Cherished E-Book

Kim Crabill

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Seitenzahl: 377

Beschreibung

We can never receive too many reminders that we are loved! These 365 daily readings will help you take your eyes off the day's demands and focus on the God who loves you more than you can imagine.   Begin each day empowered, knowing you are cherished by your Father in heaven. God will show you how active and personal he is in your life. As God brings his courage to you, you will discover the joy of recognizing and responding to daily opportunities to encourage others.   Listen to God's voice. Hear his love for you.  

Leseprobe

BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC

Racine, Wisconsin, USA

BroadStreetPublishing.com

Cherished:365 DEVOTIONS THAT CELEBRATE GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU

Copyright © 2017 Kim Crabill

ISBN-13: 978-1-4245-5488-1 (hardcover)

ISBN-13: 978-1-4245-5489-8 (e-book)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Some material in this book is adapted from Burdens to Blessings, Burdens to Blessings: Young Adult Edition, Infinitely More, A Cup of Hope, A Cup of Christmas, and A Cup of Freedom.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188, USA. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked MSG are from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Scripture marked KJV is taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Scriptures marked CEV are taken from the CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION (CEV): Scripture taken from the CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION copyright© 1995 by the American Bible Society. Used by permission. Scripture marked PHILLIPS is taken from the New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by permission. Scripture marked RSV is taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (TPT) are taken from The Passion Translation® of the Holy Bible. Copyright © 2014, 2015 by BroadStreet Publishing. All rights reserved.

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For all those who need a daily reminder of what my grandfather told me: “As much as I love you, there’s One who loves you so much more, and He is with you wherever you go.”

Contents

Introduction

January

January 1: Calm Inside and Out

January 2: Sharp Words

January 3: The Perfect Plan

January 4: More Ahead

January 5: Making Preparations

January 6: By Name

January 7: Messes Welcome

January 8: Blurred Vision

January 9: Sing Along

January 10: Young on the Inside

January 11: Listen to Yourself

January 12: What to Pray for Yourself

January 13: Why Am I Here?

January 14: Within Reach

January 15: It’s in the Bag

January 16: Running Ragged

January 17: Not Your Job

January 18: Cut out the Cut-Ins

January 19: A Story to Tell

January 20: The Matterhorn’s Message

January 21: Helpless Isn’t Hopeless

January 22: Swap and Shop

January 23: Condemnation-Free Zone

January 24: The Lady in Gray

January 25: The Best Seat in the House

January 26: Spelling Lesson

January 27: Light in the Darkness

January 28: Today Only

January 29: Free to Ask

January 30: Redefining Slow

January 31: All Cleaned Up

February

February 1: Get Soaked

February 2: Like Father, Like Child

February 3: Sticky Jesus

February 4: True Beauty

February 5: The Eyes Have It

February 6: Fight for the Future

February 7: Critic’s Corner

February 8: Our God Speaks

February 9: Seeing Eyes

February 10: Can I Get a Witness?

February 11: What Good Is It?

February 12: Just Talk

February 13: Things Kids Pray

February 14: Lavish Love

February 15: New Math

February 16: What Does God Want?

February 17: It Came to Pass

February 18: Letting Grudges Go

February 19: Wrong Question

February 20: That Inner Glow

February 21: Slaves to Statistics

February 22: Not Just a Needle

February 23: Belly Praise

February 24: OK Is OK

February 25: Triple Promise

February 26: Longing to Belong

February 27: Impossible!

February 28: In Reverse

February 29: To Be Continued

March

March 1: Focusing Forward

March 2: Second Childhood

March 3: Sleep Aid

March 4: Give It a Toss

March 5: Dance Like a Squirrel

March 6: Conversing with God

March 7: Hand in Hand

March 8: What Language Is That?

March 9: Perfect Timing

March 10: The Designer’s Touch

March 11: What Will They Think?

March 12: Power for Patience

March 13: Oh Mercy!

March 14: Never Abandoned

March 15: Stay Wet!

March 16: Fruit Bearing

March 17: Don’t Push Me

March 18: Temporary Status

March 19: Trust and Obey

March 20: Good Choice

March 21: Bankable Truths

March 22: Wounded Healers

March 23: Historically Correct

March 24: To Die For

March 25: Cross Purposes

March 26: Hunger Pains

March 27: An Audience of One

March 28: Pass the Wisdom, Please

March 29: Heart Hurt

March 30: Spring Cleaning

April

April 1: Dressed for God’s Best

April 2: What’s on Your Belt?

April 3: Shameless

April 4: Killer Shoes

April 5: Soak Your Shield

April 6: Sixty Thousand Thoughts

April 7: Keep Swinging

April 8: An Amazing Story

April 9: From Misery to Ministry

April 10: The Three Cs

April 11: Send Me!

April 12: Butterfly Friends

April 13: Who Knows?

April 14: Value Added

April 15: Twists and Turns

April 16: Be a Reaper

April 17: What a Coincidence!

April 18: The Worry Hour

April 19: Better Than Whistling

April 20: What God Will Never Say

April 21: None Like You

April 22: God Can Work with That

April 23: It’s My Right!

April 24: Brain Blips

April 25: Theology Made Simple

April 26: Say Yes!

April 27: Oh, Where Is My Hairbrush?

April 28: Pearls

April 29: Have an Abundant Day

April 30: Do Be Do Be Do

May

May 1: The Power of Determination

May 2: Simple Joys

May 3: Giving Notice

May 4: No Matter What

May 5: Be Nice to My Friend

May 6: Glorious Giggles

May 7: The Time Is Right

May 8: A Pinch of Variety

May 9: Pushing Buttons

May 10: Help Is on the Way

May 11: Soul Cleansing

May 12: Name That Toxin

May 13: Life Is Good

May 14: Feeling Special

May 15: Sustaining Words

May 16: Here and Now

May 17: Slaves to Yes

May 18: The Importance of First Steps

May 19: When the Earth Moves

May 20: None Too Small

May 21: The Power to Care

May 22: More than Money Can Buy

May 23: Alone

May 24: Wisdom Personified

May 25: The Right Fit

May 26: Waiting Rooms

May 27: The Laughing Woman

May 28: Why Be a Wallflower?

May 29: Your Power Plan

May 30: In the Depths

May 31: Need a Miracle?

June

June 1: The Real Lion

June 2: What’s Your Story?

June 3: Slowpokes

June 4: Say No to Negativity

June 5: Check In and Check Up

June 6: Be Available

June 7: What If …

June 8: Green Means Go, Part 1

June 9: Green Means Go, Part 2

June 10: Two Boats and a Helicopter

June 11: Hearing Aids

June 12: What Do You Believe?

June 13: How’s Your Signal?

June 14: Tree Talk

June 15: Two Truths

June 16: Multiple Choice

June 17: HALT

June 18: Never in Vain

June 19: A Fresh Perspective

June 20: Without Words

June 21: Crazy Little Interruptions

June 22: If I Were You

June 23: Do I Dare Hope?

June 24: Roar Back

June 25: Expert Advice

June 26: Sweet Sleep

June 27: Disqualified?

June 28: When the Battles Keep Coming

June 29: Anxiety-Free

June 30: Who Gets the First Word?

July

July 1: Doing the Right Thing

July 2: To the Giver’s Glory

July 3: Relationally Speaking

July 4: Freedom to Choose

July 5: Seven Simple Words

July 6: Of Two Minds

July 7: Country Music and God’s Will

July 8: Enjoy the Walk

July 9: Out of the Cocoon

July 10: I’m the Best!

July 11: Hope Givers

July 12: Called to Encourage

July 13: Slow to Speak

July 14: The Pleasure of Your Company

July 15: No Quitting

July 16: I’m No Bad Girl!

July 17: One Mind, One Voice

July 18: 100 Percent Wax-Free

July 19: Beauty from Ashes

July 20: God, Where Are You?

July 21: Already Queens

July 22: Dream a Little Dream

July 23: Drinking Sand

July 24: Fear Says …

July 25: Running in the Right Direction

July 26: True Life

July 27: The Gift of a Friend

July 28: Pride Buster

July 29: Well Preserved

July 30: More Than a Glance

July 31: Morning Hope

August

August 1: The Hidden Arrow

August 2: One Call Home

August 3: Trust Me

August 4: The Sound of Silence

August 5: Willing Instruments

August 6: View Changer

August 7: Smell Like a Rose

August 8: Walking Lessons

August 9: Don’t Fear the Desert

August 10: Think Small

August 11: Our Prayer Helper

August 12: Rubber Band Reminders

August 13: Purpose from the Pain

August 14: Trash Talk

August 15: Words of Wonder

August 16: Is Anyone There?

August 17: When the Going Gets Tough

August 18: With Friends

August 19: God Came Back

August 20: Hearts and Hands

August 21: A Promising Outcome

August 22: Wisdom from Above

August 23: Confident Joy

August 24: Unwelcome Visitors

August 25: Looking Up

August 26: Taking Stock

August 27: Pray This for Me

August 28: Freedom from Want

August 29: Smile at the Camera

August 30: An Invitation to Decline

August 31: Thumbs Up for Time-Outs

September

September 1: Bully-Proofing

September 2: Dealing with Dirt

September 3: Heavenly Interruptions

September 4: Wearing Blinders

September 5: Pick Me, Pick Me!

September 6: Stable in the Storm

September 7: Fight and Feed

September 8: Mission Possible

September 9: Picture This

September 10: Puzzling Plans

September 11: Am I the Only One?

September 12: Regret and Revelation

September 13: Perfect Math

September 14: Only Christ

September 15: Memories of Encouragement

September 16: Free Failing

September 17: How to Talk to Yourself

September 18: Sink or Swim

September 19: Approach with Confidence

September 20: First Focus

September 21: Never Forsaken

September 22: You Are Here

September 23: The Size of Spectacular

September 24: A World of Wonders

September 25: Wherever, Whenever, Whomever

September 26: Poor Me

September 27: Facing Fear

September 28: Wisdom from a GPS

September 29: Superwoman Syndrome

September 30: Transformed Junk

October

October 1: Freed from Busyness

October 2: A Parent You Can Trust

October 3: Living beyond Your Means

October 4: Say What?

October 5: Small Matters

October 6: In Whose Steps?

October 7: Let It Shine

October 8: Declaration of Hope

October 9: Dew Drops

October 10: Misery Requires Company

October 11: Who Do You Think You Are?

October 12: Giants in the Land

October 13: Truth to Live By

October 14: What’s Your Move?

October 15: Attention, Please!

October 16: Blessed Assurance

October 17: No Flapping Required

October 18: Dream Bigger

October 19: Is Your God Able?

October 20: Safe and Secure

October 21: The Lens of Faith

October 22: A Taste of Freedom

October 23: Dirt Busters

October 24: Invisible Lights

October 25: When Weak Is Strong

October 26: Controlled Chaos

October 27: Three Reasons It’s a Good Day

October 28: The Truth of the Matter

October 29: Sprinkle Your World

October 30: Courage in the Storm

October 31: Doing the Integrity Walk

November

November 1: Popularity or Progress?

November 2: Need a Jumpstart?

November 3: Qualified by God

November 4: The Power of Humility

November 5: Hold That Growl!

November 6: Open Invitation

November 7: Wardrobe Woes

November 8: Performance Anxiety

November 9: Where’s the Wisdom

November 10: Spread the Hope

November 11: The Book of Treasures

November 12: Take Heart!

November 13: On the Lookout

November 14: A Worthy Truth

November 15: Lost: One Mind

November 16: Against All Hope

November 17: What I Love about Conversations

November 18: Hurry Up and Stop

November 19: The Past Is Past

November 20: What a Masterpiece!

November 21: That’s What Friends Are For

November 22: A Thanksgiving Tradition

November 23: Stuck in the Right Place

November 24: The Power of Thankfulness

November 25: Living Wisdom

November 26: What Next, God?

November 27: Still Higher

November 28: Expect the Unexpected

November 29: The Gift of Attention

November 30: Broken Prizes

December

December 1: Anticipating Christmas

December 2: Purposed Heart

December 3: A Child’s Faith

December 4: Baggage Check

December 5: Who Do You Say I Am?

December 6: Peer Pressured

December 7: Dot to Dot

December 8: Please Pass the Comfort

December 9: Christmas Contentment

December 10: Great Expectations

December 11: Take the Burn out of Burnout

December 12: The Only Opinion That Matters

December 13: Monkey Business

December 14: Standing Trial

December 15: Capture and Replace

December 16: Whose Priority?

December 17: Sticky Friends

December 18: Putting on Approval

December 19: Do You Hear What I Hear?

December 20: Unbelievable

December 21: A Christmas Legacy

December 22: Even If …

December 23: Tattered but Treasured

December 24: You’re an Original

December 25: Do You See the Light?

December 26: Remember Rest?

December 27: A Time to Rebuild

December 28: Gratitude Noted

December 29: A Year of No Regrets

December 30: Growing Wings

December 31: Memory Keeping

About the Author

Introduction

The best part of my day is in the early morning when it’s just God and me, talking and listening to each other. And often, the next best part of my day (apart from enjoying my husband and sons) is when I get to share with another woman (or two … or two hundred) about what I discovered from God that morning.

That love of connecting with like-hearted women led to these devotionals. Many of them started out as simple e-mails I would shoot out each morning to a few friends. The few multiplied, and now I hope we can multiply the connections even further with this bound compilation.

I want these daily readings to help you take your eyes off the day’s demands for a few minutes and focus on the God who loves you more than you can imagine. I want them to open your eyes to how active and personal God is in your life. And I want them to show you the joy of recognizing and responding to daily opportunities to encourage others as God grants you the courage.

You will find an action prompt at the end of each devotional, but most of the time I do not suggest what to write. In another place (a diary, notebook, or electronic file) you may want to journal a prayer of response, an idea you want to pursue further, or the name of a friend you want to call. There’s no limit to what you and God might come up with!

Blessings,

Kim Crabill

January

JANUARY 1

Calm Inside and Out

I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

—PSALM 16:8

Are you anticipating the new year with excitement? Calm? Worry? Dread?

As I ponder this question, I’m reminded of a particular baseball game. My youngest son, Austin, was five or six and playing first base when the opposing team’s batter hit a pop-up. The ball looked as if it was going to the moon before beginning its descent. With two outs, Austin needed to make the catch to secure the win and the championship. He stood calmly, glove poised, and made the catch!

After the game, I applauded him for his cool confidence in a difficult situation. “Wow, Austin,” I began, “what a great job you did! I would have been scared, but you were so calm out there.” Looking up at me, his eyes revealed the struggle he had overcome. “I may have been calm on the outside, Mommy, but I was shaking on the inside!”

Does life sometimes make you shake on the inside? Just as Austin kept his eyes on that fly ball, you can face the new year with determination by keeping your eyes on God’s great promises and unchanging love.

JANUARY 2

Sharp Words

The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

—HEBREWS 4:12 NLT

Have you ever wondered why people act as outrageously as they do? One reason is the absence of God’s Word in their lives.

The Bible is not a dead old book. It is active! When we read it and do what it says, God’s Word transforms us from the inside out. It tempers us, calms us, and aligns our will to God’s. It introduces us to Jesus Christ who saves us from our selves and transforms us into the people God created us to be. So when we see people behaving in a way that shocks and offends us, let’s pray someone will lead them to the Word. Because if not for the Word, then we might be acting the same way.

If you haven’t already done so, find a Bible, an app, or a written plan that allows you to read through God’s Word this coming year.

JANUARY 3

The Perfect Plan

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

—EPHESIANS 2:10

My foundation was shattered at age four as I was snatched from the only home I had ever known. I wasn’t who I thought I was. I wasn’t where I thought I belonged. I began to lose myself in a tumult of unanswered questions. Looking back, I realize the moment you lose who you are, you start to become the person everyone else perceives you should be. The moment you lose what you thought you were supposed to do you begin to do what everyone else expects that you should do.

No one told me, “God has a plan for your life,” or, “God knows you through and through and thinks you’re a masterpiece.” But praise God, in His perfect timing I learned the truth of both of those powerful statements. And there I found the “me” I had lost.

Are you hyperfocused on becoming who others expect you to be? Have you lost your sense of purpose because you’ve let others load their purposes on you? It’s never too late to find yourself again. Begin each day by asking God, “What is your plan for me today?” In that plan, you will find the woman God created you to be.

JANUARY 4

More Ahead

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. … As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

—ISAIAH 55:8–9

God has gone to great lengths to make Himself known to us. His creation speaks to us about who He is. (For starters, He has a sense of humor: consider the platypus.) His Son lived among us on this earth to show us what God is like. Prophets and preachers and former fishermen wrote the words that God’s Spirit gave them, and those words—the Bible—speak in great detail to God’s nature and purposes.

And yet, we have barely scratched the surface. Every new day holds the possibility of a new insight into our heavenly Father. This is the delightful tension we live with as God’s children: that He reveals Himself to us, and yet He is too big and mysterious and awesome for us to ever fully grasp.

Today, thank God for something you’ve already discovered about Him. And thank Him, too, that there’s still much to learn.

JANUARY 5

Making Preparations

“Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”

—1 SAMUEL 3:9

If spending time with the Lord daily is a new practice for you, these ideas may help.

Prepare your schedule. Commit to a quiet period each day to read and reflect. It can be five minutes or fifty minutes. You need to schedule this time because you will never “find” the time.

Prepare your space. Commit to a specific space—anywhere quiet and private. Keep your Bible, a pen, and a personal journal (if you use one) in that space.

Prepare your curiosity. Asking questions can help you personalize the Scriptures and learn more deeply. What does this passage say? What issues does this passage address? What does this passage teach me about God? What does this passage teach me about me? What does God want me to learn, change, or do because of the truth in this passage?

Prepare your will. Commit to do whatever you sense God is asking you to do.

Prepare your heart. Some people read a favorite psalm, some pray, some may read a devotional. Listening to a praise song or hymn can also help you move into a worshipful mode.

How do you quiet your racing mind for Bible study? How do you stick with it even when it seems as if God is silent?

JANUARY 6

By Name

“He calls his own sheep by name.”

—JOHN 10:3

What is your mailman’s name? What’s the name of the young man who delivered your firewood? What is the name of the saleswoman who helped you find that elusive birthday gift for your teenage son?

There’s something very personal and powerful in hearing someone call you by your name. Jesus calls you by name. The moment you met Him, He wrote your name in His book of life. And He thinks of you every moment in a deeply personal way, by name.

We are never more like Jesus than when we are valuing people as highly as He does. Today surprise some folks by using their name. Notice how they respond. What does it do to their countenance? Something miraculous happens when we notice people the way Jesus does.

Dear Lord, you are my Shepherd and I am your sheep. Thank you for calling me my name. When I stray, you gently nudge me back onto the right path. Teach me to follow you and walk in your ways, today and always.

JANUARY 7

Messes Welcome

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

—JEREMIAH 31:3

After days of cleaning and yard work, Lee and I finally had everything perfect for his parents’ visit. I told our toddler, Trey, to sit tight, then ran upstairs to touch up my makeup before they arrived. A few minutes later, I heard unfamiliar sounds. Swoosh. Thud. Swoosh. Thud. What in the world? Rounding the corner, I looked down to see the biggest smile ever on Trey’s little face.

He showed me his surprise. “Look, Mommy. I brought you a flower!” Trey had tried to pick a day lily. Instead, I guess because it had been newly watered, the entire plant popped right out. A lot of things could have gone through my mind, but my thoughts were overwhelmed by sweet eyes, a loving heart, and a grand gesture meant to make his mommy smile.

Dear friend, consider my heart toward my toddler, then imagine the heart of God as He looks upon you today. He could never be disappointed as you strive to please Him. He looks way beyond the works of your hands to the love in your heart. With that great truth in mind, you can move into your day with the confidence of a dearly loved child.

JANUARY 8

Blurred Vision

Be not conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

—ROMANS 12:2

Have you ever been plagued with blurry vision? Usually the condition passes quickly, but if it persists, you can get confused about where you are, what time of day it is, and more.

Our spiritual vision can get blurry too at times. I’ve noticed several common indicators of a blurred spiritual vision: We try to do everything because we can no longer discern what God wants us to do. We rationalize iffy behavior. Areas that once seemed black and white to us now seem gray and “not so bad.” We procrastinate because we’ve said yes to so much that we don’t know where to begin. We look for truth in the wrong places: TV, horoscopes, self-help books, popular opinion.

Thanks be to God, we don’t have to stay in that condition. We simply need to shift focus to our Father as He is revealed in our Bibles. One of the roles of Scripture is the “renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2), which is another way of saying it clears up our blurry vision and puts our focus where it needs to be.

Where is your focus today? What are some practical ways you can allow the Holy Spirit to renew your mind, instead of being “conformed to the pattern of this world”?

JANUARY 9

Sing Along

He put a new song in my mouth.

—PSALM 40:3

If your life were a song today, what would it be titled? “Rainy Days and Mondays”? “I’ll Do It My Way”? Or perhaps “I Wanna Talk about Me”?

It’s easy to sing a song someone else has written. But did you know God has given you your own song? That song is the praise that arises in you when you think about what He has done in your life. What is your heart singing today? How has God been good to you? What painful places has He healed? How has He rescued you? What has He changed about you for the better?

Whatever song you sang in the past, God has given you a new song for today. Sing it!

Journal about a spiritual song or hymn that affected your approach to the day. Then write a few verses unto the Lord, using Psalm 40:3 as a model: “You put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to you, our God. Many will see and fear you, Lord, and put their trust in you.”

JANUARY 10

Young on the Inside

Praise the LORD … who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

—PSALM 103:1, 5

A woman had a near-death experience. On the gurney, going into surgery, she asked, “God, is my time up?” And He said, “No, you have another forty-three years, two months, and eight days to live.”

Once this woman recovered from surgery, she figured she might as well look her best for this long life still ahead of her. So she had liposuction, a tummy tuck, a facelift, and a few other procedures. She looked amazing! Upon leaving the hospital, she was crossing the street when a bus came from out of nowhere, and the next thing she knew she was at the Pearly Gates. Hands on hips, she said to God, “You told me I had forty-three years, two months, and eight days left to live. Why did You let that bus hit me?”

And God said, “Well, honestly, I didn’t recognize you.”

I can’t resist a joke! But it’s no joke that we often focus so much time, expense, and energy on rejuvenating our outsides that we forget to rejuvenate the inside too.

What can you do today to rejuvenate your heart and soul?

JANUARY 11

Listen to Yourself

The tongue has the power of life and death.

—PROVERBS 18:21

We know how crucial it is for us to use our words carefully in our dealings with others. We know the potential for good and for harm our words possess. But when is the last time you really paid attention to the words you speak to and about yourself?

Our self-talk also holds the power of life and death. A conversation full of words of regret or blame or shame can be death to your spirit. In contrast, words that give courage, that dwell on how you’re learning and growing, that are grounded by confidence in God’s sufficiency—those words give life.

Many of us are stuck in the rut of automatically talking negatively to ourselves. But we can train our brains to avoid the old, negative messages we’ve been listening to and choose instead a new, positive message. That’s how God made our brains to work.

For one day, write down what you find yourself saying to yourself. Did you rehash a past experience that you wish you had handled differently? Maybe you recalled words from a parent or a teacher, words that may have been intended to be helpful, but you didn’t take them that way. Or maybe your inner conversation was full of doubts that you could handle a looming challenge. Start retraining your brain by writing down one life-giving message to tell yourself this day.

JANUARY 12

What to Pray for Yourself

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.

—COLOSSIANS 1:9

I’ve heard it said that prayer is not what we do to change God’s mind; rather, it’s what we do to align ourselves with His mind. In his letter to the Colossian believers, the apostle Paul packs some powerful prayers into just a few verses. He gives us a pattern for how to pray for our believing friends and for ourselves.

In Colossians 1:9–12, we learn to pray that

• God will help us know what to do and be.

• God will give wisdom and understanding from His Spirit.

• God will help us live to please Him.

• God will make our lives fruitful.

• God will give us more knowledge of Him.

• God will give us strength, endurance, and patience.

• God will give us a spirit of joyful thanksgiving.

The focus of these prayer requests is on God’s purposes, not our own. I’m convinced we have not even begun to experience what is possible when we pray this way.

Do you ever wonder if there’s something more to pray for yourself beyond “Help me not to snap at my husband today”? Write out a few prayers using Colossian 1:9 as a model.

JANUARY 13

Why Am I Here?

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

—1 PETER 4:10

Not long ago, I had a CT scan. When I got to the hospital, I was not doing my happy dance. I was sitting there thinking, Really, why am I doing this? I’m healthy. I have a thousand other things I want to do today.

Finally, I regrouped mentally and asked, “OK, God, am I here for a reason? Am I supposed to learn something from someone? Am I supposed to give something out to someone else? You have my attention. I’m focusing less on me now and more on you. I want to hear you.”

Across the room sat a lady looking terribly tense. So I asked her, “Are you OK?” And the tears came. “They think I have pancreatic cancer,” she said.

I put my hand on hers and said, “I don’t know what’s going on with your diagnosis, but I know this: I can pray for you. Would you like to pray?” We had the most special moment together. Afterwards I told God, “You are so good, even in the moments when I am too into myself and my schedule. Thank you for showing me how to serve those around me today.”

God has entrusted each of us with a way of touching lives. What encouragement needs to come out of your mouth today?

JANUARY 14

Within Reach

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

—DEUTERONOMY 30:11–14

For the longest time, I would awaken each morning to near panic, certain I was going to miss God or not find His plan that day. If you have ever had a similar spiritual panic attack, then Deuteronomy 30:11–14 may help you as it has helped me.

You see, God did not come to conceal but rather to reveal His plan to us. We don’t have to worry that we will miss Him. God promises all of us today that He will put within us what we are to do. That’s God’s part, and all that’s left for us to do is to find the courage to obey.

Lord, reveal your plan for me today, and grant me the courage to walk it out.

JANUARY 15

It’s in the Bag

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

—JOHN 8:32

We all carry around brown paper bags filled with our hurts and tragedies and disappointments and addictions. Sometimes we try to pretty up our bags with our busy little lives, our happy little smiles, and our peppy little personalities. But no matter what we do, we know we’re carrying around a bag full of burdens. I know this is true because I carried around a bag like this for more than twenty-five years.

These bags and their contents eat away at us no matter how cleverly we try to deny their existence. They nibble at our confidence. They gobble up our peace. And that leads us to the big question: What’s in your bag that’s eating away at you?

Now, I can guess what your first response to that question would be. “I’m fine. I’m fine. Nothing is eating at me!” But unless we address that question, we are stuck. We will miss the miracle of God turning those brown-bag burdens into blessings.

Take a moment to ask, What’s in my “brown paper bag”? Then allow God to speak truth into your hurts, tragedies, disappointments, and addictions.

JANUARY 16

Running Ragged

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

—JOHN 10:10

My mom’s final words to me were, “Don’t live like I’m dying.” She had completely lost herself in always trying to please everyone else, to take care of everyone else. She never really took the time to sit and ask, What is my life about? What is my God-given purpose and passion?

When we don’t know who we are, we try to become everything that everyone else expects us to be. When we don’t know what God’s calling is on our life, we find ourselves doing whatever everyone else thinks we should be doing. And we run ourselves ragged—all in the hope that people will believe we are “fine, just fine.”

Either response robs us of our true selves and keeps us from the abundant life that God has for us.

What passion have you neglected because it didn’t match what you think others expect from you? Ask God to give you the courage and opportunity to take a step toward that passion today.

JANUARY 17

Not Your Job

When I am weak, then I am strong.

—2 CORINTHIANS 12:10

I have a whimsical towel hanging in my kitchen that reads, “It’s exhausting being this perfect!” While intended to be lighthearted, that quip accurately describes the heaviness I felt from years of living behind a wardrobe of masks so no one would know how far short of perfection I was.

The apostle Paul wrote, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).

Perfectionism is one of the mightiest hope killers I know. But God removed the burden of perfection from you. Because of the grace of Christ on the cross, perfection is His job, not yours. God loves you just as you are. No perfection required.

When you’re at your weakest, how do you draw strength from your relationship with Jesus Christ?

JANUARY 18

Cut out the Cut-Ins

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you …?

—GALATIANS 5:7

Do you ever look at the day’s headlines and think, What is this world coming to? Well, that’s what I thought about during my morning jog. I prefer to talk with God when jogging, but worries about the world kept cutting into my concentration.

God says we are all running our unique race, which means we all have good things to do. We can get sidelined by distractions, or we can continue strong. How? By doing all we can where we are—and praying about those things over which we have no influence.

What’s the world coming to? I suspect that’s not the real question. Perhaps we should be asking, What’s my run coming to? Is it a directionless ramble, easily sidetracked, lacking purpose? Or is it focused, deliberate, and immune to “cut-ins”? I choose the second option. What about you?

What is trying to cut in on you: a gossipy friend, financial worries, too much reality TV, or something else?

JANUARY 19

A Story to Tell

Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe.

—PSALM 107:2

God has given you an invaluable tool to use when embracing His opportunities. What tool? Your story. Yes, your story.

God will use your story, burdens and all, to build bridges, bind broken hearts, reveal Himself to people who need Him, and so much more.

He will use your story the moment you offer it up to Him, crude and incomplete as it may be. Long before you believe your story is ready for public consumption, God will be using “chunks” of it to bring hope and blessings to others. The story of your botched music audition at age twenty-two may be the only part of your story the woman sitting next to you in the airport needs to hear. It doesn’t matter that you still have fourteen more years of story to tell. The moment you start this storying process is the moment you embrace opportunities from God.

What are you waiting for?

Lord, you are the author of my story. Show me how that story fits in with the greater story of your love for the world.

JANUARY 20

The Matterhorn’s Message

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

—EPHESIANS 3:20 NLT

We had arrived at the most anticipated moment of our family trip in Europe: seeing the Matterhorn. Cloudy skies greeted us, but a Zermatt storeowner assured us the winds would eventually move the clouds. So we grabbed some hot chocolate and waited.

Sure enough, within an hour the Alps emerged. They were a sight to behold. Sort of. Our son Austin said what we were all thinking: “I expected more.” We talked about life’s buildups and letdowns. Unnoticed by us, the clouds kept moving.

Suddenly Austin exclaimed, “Mom, Dad, what is that?” His smile said it all. What we had mistaken for the Matterhorn was only a small ridge of the Alps. Now, the true Matterhorn revealed itself, more spectacular than we could have imagined!

I believe God has a Matterhorn for each of us, an adventure with Him far better than we can imagine. My adventure began when I offered God all that I was—the good and the bad, my strengths and my weaknesses—so He could make me all He knows I can be.

What will you offer up to God today? His power will accomplish more than you can imagine.

JANUARY 21

Helpless Isn’t Hopeless

The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

—1 JOHN 4:4

You know what makes me feel helpless? A flat tire. Or a box of metal pieces that are supposed to become a bicycle. But aren’t we modern women able to handle anything?

As you’ve guessed, this is about more than flat tires and bicycles. Has anyone ever told you, “God will not give you more than you can handle”? Friend, let me tell you: Nowhere does God promise that life will not be more than we—Wonder Women that we are—can navigate. What He does say is that no matter what comes our way, He is in control. He can handle it.

Believe 1 John 4:4: God is greater than anything in this world, including whatever you are facing that is beyond your understanding or capacity. It’s OK to feel helpless but don’t give in to feeling hopeless.

God, you told us, through the apostle John, that your children overcomers, “because the one who is in [us] is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Use this promise today to transform me from helpless to hopeful when things get tough.

JANUARY 22

Swap and Shop

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

—2 CORINTHIANS 10:5

When I was little, my parents listened to a radio program called Swap & Shop. People who were tired of their current belongings could call in and offer a swap so they could shop for something new.

Are you tired of your current thoughts? Swap them for something more uplifting. It works this way: when you think, for example, I’m so afraid, swap it with, God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of a sound mind. Get the idea?

For the next day, listen to your thoughts. Which ones do you want to swap? List them below or in your journal. Now, as you spend time in your Bible in the days ahead, “shop” for a Scripture to replace that old thought.

JANUARY 23

Condemnation-Free Zone

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

—ROMANS 8:1

No condemnation? None? Zip? Zero? For me?

Yes, for believers it is true. When we feel another’s disapproval, we can use this verse’s truth to render powerless that person’s judgment against us. They may condemn us, but God does not.

I’m learning, however, that as with most freedoms, freedom from condemnation carries great responsibility. You see, I can at times be severe in my thoughts toward people who’ve hurt or offended me. In those moments, I have a choice. I can unleash condemnation on that person, or I can remind myself that Christ freed me from all condemnation.

Give me grace today, Lord. I really want to let go of the hurt, to extend forgiveness, then move on condemnation-free. And I need your help. In your name, I pray. Amen.

JANUARY 24

The Lady in Gray

Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

—1 THESSALONIANS 5:11

God often brings good from the bad in our lives by using other people. In my life it was someone I call “the lady in gray.” She had lost her daughter in an accident, and I would see her at her daughter’s grave. I would see the pain in her shoulders as she cried. And one day I dared to walk over and talk to her.

That conversation became one of my greatest blessings. Did you hear that? Even though she was in deep pain and grief, her burden became a blessing to me. At a time when I felt no one cared about me anymore, this grieving woman showed concern for me. The way she talked about Jesus gave me hope amid my hurt.

I never knew her name, and I’ve never seen her since. But I can’t wait to meet her. So when you hear about a crazy woman running around heaven looking for a lady in a gray coat, that would be me! And I hope you’ll come along, because I’d like to introduce her to you.

Who has been a “lady in gray” in your life? What did you learn from that person that you’d like to pass on to others?

JANUARY 25

The Best Seat in the House

Be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

—COLOSSIANS 3:10 NLT

Every time we choose to sit at Jesus’ feet and worship, we experience a spa for the soul. When we leave a beauty spa, we are glowing from all those skin treatments. As we leave God’s spa, we are glowing from being with Him. Our kids will notice it. Our coworkers will notice it. The people we connect with daily will notice it.