Conversation with God

by Karen Keim

“Lord, I am really hurting right now. I can’t quit crying. That person once again spoke to me and treated me in a manner that I don’t deserve.”

“I know how you feel, Karen. I didn’t deserve the treatment I received so long ago. And you know what else? Not that I want to hurt you more, but I don’t deserve the way YOU treat me sometimes either.”

“I know, Lord, and I’m sorry, but can we deal with that later? Right now can we just talk about me? I mean, how much more can I take? How much more SHOULD I take? I have a notion to just e-mail them and give them a piece of my mind!”

“You know, if you really consider yourself religious and don’t keep a tight rein on your tongue, you deceive yourself and your religion is worthless.” (James 1:26)

“So I’m just supposed to sit back and continue to take this treatment at their will?!? Psshh!”

“If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:29b)

“But who do they think they are?”

“I could ask you the same thing, Karen. Who do YOU think YOU are? You’re a sinner saved by my grace. You were once lost, too, you know.” (Ephesians 2:5)

“All right, all right. But, Lord, you know my friend and I have even been praying for them, even going so far as to literally hold in our hands things that belong to them and praying that they would soften their heart, that they would in some way come to accept You. Boy, that’s sure done a lot of good!”

“You don’t think so? Sounds to me like you’ve gotten the attention of satan! Sounds to me like he is on the prowl, like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Are you going to let him get you?” (I Peter 5:14)

“Great! So now what am I supposed to do? I can’t fight SATAN!”

“Resist him. Stand firm in your faith. Be self-controlled and alert.” (1 Peter 5:8)

“I can’t, Lord! Don’t you hear me crying? All I want is to give them a piece of my mind!”

“Don’t you trust me? Don’t you think I can handle this one for you? Don’t take revenge. If there is revenge to be taken, I will take care of it.” (Romans 12:19)

“Well, okay. But I’m just not going to talk to them! If they’re going to treat me like that, I’ll just treat them the same way!”

“Would that really make you feel any better? How about just forgetting about it and turning the other cheek?” (Matthew 5:39)

“Oh, for goodness sakes! I suppose the next thing you’re going to tell me is I should overcome their evil by doing good to them, so it’s kind of like heaping burning coals on their head!” (Romans 12:21)

“You got it! I love you, Karen! Isn’t that enough?”

~This is a rerun of a post in July 2009

Worry

Submitted anonymously

This Week’s Verse:

Matthew 6: 25-34 "Do Not Worry"

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Devotion:
Why do I worry? I know God is taking care of me. I know He will always take care of me and my family. Even when bad things happen, God is still there for me. To comfort me, give me peace, and bring me through to the other side of whatever it is I am going through. No matter what, God promises He is always there.

So, why do I lose sleep over what has happened during the day, about my children, or a decision I feel is hanging over my head? Because I am human. I have to ask for forgiveness everyday, and for God's guidance. I have to ask Him to take control, and take away my worries. I have to turn everything over to Him.

As it says in John 10, "no one" can take us away from our Father's hand!! That is powerful! No matter what He is holding us in his hand. God's got us! We have to have faith, assurance about what we do not see, that He is there and always will be.

Lord, Give us faith, so that we may count on you to protect us and get us through each day without worry. Help us to obey you, and to not worry about anything.

Applications: Even though turmoil is going on all around us, God is in control. He is the Creator and can do anything, so we should not fear....anything. Seek first His kingdom, and all these things (whatever you need) will be given to you.

Power verses:
John 10:27-30, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (NIV)

Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." (NKJV)

Psalm 46:1-6,
"God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts." (NIV)

Blessed Peace

by Kathy Lay

This Week’s Verse: Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”(NIV)

Devotion:
This seems to be a season when many people who are close to me are facing decisions. A restlessness or dissatisfaction is stirring some to consider changes in jobs, changes in ministry, changes in habits, changes in whatever; but some sort of change that will move them closer to their goals and where God would have them be.

The most difficult part about being in that “what-do-I-do-now” phase is knowing for sure which path to take. Lord, do I do this? Am I supposed to go this way? How do I know You’re in this?

