Devotionals for the Heart: New You

New Year, New Creation
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

 – Isaiah 43:18-19a (ESV)

Whenever a new year rolls around, our hopes rise.

We want things to be different, to be better than last year, and so we dive into our self-driven improvements. Our resolutions sound remarkably like those from years past: lose weight, eat more vegetables, exercise more. We’ve all made them, and some of us have become healthier people because of them. But God’s way of making something new looks a little different from our way. He always focuses on our hearts.

When Jesus Christ came to earth, His aim was the cross, to die as the perfect sacrifice for our sinful selves. But there was more, so much more that He came to do. He showed us how to live life abundantly (John 10:10)! In all of Christ’s teachings, He points us to joyful, fulfilling life under the tender care of our Father in Heaven.

An archaic word “lovingkindness” accurately describes God’s perfect love for us. Not only is our Heavenly Father supportive, caring, and nurturing, He is also kind. His vast love for us is seen in His kindness. Sometimes His actions in our lives are revealed in circumstances that don’t always seem like kindness, but God wants our hearts to be transformed. He’s doing a “new thing” as Isaiah wrote, and sometimes His kindness is revealed in what may seem like a terrible ordeal.

Several years ago, my back suddenly “went out” just a couple of days before Christmas. Lying flat for the holidays was not on my agenda. Within days I was on a walker. School started back in January, and I wasn’t at my post. My classroom was given to a marvelous substitute, so my students were fine, but I wasn’t. In fact, anything but "fine" described the situation.

Staring at the ceiling didn’t do any good, so I started praying. That’s when I began to understand my Heavenly Father a little better. The time reading His Word and praying for people who needed His touch (which included me) brought me closer to Him and deepened my relationship with Him. During those days of solitude, I learned how kind He is. He taught me how to trust Him as my Father, something I’d never experienced.

The next few months were sometimes grueling, yet I look back now and realize how much He changed me. Yes, I had to go through physical therapy, and yes, I had to learn how to walk all over again. Same dilapidated body. Completely new heart.

God’s tender care and concern for us never changes, but He’s always ready to do something different in order to lead us into closer relationship with Him. We can trust His character, even when our vision narrows to a slice of blank ceiling above our heads, looking up from a place of pain and weakness. He’s right there with us, helping us to put an end to the bitterness, the Blame Game, or the countless “What if?” scenarios our minds tend to focus on when we’re hurting.

In Matthew 9:13, Jesus exhibited God’s lovingkindness when He told the religious leaders of His day to learn what it means to exhibit mercy in their ministry and not just legalistic sacrifice. The Pharisees were great proclaimers of sacrificial laws, but they missed Christ’s point. Jesus wants to create new hearts, and new attitudes in us. He wants to do whatever it takes. Sometimes a “new thing” to draw us closer to Him.

This year, my New Year’s resolutions look a little different from my usual ones. I’m asking my Heavenly Father to help me lose judgmental attitudes, to take in only the pure food of His Word the Bible, and to exercise His brand of lovingkindness in the relationships He has placed in my life. Lofty goals, for sure, but I’m not going in my own strength. The Lord of the Universe is doing something new in His time.

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus, help us to let You do Your cleansing work in our hearts. Show us how You want us to live out this New Year 2022. Thank You, Lord. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Note from Alexis: Karen’s devotional message, especially the part about God working on our hearts, reminded me of Donnie McClurkin's song “Create in Me A Clean Heart”. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Karen Marstaller is a retired high school teacher who spent most of her career challenging creative students to write. Her heart is for her readers. 

She writes to encourage them, to make them laugh, to show them that life is a beautiful journey, and regardless of their past, to show them that there is joy ahead if they will just keep looking.

Karen and her husband live in central Texas in a sweet little home that they completely remodeled. They enjoy spending time with their family, which includes seven precious grandchildren.

Most of all, Karen writes in obedience to the command to love your neighbor, to offer a cup of water to those who are dying of thirst, and to comfort others with the comfort she has received.

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: What to do when you face mountains in life

When Faced with Mountains
A devotional by Jessica B. Turner

“God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.” –Habakkuk 3:19 (ESV)

Do you ever feel as if you finally arrive at the top of the mountain only to realize what lies ahead is an even bigger, taller mountain to climb?

