremely spiritual people reject visible people, while embracing an invisible God. The Apostle John says that we cannot love God whom we have not seen and hate our brother who we can see (1 John 4:20). Our love for God is exemplified through our love for humankind. God created humans to exist and thrive in community. We need other people in our everyday lives. Another person will heal your brokenness. God works that way.

As followers of Jesus Christ in these current times, we are the givers of love, hope, peace, joy, and kindness. Some people are waiting for God to send help through a miraculous event that needs no input from humanity. God can! He has done it plenty of times before, but He also sends help in human form. I cannot stress this enough. Some even reject organized faith communities and the congregation of believers. However, there is power of healing, restoration, liberation, and deliverance among everyday believers through the power and presence of God.

We have the power to heal each other. We can heal in several ways. Our very presence can bring healing to those who are abandoned and/or feel alone. Our hands can bring healing to those sick in mind, body, or spirit. Our words can bring healing to those hurting emotionally. Affectionate physical touch and our kindness, empathy, sympathy can heal those who are misunderstood, rejected and/or ostracized. Our kind actions can heal those who have experienced mistreatment. Jesus commands us to transform the world in His name.

Call to Action:

1. Explore your role in bringing healing to yourself.

2. Explore your role in bringing healing to your circle of influence.

3. Touch others in concrete ways to repair the brokenness that you witness.

4. Actively seek to be the hands and feet of Christ to transform a hurting world.

5. Remember: Jesus commands us to go into all the world and make disciples and to transform brokenness to health through the power of the Gospel message.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, You are our God who heals. You see our pain. You see our weakness. You see our hopelessness. You see all and You are sovereign. Help us to recognize the power that you’ve given us to partner with You and to begin to heal a hurting nation. Help us to realize the role that you have given us in transforming the world. Grant us the faith and boldness to walk forward and alongside our friends, family members, children, partners, and strangers as the light that you declared that we are. Help us to shine and love others as You love all of us. Thank you for hearing our prayers. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

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Author Bio:

Essie Faye Taylor is a woman of faith. She’s a bilingual author, educator, speaker, psalmist, and interpreter. 

Essie is the author of the “Finding the Love You Deserve” series for women and teens. She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to heal themselves, love and accept themselves, and pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path.

Essie is a Chicago native where she lives with her husband Donald Taylor II.

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Connect with Essie:
Website: www.essiefayetaylor.com
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Essie%20Faye%20Taylor/author/B09XF3TC22
Listen to Essie’s music at https://on.soundcloud.com/X6DeoRXra7YoKcC2A.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esther.tate.39
Read Essie’s YouVersion Devotion Plan here: http://bible.us/r/Abn

Devotionals for the Heart: How to wait on God's answers to your prayers

What Are You Waiting For?
A devotional by Leslie Bake

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”—Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

What breakthrough are you hoping for? What is your next season of life for which your prayers have so far gone unanswered?

We are instructed to lay our requests before God. Psalm 5:3 says, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

As followers of Jesus Christ, we can expect to go through seasons of waiting, which is one of the hardest disciplines to learn. Culture teaches us instant gratification and self-reliance, so when our hopes and plans don’t happen on our timetable, how do we respond?

How do we wait expectantly and patiently as Psalm 5:3 instructs? By developing a daily habit of prayer and Scripture reading. By thanking God daily for the many blessings and gifts He has already given us. By praising and worshiping God daily for who He is and what He is going to do. Blending all these practices together is the key to keeping our focus on Him and not our perceived lack.

God uses challenging circumstances of waiting to draw us closer to himself. He may allow us to go without our need or desire to help us grow more dependent on Him. He may want us to learn that we need Him more than having our immediate desires met.

At the time I’m writing this devotional, my husband and I are praying daily for an offer on our house. The weeks are dragging by, and we are on a timetable, so our discouragement is weighing on us. My brilliant nephew who just graduated cum laude from college is searching daily for his “real job.” Another friend of mine is struggling in a difficult marriage. How long, oh Lord, how long? Four times the phrase “How long” is repeated in Psalm 13. I really appreciate this description of despair because it shows me God’s understanding.

Frustration and despair will consume us if we don’t turn to prayer and read God’s word—daily, or even hourly, if necessary. In fact, if God has given us the wonderful gift of time in the waiting, we need to take advantage of it and dig into His word for peace, clarity, guidance, and direction.

Prayer and scripture reading also keep us focused on the bigger picture of who God is. That means asking the right questions. Rather than demanding answers from God about what we should do, we need to shift our focus to who God is. The world wants us to focus on ourselves and what we think we ought to have accomplished or are entitled to. What God is teaching us in this season of waiting is equally important as our prayers and that includes complete dependency on Him and not on our own efforts.