That last question, I believe, can be answered at least in part by this: peace. For example, three years ago when I was getting burnt out teaching (actually, the grading is what burnt me out) at ISU, I was presented with another job option. It made no logical sense to switch and the thought of it made me so nervous I had panic attacks.

So I prayed and asked God for guidance. He provided a scripture that made it clear this new job WAS what He wanted for me and that I was to trust Him. And from that point on I had peace about the decision. The circumstance still made me nervous, but I had peace I made the right decision.

And I've seen this same cycle repeat several times since then.

One of the fruits of God's spirit is peace. Trust that when you begin to feel peace about a decision--no matter how scary, or crazy, or unpopular that decision may seem--God will give you peace about that decision. And He'll be with you in the resulting circumstance as well.

Father, thank you for that blessed peace that passes all understanding when we go the way You would have us go. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application:
What decisions do you face? Invite God into the process and ask that peace well up in you when considering the right decision--the way that God wants you to go. Pray that His peace will be your compass.

Power Verses:
Galatians 5:22, "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness"(NLT).
1 Thessalonians 5:23, "Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again."(NLT)
Judges 18:6, "The priest answered them, 'Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD's approval.'"(NIV).

What If?

by Denise Reed

This Week’s Verse: Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)

Devotion:
Sometimes when I’m lying in bed I get a bad case of the “what-ifs”. My mind starts thinking about every possible bad or tragic thing that can happen to me and my family. What if my husband gets in a fatal accident to/from work? What if one of my children dies in some sort of freak accident? What if someone breaks into our house while we’re sleeping?. . . and the list goes on and on.

Next thing I know, I’m crying in bed, and I’m feeling stupid. I’m crying about my husband dying and he’s laying right next to me! I’m just hoping he’s already asleep so he doesn’t hear me sniffling. I wouldn’t want to tell him why I’m crying! Does anybody else do this?

But then, thankfully, God reminds me of this week’s verse and I feel peace and relief. I am not relieved because tragedies will never happen. But I am consoled because I know that if disaster strikes, God will get me through it.

Just look at the example God provides for us in the book of Job—in fact, I’m convinced God included Job’s story in the Word to inspire us to hold on through any hardship. In this extreme case we see the proper way to react when tragedy occurs. He relies on God during his excessive hardships and remains faithful. He learns more about the nature of God through his adversity and we would do well to grasp the same truth.

God is our comforter, our strength when we are weak. It is SO hard when difficulties come, but it will be okay. God promises to never hurt us. We have to trust His promises and carry out our mission here on this earth. Although we would love for it to, the world will not stop for us in times of calamity.

How terrible it must be for non-Christians to go through tragedies without knowing God’s promises! We believers have something they don’t, though, and it’s our job to reach out to them and anyone needing the promises and strength of Christ.

We have the answer to the world’s “What ifs…”

Lord, thank you for the example of your servant Job. I pray that you will remind me of your promises when my mind starts to wonder. I pray that I can console others with your promises when tragedies occur. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application:
Next time you get a case of the "what-ifs" allow yourself to be comforted by God’s word and find strength in knowing that tragedy will not overcome you.

Power Verses:
2 Cor. 1:4, “…who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (NIV)
Rom. 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”(NIV)
Ps 119:50, “My comfort in my suffering is this: your promise preserves my life.” (NIV)

Ministry: Hold On Loosely

by Kathy Lay

This Week's Verse: Mark 6:30-31, “The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.”(NLT)

Devotion:
I can recall very few times when I’ve been too busy to eat (ha!) but otherwise I can relate to what the disciples are experiencing in this week’s verse. And many of you can too.

In Mark 6:7, Jesus sends the disciples out two by two to minister to people. In verse 13 we find out that not only did they tell people to turn from their sins, but they also cast out many demons and healed the sick, anointing them with olive oil. All in all, a very successful season of ministry!

Understandable then, that when the disciples meet up again with Jesus as shown in verse 30, they are emotionally stoked about what they’d been able to do. I can just see them trying to talk over each other with stories of the incredible work they’d been doing. And with so many people coming and going all around them, they no doubt attracted larger crowds with their enthusiasm. I wonder if the disciples were thinking, “We can do even more work here among these people! What are we waiting for?”

But Jesus doesn’t send them out again—at least not yet. “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest,” he tells them.