That is how I felt most of last year. When I could barely breathe after experiencing a loss through miscarriage, I was being asked to face yet another trial. And then another. Trials that I would have never imagined walking into, much less surviving.

If I’m being completely honest, there was a time during those hardships when I questioned if God really was there. I felt broken and empty. Betrayed and humiliated.

But then I remembered this scripture (Habakkuk 3:19). It had become my anchor since it was given to me the summer before. It was shared as a response to my story in which I compared obstacles in life to mountains. For months it served as a simple reminder that God is where my strength lies when things seem too big to face. That strength is often all I need to get through another day. I had forgotten that truth despite its impact in my life in the past. But once I remembered, I buried it within my heart to never forget again. When we fix our eyes on Jesus Christ, He enables us to encounter any mountain with the grace of a deer.

Can you picture it? Your struggle, your illness, your broken relationship—whatever your mountain in this season is. Picture it and then remember that the same God who created the sunset that takes your breath away is the same God that has vowed to give you the strength to face any obstacle this life may throw your way.

But even greater than that, He will invite us into a transformation that can only come through climbing that mountain. A foundation in endurance leading to a molding of character and the birth of a hope that this world cannot take away from us.

How encouraging is that? Not only are we climbing our mountains with the God of the universe by our side, we are doing it with the anticipation of a story only He can orchestrate. Good that only He can bring about. That alone is often the source of the strength I need to get through another day, another hour, another minute.

Don’t try to climb alone, my friend. We weren’t created to do so. He is waiting for you to call out. He is waiting to lift you up so you can take one more step.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, I thank you for who You are. That You are a God who is so powerful and mighty yet so in love with me that you will come to my aid at a moment’s call. I am that important to you. I am your beloved. Help me remember that as I face life’s mountains. Remind me that You are my source of strength and that there is great hope on the other side of my trial. I love you and I trust you. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

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

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

Along with Jessica’s career change came the discovery of who Jesus Christ really is and how He was the missing piece for her to be able to move forward from past trauma that she had suppressed for decades.

Jesus walked alongside Jessica as she underwent a transformation like none other. God transformed Jessica’s life from a broken mom who struggled with depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and PTSD from witnessing an attempted suicide, to using her experiences to make her a powerful vessel for Him. To this day, God enables Jessica to touch the lives of others through her often unfiltered, yet inviting, form of storytelling.

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

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should set our goals with God

Goals with God
A devotional by Cyndi Staudt

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” 

–Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)

I love the feel of a new year.

It’s like a blank slate just waiting to be filled with hopes and dreams, experiences and adventures. Anything seems possible while the door closes on the previous year’s journey, no matter what happened along the way. Usually, I have a new planner waiting for my activities and experiences to be reported. I also have a crisp, clean journal inviting my stories to be written and my experiences to be chronicled.

During the week between Christmas and New Year I always set aside time to take an inventory of the year about to close—a “year in review” of sorts. I relive highlights of the year—happy times and hard times—as I observe all the ways God showed up along my journey. I find Him in the mountaintop moments where I experienced rich joy in His presence. I also encounter Him in the deepest valleys where I had to cling to Him for comfort so my grief would not consume me. This review reminds me that I serve a loving and faithful God who promises never to leave me nor forsake me. He is my constant companion.

My “year in review” also serves as the perfect launching pad to look at the “year in view” – the new year on the horizon. As I stand on the threshold of a new year, I sometimes feel like the Israelites when they sent out the scouts to the Promised Land. On one hand I am hopeful, anticipating great things from the God who assures me in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has good plans for me, plans not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.

But on the other hand, I can feel the imposing presence of giants lurking in the shadows, a reminder of the adversary who is always looking for a way to devour me and distract me from what God has planned. I don’t allow my thoughts to linger there too long before I fix my mind on Jesus Christ who has already defeated the devil. Therefore, I begin to prayerfully pen plans and goals, dreams and expectations for the year ahead.

It’s exciting, albeit slightly daunting, to see on paper the many things I hope to accomplish in the coming months. I find peace in the reminder that while I make my plans, I serve a God who will order my steps into His perfect will for my tomorrows and for eternity. I can then step confidently into all He has for me.