God can’t prepare us for the blessings He has planned in His perfect timing if we refuse to slow down and listen to his guidance and direction through prayer. Stripping us of distractions and unhealthy relationships or control is sometimes His way of slowing us down.

Why does God seem slow to act on His promises? The burden of waiting can feel like a thousand pounds weighing on our shoulders. But often, we are the stubborn and impatient one. Sometimes God is waiting on us to cooperate with Him while He is behind the scenes, actively preparing answers to our prayers.

David, a man after God’s own heart, accused God of being slow. However, the Lord in His loving graciousness, did not take those accusations personally. The Lord told Samuel to anoint David for the throne of Israel at age 16. However, his start date wasn’t until age 30. During that time, David went through the entire range of ugly emotions of anger and fear to despair, depression, and doubt while on the run from an insanely jealous King Saul. David poured all those emotions out in a significant portion of the Psalms. If God hadn’t allowed 14 years of chaos in David’s early life, we would not have the comfort today that those Psalms provide as we endure our 21st century challenging situations and intense emotions.

God knows our need. God has known of our need while he was knitting us together in the womb. Our prayers do not remind Him to “get it together.” We need to pray our prayers to remind ourselves of who God is. The same God who spoke the Earth into existence and scattered the stars has our backs.

When that breakthrough finally comes, it may not be what we hoped for or expected, but we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that only God could have done it, and we give Him all the glory and honor.

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, forgive our impatient demands. You are God and we are not. Give us a sense of peace and comfort while we wait. You will give us your best at the proper time. Thank You for using the challenges of our lives to draw us closer to You. Thank You for all the blessings you have already given us that we have been overlooking. In Jesus's Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “While I Wait” by Lincoln Brewster. 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 a master’s degree at Iowa State University in teaching English to speakers of other languages. Then marriage. Then a divorce, which deepened her relationship with God and transformed her life.

She taught ELL 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, and 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 fourth grade and one in kindergarten, and they make their home in West Des Moines.

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

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Connect with Leslie:
Website: https://lesliejoybake.com/
Substack: lesliebake.substack.com
Email: Leslie.bake@ yahoo.com

Devotionals for the Heart: They will know us by our love for one another

How Will They Know We Are Christians?
A devotional by Joy Beless

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”—Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Being lost was the norm when I lived in Asia and was often navigating one of the world’s largest cities with four children in tow.

We moved there for my husband’s work where he spent long hours at the office with a wonderful bilingual administrative assistant. The first few weeks of learning how to do the once-simple tasks of grocery shopping and buying school supplies became complicated. Whether it was finding our way to train stations and figuring out the route—or even more difficult, learning to drive on the opposite side of the road while reading signs in a different language—much of our time was spent being simply lost.

I quickly learned there are two kinds of people: those who do not want to be bothered to help and those who graciously and kindly interrupt their day to point out the way. I was the foreigner. I could not speak the language. I did not know how to do the simple tasks required for everyday living. I’m so grateful for this experience and what I learned about kindness.

I remember taking the train out for an event that required a few transfers along the way. I’m standing in front of a large railway map with a complicated image of train lines with stops written in the Kanji alphabet. Picture me—a very “large” Caucasian woman—with my children close to me all looking at this map trying our best to figure out which train to get on and hoping it will go in the right direction. The station is crowded and bustling. I’m stressed and anxiety is building. A kind woman who is not hesitant to approach a foreigner asks in broken English where I’m trying to go and points me in the right direction. Relief. My children and I are grateful for this stranger’s kindness.

The Bible has a lot to say about kindness and showing love to others. During those four years, I was the “other” and experienced feelings of desperation and helplessness. I felt inadequate for not knowing nor being able to figure out even how to use appliances in my home. I look back on that time and remember the kind neighbors who were bilingual. They came beside me to teach and help me as I was learning a new language. I also remember the ones who would not even answer my question as I tried to speak the language the best I could. The ones who were annoyed or even angry because I was different, the foreigner, and did not understand the culture well.

There is a song I remember singing in my youth that continues to circle back around with timeless truths. The tune is called, “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love” and it is performed by Peter Scholtes. It is a simple folk song that speaks about the unity of believers spreading the gospels and respecting other’s dignity. How? By our love for each other.