Rest? But Lord, we have so much to do! Who has time to rest when there’s VBS planning, camp registering and packing, song practicing, Sunday school preparing, and church cleaning to do?

In our ministries—Spirit-driven, God-ordained, kingdom-vital ministries—we will have busy seasons. We may thrive on them at times, while at other times we may feel completely wrung out. But regardless of whether we feel the need to or not, we must listen when we hear Jesus asking us to rest and spend time with Him.

If we don’t, that’s like saying, “Jesus, you understand why I can’t be in the Word today of ALL days, right? Today’s the big event I’m doing for you!” Or maybe it’s like saying, “I have to be at the shelter at 6 a.m. to serve your people breakfast, Lord. I’ll catch ya later.” Or even saying, “Lord, I have to get this devotional finished. I’ll pray later.” (Ouch.)

An esteemed worship leader (I think her name is Missy Milbourn or something like that) was once talking with me about the demands of ministry. She shared what helps her keep things in proper perspective. “We need to hold loosely to our ministries, but hold tightly to Jesus.” After all, which do we love more?

As we minister, we must heed Jesus’ promptings and go rest with Him. There we’ll find solace from the frenetic pace, even if we may not want to at first. And we’ll be reminded that He’s the one who sustains us as we carry out His work.

Lord, help us always to hold loosely enough to our ministries to spend time and rest with you. Thank you for grace when we do run ahead or rely on our own abilities. Become our greatest desire. In Jesus’ Name.

Application:
If you aren’t currently serving in a ministry, you’re missing out on a blessing. Consider areas you could serve (VBS is fast approaching!). If you do have a ministry (or multiple ministries!) is it difficult for you to slow down sometimes and just rest with Jesus? If so, mark a specific time each day to do this and commit to keeping it until it becomes a habit.

Power Verses:
2 Corinthians 3:5-6, “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”(NIV)
2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”(NIV)
Acts 8:21, “You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.”(NIV)

Clingy

by Kathy Lay

This Week's Verse: Deuteronomy 13:4, “Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.”(NLT)

Devotion:
Cleave, adhere, stick. In a word? Cling.

We usually perceive "clingy" as something negative, right? I know I hate it when my clothes are clingy; I tend to want to distance myself when people are too clingy; and I've even scolded our dog when she follows not more than six inches behind me when she's uneasy. Ugh! It kinda gets on my nerves, this clingy business.

It's frustrating, isn't it? You want to be there, and honestly, as wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, girlfriends, and women in general--you know, the "nurturers"--we feel the enormous expectation to meet everyone's needs. Then if we fall short we feel guilty because it's just not humanly possible to be everything for everybody. Or sometimes even a few somebodies.

But you know what I find liberating? We were never designed to be! There is only One who can be everything to everybody and this week's verse is clear about Who is truly cling-worthy.

Are we to work faithfully on His behalf? Absolutely. Reach out to help? Of course. Are we to carry others' burdens? Without question.

But we also have to recognize our limitations and maybe even remind others--the cling-ons--that anytime they seek fulfillment solely from mere humans, they'll come up unsatisfied. People aren't perfect. But thank God, He is.

I once heard a quote that said something like, "If I was a perfect mom, my kids wouldn't need God." Pithy, yes, but there's a kernal of truth there. And you could substitute relationships within the sentence: If I was a perfect friend, my friend wouldn't need God. If I was a perfect wife, my husband wouldn't need God. Sure, they'd still need Him, but it's less likely they'd see their need for Him if their needs were met with a "perfect" friend or wife! Why cling when life is grand?

Please understand, the above is not a cop-out of our Christian duty to love one another well. In fact, it increases our own need to cling. When that guilt at falling short kicks in, or emptiness or loneliness or numbness or simply a desire for change, we are in turn propelled to someone for strength, encouragement, or answers. It's definitely okay to reach out to those you love and respect. But be sure above all else you're reaching out to grab hold of God. He invites you to cling to Him. He desires it.

And when you cling, when you truly hold on tightly with both hands, following Him closely, and talking constantly to Him, everything else fades.

Feeling a little clingy?

Father God, thank you that you not only allow us to cling to You, but that you invite it--even command it! Help us to shift any excessive clinginess to people whole-heartedly to You. We want to cleave and adhere to You. In Jesus' Name.