While God invites us to review the past, He doesn’t want us to dwell in it. While He encourages us to set goals and pursue dreams for the future, He also reminds us to not worry about tomorrow. Those “steps” that God orders on the path to pursuing our plans happen in the present. The present is where we encounter God daily. He meets with us in the everyday moments of our lives, attending to every last detail. He desires daily, intimate relationship with us. Our spirit will thrive when we seek Him with greater intensity than we chase our dreams.

As much contemplating and planning as I do at the onset of a new year, when I come to the year in review, I'm always sure to see sweet little surprises my Savior gifted me with along the way. I try not to box God into my plans. Instead, I leave them open to His creativity along the way. He has unlimited resources and unexpected methods of making things happens for our good and His glory. And I don’t want to miss a single one.

Let’s Pray: Creator God, thank You for being my faithful guide and constant companion on my journey through life. I am so grateful You are accessible in my every moment, joining me in the joy on the mountain tops and accompanying me as I trudge through the valleys. I marvel at Your creativity as You unfold your plans and purpose for my life in surprising and unexpected ways. I appreciate Your patience and faithfulness as I stumble in the steps I take in efforts to walk in your will. I am grateful that Your gentle hand is ever present to pick me when I fall far from Your plans, and set me back on the path You've placed before me. While I prayerfully pen my plans for this new season, help me to stay out of Your way. Teach me how to surrender any expectations of outcomes to Your ways, Your will and Your timing. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Cyndi Staudt is a Jesus-loving, adrenaline junkie devoted to living her life for Jesus until the day she is living with Him.

With a passion for cultivating a craving for God's Word, her devotions and Bible studies are saturated with faith and hope to stir your soul to connect with God in deeper, more intimate ways.

Through her writing she hopes to ignite your desire to read God’s Word, invite your heart to experience God’s love, and inspire you to live your life "souled out" to the One whose love has no limits.

~*~
Connect with Cyndi on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/souledoutcyndi/

Devotionals for the Heart: How to build this new year with God

Build This New Year with God
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

“But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.”– Numbers 32:23 (ESV)

The Bible verse above is a small portion of a larger dialogue about destiny and duty.

The Chapter 32 of the book of Numbers tells the story of the nomadic preparation that the Hebrews took so they could cross over into Canaan, their Promised Land.

While conferring with his tribal leaders, Moses is engaged by two of his generals from the tribes of Gad and Reuben. They and their families raised cattle. They felt that the land East of Canaan was more suited for their lifestyle than the land West of the Jordan River.

Moses refused to consider their appeal. He thought that they were resisting God’s providence. He feared that their desire might bring divine retribution upon the wandering tribes, again. But they persisted. Gad and Reuben had a vision, a purpose, a plan and an overarching goal. They would do their part to ensure the safe settlement of the Promised Land, then, with God’s blessings, they would go back to their families and the land that they had chosen.

To this Moses consented. The conquest of this territory would require focus, time and perseverance. They would return to their havens of choice, only after conquering the larger context. They had to finish what should have been done 40 years before.

William Lloyd Alan, a biblical expositor, said that “Mission is bound up in God’s reciprocity.” Similarly, Albert Pike said, “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others remains and is immortal.”

Like the leaders of the tribes of Gad and Reuben, we stand just inside of a new frontier. The New Year 2022 is a promised land. We have 358 days left to persevere and pursue our visions. This year is awaiting our encroachment, settlement and cultivation.

Do you have a compelling vision, purpose, plan, and goal for 2022 and beyond? Cross your Jordan River. Do the work, well! Help someone else pursue their goal while not forgetting your own. Launch your arrows of initiative. If you miss your target, at least you tried. Missing the target should make you try harder to do differently and better in your next attempt.

I read a story about an aging carpenter who was ready to retire. He informed his employer of his plans to hang up his hammer. The employer asked a huge favor. “Build just one more house before you retire.” The carpenter agreed but his heart was not in it. He cut corners and used inferior materials that he never would have considered previously.

Upon completion and the final inspection of the home, the boss gave the keys to the carpenter saying “This house is my gift to you for all of your years of dutiful work and quality construction.”

