devotions

“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart” Psalms 51:6, ESV

Healing takes place when we’re truthful. We can find healing in saying, “This is where I am right now. Yes, I still have faith in God, but this is where I am right now and I need your prayers and continued support.”

Maybe you’re still getting over someone or something, and you’re trying to pretend that you’re fine. Know that God knows you daughter. He knows where you truly are, and He knows how to get you where you need to be in life.

Let God continue to minister healing to every deep wound. Let Him show you that those who genuinely love you won’t mind you crying over something that happened years ago. And most importantly, let God help you to keep moving forward as He heals you completely and makes you whole.

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for speaking to me. You know where I am right now and how challenging it has been. Help me not to pretend. I receive your love and I receive your comfort. I receive your peace of mind and heart that’s only found in you. I love you Lord. Heal every deep wound and fill every gaping hole that’s been left in me. Help me to be honest with you and with those who love me. In Jesus name, Amen.

(Read Psalms 147:3; John 8:32)

“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory”, 2 Corinthians 1:20, New Living Translation.

Many times we won’t bring certain things to God because we don’t want Him to tell us “No”. We think to ourselves, “What if He tells me not to marry him?”, “What if He tells me to stay at my crazy job?”, “What if He tells me not to purchase the home?”, “What if He tells me to let go of those friends?” Because there are things we really want in life and desire to do, we find ourselves hoping that God wants the same.

You don’t have to live your life fearful to hear “No” from a loving Father that has your best interest at heart. He loves you more than anything and knows you better than anyone. His best is always so much better than what you would have chosen for yourself.

A “No” from God can save your life, can save you time and money, can save you unnecessary frustration and pain, and can put you on a smooth course in life. Don’t pray for Him to approve anything you want. Instead, ask Him to show you what He wants for you. When you do this, He’ll begin to reveal to you His plans and will give you clear instructions on how to receive His plans for your life. He’ll then give you His blessing in what He has told you to do.

Prayer: Father, Thank you for having my best in mind. I know you love me and have only the best in mind for me. Help me not to fear hearing you tell me “No”. Help me to learn your character and your love. Your perfect will for my life is what I want more than anything and that is what I receive. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Challenge: Instead of focusing on everything God has said “no” to, focus on everything He has said “yes” to.

“The LORD remembers us and will bless us. He will bless the people of Israel and bless the priests, the descendants of Aaron” Psalms 115:12, NLT.

“You’ve been waiting, and you’ve been serving others. Because you know that I am good, you’re trying not to be discouraged. Because you know My character, you’re trying not to feel forgotten. I know you, My daughter. I see you, and I see your works. You have little strength, and you have a little joy. You are trying to hold on to My promises because you know I am faithful. Here’s My promise to you, I will remember you. Speak this from your lips. I will remember you. You don’t know how or when but know that I will remember you. Let these words fill you with joy and give you strength. I am good, I am faithful, and I will remember you. I love you with an everlasting love, and I will remember you. I am your God, and I cannot lie. I will remember you. I will cause you to reap where you have not sown. I will bless you and make you blessing. I will cause you to shine as bright as the noonday. I will remember you.”

(Scripture references: Psalm 67:6-7; Psalm 98:3; Psalm 136:23; Hebrews 6:18; Jeremiah 31:3; Deuteronomy 6:10-11)

“The Lord is good, a strength and stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows [He recognizes, cares for, and understands fully] those who take refuge and trust in Him” Nahum 1:7, Amplified.

All throughout scripture, we find it written, “The Lord is good.” Even when what you’re going through doesn’t feel good, when the report doesn’t sound good, and the situation doesn’t look good, God remains good. To cease to be good would go against His nature and character. Just as God is love, God is good, and if you trust Him, I mean really trust Him; you will see Him work all things together for your good because you love Him and are called according to His purpose (see Romans 8:28).

Say from your heart, “Just as my God is love, He is good! No matter how I feel today, no matter how it looks, and no matter how it sounds, I choose to trust in the goodness of my Father. I trust that He is working all things according to His divine purpose and plan. No matter what I am experiencing, I expect the outcome to be for my good because God is good!”

“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose” Romans 8:28, Amplified.

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19

My sister, you’ve seen the LORD come through for you so many times over the course of your life. You’ve seen how He has made a way out of no way for you. Don’t pretend like you don’t know what your God can do. If He’s done it before, He is doing it again! Right now! The Word of God promises that He makes a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. And just when you’re fighting not to feel discouraged because there seems to be no way, God causes you to look up and see the way He’s made for you. God’s not going to make a way, He has already made a way, and it’s now up to you to ask Him to open your eyes and help you see the way He has made. Don’t lean to your understanding. Allow God to show you what He wants you to see. He’s not worried, and neither should you worry. He’s waiting on you to come to Him and pray, “Lord, I know you’ve made a way for me. Open my eyes and help me see your way and grace me to walk in it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

(Read Proverbs 3:5-6)

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Psalms 17:8, NIV.