Application:
Do you see yourself as a clingy person? How do you react when someone has been clingy with you? Praise God for being the only perfect One to cling to.

Power Verses:
Psalm 63:8, "My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."(NIV)
Romans 12:9, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."(NIV)
1 Timothy 1:19, "Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked."(NLT)

Okay, So Anyway...

by Kathy Lay

This Week's Verse: 2 Peter 1:10-11, "Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."(NIV)

Devotion:
We see references to it on facebook multiple times a day, we hear it from people’s mouths, and we say it ourselves: I just can’t get motivated. I really should be doing so and so but I just can’t find the wherewithal to do it. I don’t feel like doing anything.

See, I know what I’m talking about because I have a propensity to be easily overwhelmed. And when I get that way, often my coping mechanism is to shut down and not do a whole lot of anything. I allow myself to be paralyzed in times when I should be productive.

In some areas of life that may not be a big deal. If the dishes sit overnight they’ll get done the next day. If the floor goes unvacuumed no one will probably even notice—at least for awhile.

But what about when God has clearly called me to do something and I have said yes to Him? I’m fueled by excitement at first, but feelings fade. Eventually, I’m left to carry out obedience even when I no longer want to because it’s hard or boring or confusing.

I’m referring specifically to my writing. God made it clear that I am to write fiction for young people that will draw them into a closer relationship with him. Fun, right? Not so much anymore. And then I ran across this little excerpt from Cynthia Ruchti:

As in marriage, feelings come and go. (But) devotion and commitment hold us to the task. An author lays fingers to the keyboard whether emotionally full or emotionally empty. That's where miracles happen. God responds to our obedience and commitment by restoring the feelings we thought were dead.

It's all about writing *anyway*.

•No one will ever buy this dribble. *Write anyway.*
•Even I don't like the story anymore. *Write anyway.*
•Laundry looks mighty tempting right now. *Write anyway.*
•I've been writing a very long time with no visible success. *Write anyway.*

It's natural to write when we feel it. What a sweet victory (and testament to God's power at work within us) when we write when we don't feel it!

How remarkable is it to be faithful when the words come easily? When your mate is adorable? When your boss just gave you a raise?

(But) how *divine *to be faithful when your mate did something unkind and the boss doesn't appreciate you and the words come hard!

Now, that's remarkable.

These words hit me right between the eyes. I have to be obedient to my calling and not let doubt or distraction or yes, even being overwhelmed, become strongholds for the enemy who wants to thwart God’s plan.

It’s easy to serve when everything is roses, when life’s going our way, and when our motivation skyrockets on pure emotion. But it's commitment to God and perseverance in our "anyway" that grows us closer to God as we serve him through the dry spells.

Father God, forgive me for doubting your call or dragging my feet with it just because things get tough. Help me to be faithful in my follow-through. Lord, my desire is that you find favor in my service because you know you can count on me to do your will. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application: What’s your “anyway” area? Is there something you know you’ve been called to do but haven't yet? Make a list of anyway statements similar to Cynthia Ruchti's above. Resolve to fulfill your calling by persuing it anyway.

Power Verses:
2 Peter 1:3-4, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."(NIV)
Hebrews 10:36 , "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."(NIV)
2 Peter 1:5-8, "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."(NIV)

Beyond the Smoke

by Debby Craig

This Week's Verse: 2 Chronicles 16:9a, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." (KJV)

Devotion:
The Lord was patient with me when it came to my habit of smoking. I accepted Christ as my personal Savior on 1/1/1979 and I quit smoking 21 years later on 10/25/2000--nine years ago. I had tried at least eight times before that to kick the habit. I learned a lot about His love for me when I finally quit.

I woke up with no voice that day – it was a sign! I took the cigarettes and ran water over them before I put them in the trash. (You have to do that when you quit or else when the urge hits you will sift through the broken pieces in the trash and find at least one that will work.) I made it 45 minutes until I had the first attack and without any hesitation, as usual, I headed to the car to go get another pack. I had a talk with the Lord as I headed out to the garage and told Him, “This is useless. I can’t do this, and you know it. You have seen me try and try and you understand because you know me better than anyone does.”