It became evident, at least to himself, that he would now live in a home that he had not built well. His sins of omission, cutting corners, taking shortcuts, crossing boundaries or lapses of integrity would live as monuments in his home.

That is what Numbers 32:23 means. It means that our diligence or slackness in the development of our characters, reputations and relationships will become evident at home, at work and in the community. What kind of life are you building? Are you using premium or inferior materials? Are you finishing the tasks?

Last year we did some remodeling in our home. I wanted French doors as the entry way to one of the rooms. I ordered them, but we hung other doors until the doors that I ordered arrived. When they arrived, I was busy so I put them in the garage. Now, almost a year later, every time that I or my wife park our cars in the garage, my coveted and acquired French doors stand unfinished in the garage. My vision remains unfinished because I have not done the work to finish and hang them. My unfinished business indicts me. That is what our text means.

If you are not happy in your life right now, it is probably because unfinished business or silent whispers are indicting you. You can’t change what you did that got you here, but you can change what you do going forward.

Build your engagement of living this year wisely with the best habits, choices, and investments of time. Remember that your life today is the result of your decisions and actions in bygone days. Your future will be the fruit of what you choose now. Get started and finish what you start!

Let’s Pray: Dear God, bless these readers as they conquer each day of this New Year 2022. Give them visions, goals, purpose, energetic hope and follow through. Forgive their sins and shortcomings. Renew their spirits and make them confident and successful overcomers! In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Chaplain 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: Remember that your help comes from God

Look Up!
A devotional by Patricia Russell

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, 

from whence cometh my help. 

My help cometh from the Lord, 

which made heaven and earth.”

–Psalm 121:1-2 (KJV)

Most celebrations have a point and time when the gathering is asked to be quiet, while acknowledgements and honors are given to the guest of honor.

Today, I would love for us to take a moment and celebrate the faithfulness of the most important Guest of Honor. Let’s raise a toast to the Creator of the Universe. He is the God who created the heavens and the earth. He is the one who watches over us when we sleep. He is the one who never slumbers nor sleeps. He is the one who promises us a hope and a future.

We’re starting a new year.

We’ve never walked this way before. There are things that will happen that we never expected and never saw coming. However, because of God’s unchanging character, I’m going to plant my feet firm in faith in Him. It is my hope and my prayer that you and I will draw closer to Him.

The past few years have pushed us into His face. We’ve held onto Him like young children who don’t want to leave their parent’s grasp. Many times, I’ve found myself looking up, like Abraham did when God told him to count the stars. When Abraham began counting and got into the thousands (I wonder if he reached that far) he must have felt quite overwhelmed and wondered, “How is this going to ever happen?”

The questions of how, considering he was not only old but did not have a child at the time, must have stunned him. This same question of “How will it happen?” or “How is it going to ever work out?” has crossed our lips year after year but I would like to encourage us right at this year’s beginning to make our first thought be to simply look up.

Why look up? Up is where our help lies. Up is where the stars cannot be all counted. Looking up we see the span of the sky and all the beauty spread far beyond what our eyes can even see. Looking up means the possibilities are endless because of God.

Camping is not my first choice of vacationing. My husband, on the other hand, has this fascination with the great outdoors and often shares memories of lying outside, looking up at the stars and for hours on end enjoying the spectacle of twinkling beings. His imagination runs wild with creativity. If this sounds a little childlike, it’s intentional. Let’s not lose the wonder this year in looking up and seeing the possibilities that can yet happen.

I encourage you to consciously shut down the sounds and voices that will want you to look down. Intentionally close the screens that provide constant updates of changes of threats in weather, finances or food. Daily look up as the psalmist states because up is where your help comes from. Up is where our Heavenly Father is. Up is where one day we will be going. Up is where we look to count stars and see the possibilities that our minds and hearts cannot conceive.

Psalm 121:3-7 (KJV) continues by saying:

“He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.”

Let’s Pray: Father God, thank You for this new year. Thank You that we can look up in hope and confidence that you have the whole world in your hands. Thank You that my faith rests in You alone. Help me when I am tempted to fear, to look up and to rest in the truth of your promises that You will never leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Note from Alexis: Patricia’s devotional message today reminds me of the song “My Help” performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. They literally put all of Psalm 121 to modern music! Listen to their song here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia is an encourager. She passionately uses her giftings as an author, speaker, pastor, recording artist, worship leader and coach. 