When it comes to love, you want the kind that comes naturally, not love that is forced. Maybe there’s someone in your life that you love a great deal, but they don’t feel the same way you do and it makes you want to change in order to keep them interested.

The thoughts in your mind may say, “I can make them love me. I can change and become whatever they want me to be. I can change careers, change my hair, get plastic surgery, have their child, leave everything I know and change the way I behave. They will love me; I just have to…” You shouldn’t have to change yourself to get love. If God loves you just how you are, anyone He sends your way will also love you just how you are.

At the heart of real love is acceptance. Anything you have to change to get, you will have to constantly change in order to keep. Love is most beautiful when it is unforced and not manipulated. Let love happen by God’s divine orchestration. Whatever He sends your way He will give you the grace and wisdom to handle. You may not be the apple of someone’s eye just yet, but you are surely the apple of God’s eye. You may not have a David Jonathan kind of friendship just yet, but you have one with God. He loves you in every state and in every season. He took off His priestly garments and wrapped you in robes of righteousness. You will never be able to reach the bottom of God’s love for you!

Until someone can love you even remotely close to that kind of love, honey they don’t deserve you.

Prayer: Father God, thank You for speaking to my heart. I know You love me. Help me know it in a deeper way. Deal with the deeper fears in me and shine your light on every false view I have of myself. I deserve real love and I trust You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

no one likes loneliness
it sounds like what it is
none are happy there
none are happy where
no friend comes
but solitude
beautiful solitude
it’s a place
of sweet solace
you go there by choice
to hear yourself think
enjoy your own thoughts
and appreciate who you are
visit there often friend
live there even when
in a crowded room
your place
of solitude

“Cure my loneliness Lord, or I’m moving back home,” I told God one day in prayer. Amazing how I thought I could give Him an ultimatum. The loneliness I felt seemed unbearable. I was missing my friends terribly while living in a new city. While some are scared of bats, some are terrified of snakes, or maybe heights, my deepest fear was being left alone and having to go alone. Endure trials alone. And so it goes with living by faith, you are challenged to face every one of your fears. Whatever you fear you can’t do, God will show you that you can. I wanted friendship, so He gave me a season of solitude. He gave me something no one can ever take away from me—a friendship with me.

Friends come and go, but you will always have you—every second and every minute. You have yourself through every trial and every triumph. And since you are with yourself all of the time, you might as well learn how to enjoy your company. In solitude, you learn to accept yourself as God does, forgive yourself, challenge yourself, love yourself, and comfort yourself. You learn how to encourage yourself when you’re down, how to tell yourself to get up and try again, how to be honest with yourself, how to keep yourself humble when you are on top. You learn all of the qualities of being a good friend. The greatest friend to others is the one that’s the greatest friend to themselves. And until someone can treat you better than you treat your solitude, they don’t deserve you.

When God brings you into a season of solitude, He has a plan to enrich you so that you can enrich others. He does an amazing work inside you to prepare you for the great work He will do outside of you.

Prayer: Thank you, Father God. I trust your plan. I trust your seasons for my life. And even in solitude, you know what’s best for me. Enrich me, Father. Teach me. Bless me. Add so much value to my life that I will have something to contribute that will bless others. Be glorified in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Read Isaiah 41:10)

“But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high” Psalms 3:3, NIV.

The Lord is our shield. He’s our impenetrable shield. He protects us and covers us. He shelters us and we are hidden in Christ. We are hiding in His shield, not to hide in fear from the enemy, but we are hiding in His shield so that we can advance God’s kingdom and make forward steps into fulfilling His purpose for our lives. I want to encourage you today to know that no attempt from the enemy will prosper in your life. Anything he tries to do to harm you will not work. He will not be able to derail God’s plans for your life. Anything God wants to do in, around and through you will be accomplished. It is God working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight.

Be comforted today in knowing that God knows exactly what He’s doing. He’s allowing whatever He’s allowing for a divine reason, and it is all going to work out according to His divine plan. In the end, you win. In the end, you are victorious through Jesus. So no matter what you are facing right now. No matter what the enemy is trying to do, it will be a failed attempt because it is God who gives you the victory through Jesus and it is God who causes you to be triumphant through Christ.

Prayer: Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord! I am victorious through Jesus. I hide in your protective shield, not in fear, but in faith. I cover myself with Christ, and I declare that I will move forward into the divine purpose and plan you have for me. Thank you, Lord, that no weapon formed against me will prosper. Thank you that you’ve given me the victory in every area of life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is fully devoted to Him…” 2 Chronicles 16:9, Berean Study Bible

“Let Me prove you. Let My hand on your life prove you. Let My anointing on your words prove you. Let My great love that I pour in you and through you be what proves you. I want to make it very clear that I Am for you, but you’re going to have to stop trying to prove yourself and let Me show Myself strong in your life.”