The radio was on when I started the car. It was “testimony day” on WBGL and at that precise moment (God’s timing) a woman was praising God because she had asked the Lord to help her quit smoking and she hadn’t had a cigarette since. That is when I realized that I had never given this “thing” to the Lord. I was trying to do it alone.

I was broken at that moment. I couldn’t ever do this on my own and the Lord knew that. He had been so patient with me. When I realized that He was right there in the car wrapping His big arms around me and comforting me, I knew He would be there for every urge and every “fit” until it was over. This was a HUGE day for me. I didn’t have to do it. He did it for me.

I used this week's verse as encouragement for many years in the battle: “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." I could just see God looking back and forth and then He finds me and shows himself strong in my behalf at the perfect moment!

Has He possibly given me more time here on earth to spread His word and tell people about His amazing love, patience, and strength? Maybe an extra nine years that I wouldn’t have had before? I don’t know the answer to that – only He does.

What I do know is that I have a new understanding of how addictions happen and how they can control us. The ministry that He eventually planned for me called me to look past everyone's addications and see them as He did. Maybe it took so long in my case because He knew that I needed that personal lesson from Him to have it hit home and to empathize with those I'm now called to minister to.

Dear Heavenly Father, You have done so much for me and my family and still I waste days and sometimes even weeks or months and don’t shout to the rooftops of your might and power. I am so glad that you never turn your back on us. I pray that you will give me a boost of you when it is needed most. Show me the people in my path that need you and give me the words to share with them to let them know how much you love them. Please give me patience with them while they are waiting on their lessons from you.

Application:
Identify your addictions. Have a frank talk with God about your deliverance from them, recognizing it's all Him, not you. Listen for direction on how to use your experience to minister to others.

Power Verses:
Romans 10:13-14, “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?"(NLT)
1 Corinthians 10:13, "No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it." (MSG)

Conversation With God

by Karen Keim

“Lord, I am really hurting right now. I can’t quit crying. That person once again spoke to me and treated me in a manner that I don’t deserve.”

“I know how you feel, Karen. I didn’t deserve the treatment I received so long ago. And you know what else? Not that I want to hurt you more, but I don’t deserve the way YOU treat me sometimes either.”

“I know, Lord, and I’m sorry, but can we deal with that later? Right now can we just talk about me? I mean, how much more can I take? How much more SHOULD I take? I have a notion to just e-mail them and give them a piece of my mind!”

“You know, if you really consider yourself religious and don’t keep a tight rein on your tongue, you deceive yourself and your religion is worthless.” (James 1:26)

“So I’m just supposed to sit back and continue to take this treatment at their will?!? Psshh!”

“If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:29b)

“But who do they think they are?”

“I could ask you the same thing, Karen. Who do YOU think YOU are? You’re a sinner saved by my grace. You were once lost, too, you know.” (Ephesians 2:5)

“All right, all right. But, Lord, you know my friend and I have even been praying for them, even going so far as to literally hold in our hands things that belong to them and praying that they would soften their heart, that they would in some way come to accept You. Boy, that’s sure done a lot of good!”

“You don’t think so? Sounds to me like you’ve gotten the attention of satan! Sounds to me like he is on the prowl, like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Are you going to let him get you?” (I Peter 5:14)

“Great! So now what am I supposed to do? I can’t fight SATAN!”

“Resist him. Stand firm in your faith. Be self-controlled and alert.” (1 Peter 5:8)

“I can’t, Lord! Don’t you hear me crying? All I want is to give them a piece of my mind!”

“Don’t you trust me? Don’t you think I can handle this one for you? Don’t take revenge. If there is revenge to be taken, I will take care of it.” (Romans 12:19)

“Well, okay. But I’m just not going to talk to them! If they’re going to treat me like that, I’ll just treat them the same way!”

“Would that really make you feel any better? How about just forgetting about it and turning the other cheek?” (Matthew 5:39)

“Oh, for goodness sakes! I suppose the next thing you’re going to tell me is I should overcome their evil by doing good to them, so it’s kind of like heaping burning coals on their head!” (Romans 12:21)

“You got it! I love you, Karen! Isn’t that enough?”

Exchanging Dreams

by Missy Milbourn

This Week’s Verse: Galations 6:14, “…Because of the cross, my interest in this world died long ago…”

Devotion:
I can relate to the above scripture. The closer I’ve gotten to Christ, the less interested I’ve become in the things of this world, primarily speaking of my former passions regarding this world. I used to have a direction that I felt I wanted to go, a visual picture of what I thought success would look like for me. However the struggle and striving to get there often left me exhausted, discouraged, and not knowing what to do.

I still remember the moment when I surrendered my dreams to Christ. The moment when I said, “this is not going well, Lord. Help.” In the next days and months after that, He began to show me His vision for my life, His direction—which, interesting enough, still lined up with the desires of my heart. There now is a direction for my life which has been established by Him, and revealed to me by Him, through prayer and the reading of His Word.

One of the benefits of obeying His direction is that we no longer have to strive and struggle trying to “get” there. Whenever we begin to strive and struggle, we have to recognize that and immediately surrender the “strive and struggle” to “trust and obey”, walking step by step with God, trusting that “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” (Philippians 1:6, NIV)

Father God, I will cry to out to You, for You are God Most High! You perform on my behalf and reward me. You bring to pass Your purposes for me and surely complete them! (Prayed from Psalm 57:2, Amp.)

Application:
Are you currently striving and struggling to obtain something, or to “arrive” somewhere? Surrender to the One who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than all you ask or imagine!

Power Verses:
Philippians 1:6, “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (NIV)
Psalm 37:4, “ Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. (NIV)
Psalm 37:23-24, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. (NLT)

Confident Dependence

by Kathy Lay

This Week’s Verse: Hosea 13:6, “…always live in confident dependence on your God.” (NLT)

Devotion:
Remember that team-building exercise that was all the rage for awhile at everything from corporate workshops to summer camps? You know the one—members of small groups were asked to take turns falling backwards into the arms of the others in their group. The purpose was to address trust issues, thereby fostering more cohesiveness and unity within the group.

Though I was never asked to participate in that experience myself, any time I’d heard others talk about it I always wondered what the big deal was. I thought about the people I’ve worked with, played with, lived with, worshiped with, and generally “done life” with, and I don’t think I’d hesitate for a second to fall back, trusting them to catch me. (Hmm…maybe I’m TOO trusting?!)

But what I realized is that even though I might fully trust them to not let me hit the ground during a pre-planned, artificial scenario, I may have trouble trusting them not to let me down in real life. Can I really trust so-and-so to get such-and-such to me by that deadline? Will so- and-so convey the message in as detailed a manner as necessary? Are the kids going to remember to feed and water the dog as they promised? It’s those kinds of areas where I have trust issues. I guess I question others’ follow-through.

But you know who always follows through? I mean, always? I’ll drop a few hints—he’s crazy in love with you. He sings and dances over you. He desires to spend forever with you so much that he became flesh so he could die for you, but he’s such a gentleman that he leaves the decision up to you. If you choose him, he works miracles in your life whether or not you realize how perfect they are for you at that moment.

Now that’s someone we can trust. I loved the phrase from this week’s verse the moment I read it. Confident dependence on God…that’s what I want to always have. I want to wholly depend on him and be 100% confident that He’ll come through. I believe it in my head, but when it gets down to the daily ins and outs of life, do I live it out from my core? Do you?

Let’s depend on God with such confidence that we don’t hesitate for a millisecond to fall back into His big arms. He’ll never let us crash when we do.

Father, sometimes it’s just so tough to trust your timing or accept your will and yet you always follow through with mercy and grace when we ask you to. Help us to trust in full confidence that we can depend on you for everything that’s best for us, when it’s best for us. Help us to confidently depend on You. By all the authority in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application:
Whether it’s falling backward, taking a leap of faith (off a cliff, sometimes!), or running hard, trusting God fully usually requires some action on our part. What steps have you taken recently to put your faith into action? What steps do you need to take to show God you’re confidently depending on Him in a certain situation?

Power Verses:
2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (NLT)
James 5:11, “…From his [Job’s] experience we see how the Lord’s plan finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness and mercy.” (NLT)
Psalm 44:3, “They did not conquer the land with their swords; It was not their own strength that gave them victory. It was by your mighty power that they succeed; It was because you favored them and smiled on them.” (NLT)