Stronger Resilience: Stories to Empower the Mind, Body & Spirit (a book that she wrote) was an Amazon Bestseller in October 2020.

Patricia sings! She has released two CDs titled Draw Me Nearer and Lord I Trust You.

She also travels to speak to audiences internationally.

When she is not ministering to save souls in God’s Kingdom, Patricia enjoys reading, writing and connecting like-minded people who can sharpen each other in the journey to their dreams and goals.

As a two-time breast cancer overcomer, her desire is to coach others to live life to the fullest by understanding their gifting from God and using it. 

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Why Praying Friends Are the Best Kind

A Praying Friend
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” 

–Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

The words roll off my tongue as if on auto-reply: “I’ll pray for you.”

Yet what better thing can we do for a friend in need than stop what we are doing, bend our souls to the Risen One, and offer up heartfelt prayer?

I didn’t always think this way. I used to think the best way I could love my friends was listen to them—or even better, offer them advice (often unsolicited). I’d stay on the phone late into the night as my friends and I would talk about boys, school woes, and family drama. “Being there for them” was how I’d describe it.

Later, I might choose to love a friend by walking her dog or entertaining her newborn, raving about her performance at work, or cooking dinner for her when she had a cold.

Yet over the years, I’ve realized the very best thing I can do is pray. Yes, I still listen (and yes, sometimes I still offer unsolicited advice, though Little Miss Know-It-All over here is trying very hard to keep that at a minimum!). And yes, I still do favors, buy trinkets, cook meals, or whatever else might help.

But prayer is often my first response—and, I’ve come to understand, it’s the biggest gift of all.

See, a praying friend is a Godly friend, a forever friend. A praying friend is the best there is.

This is because a friend who prays for you knows the bond you share isn’t just in this world but also the “real” world: the eternal kingdom ruled by God the Father, the kingdom that has no end and transcends death, lasting for eternity. A praying friend knows the One who’s really in control of all things we worry about is God, and there’s no better way to deal with those worries than to bring them to God, to lay them all down at His feet and ask Him for help.

In James 5, the apostle tells us to fan the flame of faithful prayer always. As he writes, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:13-16 NIV).

Elsewhere we get the same encouragement. Ephesians 6:18 urges us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” And in 1 Timothy 2:1, we’re encouraged that “petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.”

And, of course, there’s Jesus—our model of how we should live and love others. In John 17:6-26 we are shown how Jesus prayed fervently for his friends.

His example is a powerful display of true, God-honoring friendship, the kind of friendship that points to the Father.

If you’re not sure how to pray for your friends, it’s okay! God doesn’t need fancy language. An earnest heart is enough. Start however it feels natural to you. Perhaps begin by listing your friends by name, creating a picture of them one by one in your mind, and asking God to bless them. You might know the needs of your friends, such as a health issue or a work conflict, and you ask for God’s hand upon those circumstances, or you might find that as you pray for your friend, a need they haven’t even expressed to you comes to the surface. Even just saying their name in your head as you lift the thought of them toward God can be a prayer.

Another way you can pray is to write their names in the margin of the Bible passage you are currently reading, and let God’s Word take care of the rest.

Others like to journal their prayers for others, appreciating the focus and tangible action of the practice. You can pray for people by text and social media, too. There are so many ways!

Whatever you do, trust that God hears you, and know that the Holy Spirit is weaving a mighty cord of heavenly love among you and those you love.

Happy New Year, friends! Share below how you like to pray for your friends or other loved ones.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of friendship. Help me to love my friends the way Jesus loved His: with prayer, with sacrificial love, and always pointing to You. In Your holy name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Note from Alexis: Jessica’s devotional message today reminds me of the song “My Friend” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it here.

~*~
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.

Jessica 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.

She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

She has a weekly YouTube devotional and podcast. 

You can also connect with Jessica on Facebook and Twitter.

Happy New Year 2022!

May God bless you abundantly (John 10:10) in this new year and beyond!

Keep looking to Him and trusting Him to guide you (Proverbs 3:5-6).

He loves you with ALL of His Heart.