The idea of showing love to each other is so key to our faith, that Jesus emphasized the message following Judas’s departure during the Last Supper. Let’s read His Words in John 13:34-35 (NIV): “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The best way to show love is by beginning with simple acts of kindness through the lens of the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV). These virtues are a gift from the in-dwelling Holy Spirit that enables Christians to go beyond their selfish impulses and speak and act through the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Often it is not my first thought, but rather what the Holy Spirit leads and guides me to do: to step out of my schedule, my biases, and stop to show kindness to someone.

Some questions that are helpful for me to be self-aware throughout my day are: Who do I tend to have biases towards? Who do I make false assumptions about? Am I viewing others through my own eyes or the eyes of Jesus Christ? Do I have a generous or selfish posture when it comes to my time and resources?

How will people know that I am a follower and disciple of Jesus? According to Him, it is by the love and kindness I show to others. Whether it be the repair person who comes to fix my air conditioner on a hot summer day, the server in the restaurant, or even those in my family, showing kindness is being the hands and feet of Jesus. Speaking to someone who looks different from me, saying hello, and patiently listening to their broken English is showing kindness. Choosing to volunteer and serve beside others is the face of the Church for those who have never stepped foot in a church.

Jesus Christ felt so strongly about this that He commanded us to love one another (John 13:34). Not a suggestion, not only when we have time or feel like it. This is how the world will know we are followers of Jesus Christ.

Let’s Pray: Father God, give me a sensitivity to notice others who cross my path or who You lead me to who need kindness and love. Guide me to walk in The Holy Spirit throughout my day—not only when it is easy but especially when it is difficult. Thank You for the love that You demonstrate to me. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “How Beautiful” by Twila Paris. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Joy Beless is a worshipper of God and lover of people. 

A practicing Spiritual Director, she is a speaker for retreats and conferences and facilitates guided solitude retreats at the family ranch in North Texas.

A seasoned worship leader and songwriter, she frequently weaves worship, God’s Word and spiritual practices together. She is a chapel provider for a shelter for the houseless and a certified Grief and Trauma Healing Facilitator. Serving at global retreats for Kingdom-minded women delights her soul.

She has written for Global Trellis and Missio Nexus. She connects God’s Word with the reality of our daily in all the ups and downs.

Joy is married to Roger. They live in Coppell (Texas). Joy is called "JoJo" by her nine adorable grandchildren. She enjoys the outdoors and encourages flowers to grow in the Texas heat.

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Connect with Joy:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joy.beless
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joy.beless/
Website: www.joybeless.org

Devotionals for the Heart: How to set an example for the people in your life

You are Called to Set an Example
A devotional by Hannah Benson

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”—1 Timothy 4:12 (ESV)

Did you know that you are called to set an example to the people around you?

Regardless of your “qualifications” or what you feel you may lack, God has called you to set an example for those in your life. While Paul is specifically addressing Timothy in this verse, a young pastor friend of his, this admonition applies to anyone in any stage of life.

It doesn’t matter if you feel like you are “too old” or “too young”, “not enough” or “too much”, God has a plan for you. You can make a difference right where you are regardless of whether you feel “capable” or not.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV), “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”

Doesn’t that spark such hope in your heart? It does in mine. Take Moses, for example. When God called him to go back to Egypt to tell Pharoah to let His people go, Moses protested, saying he was “slow of speech and of tongue” (Exodus 4:10b ESV).

When God said to Jeremiah, “I appointed you a prophet to the nations”, Jeremiah protested, saying he was “only a youth” (Jeremiah 1:5-6). God responded, saying, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 1:7-8 ESV).

Both Moses and Jeremiah had reasons to protest, but as is the case for Paul and all of us, God’s power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God has called you, dear friend. You are irreplaceable and have a purpose in this world unique to you, an identity that God has given you unlike anyone else. Don’t believe the lie that you shouldn’t because you “can’t”. That’s where God is glorified, in our weaknesses and when we humbly recognize we can’t do it on our own but need God to do it through us.

God wants us to make a difference where we are right now. If God has called you to something today, don’t wait. Don’t hesitate because you “can’t” because even when you “can’t”, He can.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Father God, thank You for this truth that You have called me! Thank that no matter how I feel about a situation or about my capability, it’s Your truth that stands. I know I can do all things through You who can strengthen me (Philippians 4:13). In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Garden in Manhattan” by Josiah Queen. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Hannah Benson is a Jesus-follower who’s passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others. 

From the time she could hold a pen, she was writing. But it wasn’t until she was sixteen that she began to follow God’s calling to pursue writing seriously. Hannah is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). In addition to fiction, she also writes devotionals and has been published on other websites. Her prayer is that her readers leave deeply encouraged and more in love with Jesus.

When not writing, Hannah also enjoys being involved with local theater companies, with a primary focus on Biblical theater. She wants to show the love of Jesus through the creative arts.

You can read more of Hannah’s writings on her blog or on her Instagram where she strives to write content that leaves others feeling encouraged.

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Connect with Hannah:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hannah-Lynn-Writer/100073790792576/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlbensonwrites/

Devotionals for the Heart: Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd for humankind

Jesus Christ: The Good Shepherd
A devotional by Cherie Mendez

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”—Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

Out of all the chapters in the Bible, Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known. It inspires us to remember God’s love and guidance in times of difficulty.

I recently went through a season of uncertainty. My husband and I had to make the difficult decision to move to another state. In this economy, moving can be very expensive, so it was a big step of faith.

As I was seeking God’s guidance, I kept going back to Psalm 23, specifically verse four where it describes God’s rod and staff. When I took a deeper look into the meaning of this verse, I discovered that the rod and staff were tools used for two very specific purposes by shepherds in biblical times. The rod was a short, heavy, thick stick used to ward off predators. This tool conveys power, strength and protection. In Israelite culture it was a symbol of authority—also used to correct and guide the flock.

The staff, on the other hand also represents God’s guidance, but this tool was used more to direct the sheep. It was a long, slender stick often with a hook at the tip. Sheep tend to wander. Therefore, the shepherd would use the hook of the staff to pull them out of danger and close to himself. This act kept the sheep on the right path.

Not only do sheep tend to wander, they are also completely dependent on the shepherd. They are not strong, nor are they survivors. Without the shepherd’s care they would be in grave danger because they are not hunters that can find food; they are small and defenseless, making them easy prey.

Surely as God instructed the men and women of the Bible, He lovingly directs His children every day. All of life’s “inconveniences” or “obstacles” could very well be us bumping up against the Good Shepherd’s staff. So, before you get frustrated, ask God what He is saying.

Here are five ways God guides and comforts us:

1. God’s Word (The Holy Bible). Psalm 119:105-106 (NLT) says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.” A willing sheep would respond to the shepherd’s prodding but a stubborn, strong-willed sheep would not. Every day, we must ask ourselves: Am I surrendering to God’s leading, or do I willfully follow my own desires?

2. The Holy Spirit. Every believer is given the Holy Spirit to guide them through life. John 16:13 (NLT) says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.”

3. Godly Counsel. Proverbs 15:22 (NLT) says, “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.”

4. Circumstances. Romans 8:28 (NLT) says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” So often we want to know God’s purpose for us, and it can only be found when we are willing to surrender our will to align with His will.

5. Common Sense. When we choose to yield to the guidance of God, He will enable us to think clearly and sensibly. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

The Bible describes all humanity as “like sheep.” Isaiah 53:6 (NLT) says: “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”

Jesus Christ (The Good Shepherd) not only guides us and keeps us out of danger; He made a way for us when there was no way to give us eternal life (John 3:16). He took upon Himself the sins of the world so that we could all be saved. When we seek God, we will find that even in the shadow of death, we can find comfort in Him.

In closing, our move from New York to Texas was not an easy decision. We had lived and worked in NYC for over twenty years—that is where our careers were made. I knew it was time to make the move when I saw certain doors closing. Circumstances are almost always the best way God leads us. Now we are living near my family in Texas. It is wonderful to finally get to see my niece cheerlead and my nephew play piano.

God always knows what we need, and His timing is always perfect.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for being our Good Shepherd. Thank You for loving us enough to send your perfect Son (Jesus Christ) to die for us so that we can not only have eternal life, but a close relationship with You. Help us not to be frustrated or angered by all of life’s trials. Teach us how to see your signature on each challenge we face. Help us to walk closer to You so we may align our will with Your divine plan and purpose for our life.

In the Precious Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy)” by Shane and Shane. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Cherie Mendez is a professional actress and photographer. 

Her passion is to help women understand their true worth and walk in their God-given purpose. After many years working as a Christian in the entertainment industry, she is thankful to be able to share all her learning experiences in her blog posts and on Instagram.

Some of the topics Cherie loves to write about are:

· Coping with rejection

· Finding your purpose and using your talent for God’s glory

· How God always looks at the heart and the meaning of inner beauty

· Understanding that we are all a work in progress and God is not done with us yet

Cherie’s TV credits include The Equalizer, Bull, and Blue Bloods (CBS). She also appeared in the PureFlix film Revelation Road 3: The Black Rider.

Cherie and her husband Jimmy live in Texas. They are thankful to have been married for 30 years. In their free time, they enjoy traveling, photography, and movie night.

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Connect with Cherie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheriemendez/