God's Promises [Day 18]
By Andrew Coryell
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” … Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” … Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him. (Genesis 15:1-5; 17:3-8; 17:17-22 NIV)
I was reading through Genesis 15, 16, and 17 with a coworker over FaceTime the other day. We were studying Abraham (then Abram) and what his journey with trusting in God looked like, and it got me thinking about myself—as the Scriptures often do—and what my journey in trusting the Lord has looked like. As I was reflecting, I began to feel convicted and realized that in many ways, similar to Abram, I’ve taken the promises of the Lord into my own hands. I’ve taken career moves into my own hands; I’ve taken finances and relationships into my own hands; I’ve taken healing into my own hands—and I’ve realized that it all leads me nowhere. At the end of the day, it was all in my power and my decisions when God has so much more for me.
Abram, having the promise from God that he would be the father of many children and a name meaning exactly that, went close to 100 years without seeing this promise fulfilled in his life. As time went on, he and his wife Sarai (Sarah) took the promise into their own hands and had a baby with their servant.
Through all of this. God still remained faithful to His promises. Even more so, God goes a step further and blesses Ishmael, the child born through Abram taking matters into his own hands.
Think about where you are currently in life and ask yourself these questions: What promises are you still waiting on from God? Have you taken them into your own hands? Spend time in prayer with the Lord this week, declaring trust in His promises.
Prayer
Lord, I pray that You give us supernatural strength, wisdom, and insight. Help us to see Your plans and things to come through Your Holy Spirit. We ask for patience as we lean into faith in You. I pray that You would help us to grow closer to You in love and understanding. We believe in Your promises, and we know that You are a GOOD GOOD Father, one who never fails, never goes back on His word and will always sacrifice everything to give us anything. We look to You during this time of hardship and trust in You. Thank you for the miracles You are doing, and thank You for the follow-through and provision of Your promises to us. In Jesus’ mighty name, AMEN!
The Puzzle [Day 17]
By Rachael Jennings
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 NKJV)
For the last couple New Years, a few friends and I have rented out an Airbnb and spent a couple days eating incredible food, reflecting on the year past, and resting into the New Year. One of the many things we love to do is complete a puzzle together. It’s really a group effort that takes a lot of patience and persistence from all of us.
Our strategy is to first separate out all of the edge pieces and take those to form the border of the puzzle. From there we separate into main colors, ending with each of us taking a section of the puzzle and working until we complete the beautiful big picture, all the while using the box lid as a reference.
Sometimes life isn’t always fair, but God is fair.
God is working every piece of your life—your job status, your struggles, the bad news you received, the joyful moments, the hardships, the diagnosis, the sweet encouragement from a friend, the blessing you just received, the moment you felt overlooked, etc.—together for His purpose. Let that word together be the key word here.
It’s important for us as Christians not to isolate one situation or circumstance in our lives to say, “My life is horrible,” but to understand what you are going through today is one piece of the puzzle.
God sees and holds the bigger picture; He sees how all things will work together. When you don’t understand, don’t let yourself be stuck there. Know there is another piece God is going to bring into your life to make everything work together for your good. It may be in the form of a new opportunity, a job offer, a phone call. Be open and watch for God’s pieces in your life.
As all the pieces of your life fall together, know God is at work. Bad news, isolation, our world on hold all seem like setbacks. But trust that God is setting you up for something better. Your life's puzzle will be a masterpiece of Him working all things together for good!
Prayer
Father, You know what I am going through right now. It’s a mystery to me how all the pieces of my life will work together. BUT You know, and in this mystery I trust You. Thank You for seeing the whole picture and the incredible plans You have for me. Help me to trust You in the process. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Jesus is the Door [Day 16]
By Kellie McLain
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:7-10 ESV)
The COVID-19/Coronavirus epidemic has reminded all of us Type A personalities that we cannot rely on ourselves to keep us, or our families, safe. We, as individuals, cannot predict or resolve global problems such as economic depressions, stock market crashes, job losses, etc. no matter how hard we try. Instead, we must turn to the Bible and remember that Jesus is our protector, our shepherd, and our door.
We need the security of the Father’s love in order to truly live securely. Rather than watching the decline of the stock market as well as your 401(k), read your Bible. Instead of looking for a new job in a new city in hopes that a new location, a new job, and a new house will bring you joy, look to your Creator.
Let go of whatever it is that you are currently using to bring you artificial safety, whether it’s busyness, consumerism, individualism, etc. It is the presence of our Lord, our good Shepherd, who alone keeps us safe.
Prayer
Dear Lord, please help me to remember that You are my door and my shepherd, and You alone are my safety. Help lead me and remind me that You are my source of life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Opportunity [Day 15]
By Lydia Wilson
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV)
“Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Those are the words that were stuck in my head after waking up from two extremely vivid dreams. “What does that mean? How do I apply it?” were the questions I asked myself over and over as I thought back to my dreams and the analogy they provided to that passage.
In one dream, I was walking by a group of middle schoolers in a cafeteria. I spontaneously joined the circle and listened as everyone took turns explaining their science projects, but when it came to me I was skipped because we had never met before. Instead of sitting quietly, I spoke up and asked if I could have a turn to share. I related to a story one of the boys had shared and then continued on with a personal testimony—a story of healing from physical pain, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. I made myself available to pray or talk with any of them there that were interested, and there was an amazing response. The kids also began talking with each other about the reality of God in their lives. In an unexpected place and setting in the dream, I made the most of the opportunity to share God’s love and hope with the people who were around me.
In another dream, I was walking past a store when I noticed a father and his daughter. The young girl was foaming at the mouth, and in my heart I discerned that she had been the victim of physical abuse. I screamed for help, had someone call 911, and ran to a neighbor’s house. Immediately some Christian friends and strangers joined me in helping this young girl who had been abandoned, abused, neglected, and had no place to call home. Her story is sadly one that many young people share in our country. In this dream we made the most of the opportunity by practically helping and interceding for someone who could not advocate for herself, and, although the days are evil, the Holy Spirit was able to work through us to impact the life of another.
No matter the setting, be ready to make the most of an opportunity and share what the Holy Spirit has put on your heart. Regardless of our societal state, we need to be prepared to follow God’s promptings and act wisely, not wasting time with an over-indulgence of entertainment. We need to give our time and mental space to God so we can clearly hear His voice and act according to His will.
We must be prepared to make the most of any opportunity, but to do that we must:
Remember what the Lord has done for us (Psalm 77:11)
Listen for His voice in every setting (John 10:27-30)
Obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 3:15)
Prayer
Lord Jesus, please help me to be ready to share Your love boldly, respectfully, and with gentleness to those around me. Please help me to hear Your voice and discern Your will. Please help me to use my time wisely and honor You with all that I am. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Treasure in the Ruins [Day 14]
By Kirsten Coryell
Lord, I have chosen you alone as my inheritance. You are my prize, my pleasure, and my portion. I leave my destiny and its timing in your hands. Your pleasant path leads me to pleasant places. I’m overwhelmed by the privileges that come with following you, for you have given me the best! The way you counsel and correct me makes me praise you more, for your whispers in the night give me wisdom, showing me what to do next. Because you are close to me and always available, my confidence will never be shaken, for I experience your wrap-around presence every moment. My heart and soul explode with joy—full of glory! Even my body will rest confident and secure. For you will not abandon me to the realm of death, nor will you allow your Holy One to experience corruption. For you bring me a continual revelation of resurrection life, the path to the bliss that brings me face-to-face with you. (Psalm 16:5-11 TPT)
A few nights ago, I curled up on the couch to watch a documentary about an archaeologist in the midst of a lifelong search for the tomb of Alexander the Great. This woman dedicated her entire life to digging up earth in search of ancient treasure. While I watched, I thought of how frustrating it must be for her to show up at the dig site day after day, waiting for a breakthrough in her search, only to find small fragments of history: a small piece of marble, a shard of an old vase, the remains of a small sculpture. It reminded me of how so many of us are feeling as we face the repercussions of COVID-19. We’re all standing among the ruins of things once foundational in our lives, trying to pick up the pieces and hold onto hope that our breakthrough is coming. Maybe you lost your job and you’re not sure how you’re going to pay rent next month. Maybe your kids have been home from school for nearly a month and you’re exhausted. Maybe a loved one is sick or extremely vulnerable and you’re plagued with fear. Still, day after day, you show up at your “dig site” and continue the search for breakthrough—a glimmer of hope among the ruins. Some days you may feel strong, hopeful, and capable; while others you feel defeated, fearful, and weak. I watched this archaeologist continue her search, working long hours digging up massive amounts of earth, to one day stumble upon a statue of Alexander the Great, in perfect condition, that was buried under heaps of rubble for thousands of years. I watched as she wept, danced, and celebrated this little marble figure, a symbol of hope and victory after months and even years of futile searching. I felt so encouraged by the resilience of this archaeologist. She dedicated her life to believing there was treasure underneath the surface and never gave up hope that she would find it.
It reminded me of the hope we have in Jesus. It reminded me, like it says in Psalm 16, that He is our prize and our portion forever. Even amidst the ruins in our lives, we can be confident in Jesus. In fact, He’s standing in our ruins with us! Day after day, as we show up in our lives, doing our best and clinging to hope, He is there. “Because you are close to me and always available, my confidence will never be shaken, for I experience your wrap-around presence every moment.”
Today I encourage you to pray Psalm 16 over yourself. I encourage you to let these words anchor you in peace, knowing that Jesus is drawing near to you, whatever you may be facing. He is the giver of good gifts: wisdom, confidence, joy, life! As you go about your day, let Jesus be your prize and your portion. Ask Him for what you need with the confidence that He is leading you to your breakthrough.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your presence. Thank You that You draw near to me in the midst of my ruins. You see my tears, my pain, and my struggle, and You enter into it with me. Thank You that I can place my confidence in You, even when I can’t see the breakthrough. I ask that You would draw near to me today, as You promise to in Your word. I pray that as I choose You alone as my prize and my portion, You would rebuild the ruins around me and provide everything that I need. I trust You, Jesus. Amen!
Live Securely [Day 13]
By Heather Lewis
“But whoever listens to me will live securely and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.” (Proverbs 1:33 CSB)
This past January, I challenged myself to read the Bible in a year as one of my 2020 goals. This challenge was something I attempted many times in the years past but never successfully completed. Little did I know that with all that would be happening in 2020, the Bible was exactly what I needed to pour my time and energy into.
In the middle of March, right when all the news was coming out about the COVID-19 deaths skyrocketing, restaurants and public services closing, and stay-at-home orders enforced, I found myself in a state of panic. My immediate reactions to these announcements were filled with anxious thoughts, insecurity, and dread for what will happen next. I brought these raw emotions to my newly-created quiet time routine and opened up my Bible to my reading plan… and I read this verse:
“But whoever listens to me will live securely and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”
For the first time in a couple weeks, I felt like I could exhale and let go of the anxiety and fear I was storing up inside me. Immediately, I was comforted by knowing why God wanted me to read the Bible in a year in 2020—a year already filled with so much brokenness, disruption, and unknown. He knew I needed to find constant reminders that His word is alive and present during this time.
In the last couple months, how many times have you felt alone? Anxious? Fearful? Whatever you are feeling during this time, God is with you and wants to speak to you.
When you are feeling anxious and need security, listen to God. The easiest way I have learned to listen to Him, personally, is through reading Scripture. Whether it is with a Bible reading plan or something else, push yourself to find His comforting voice and solid encouragement in the Bible. It is there in hundreds of passages: you just have to open your heart to listen for them.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for reminding us that Your words are a light to our path. Thank You for speaking to us and sharing encouragement about how we, as Your children, can live securely and not be disturbed by the dread of COVID-19. Open our eyes and our ears to listen to You and see You during this time. We love You, Jesus. Amen.
What Is My Default? [Day 12]
By Dale Wilson
Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. (Psalm 118:5-8 ESV)
I had a basketball coach in high school who firmly believed that the best-conditioned team had the best chance of success. We would run drill after drill and exercise after exercise to the point of exhaustion. Our muscles would be aching, clamoring for respite from the constant sprints, jumps, and squats.
I remember so clearly one practice where our coach had us do a defensive drill where we would assume a low defensive squat position and hold it until he blew his whistle. Seconds felt like minutes, and minutes felt like hours! And while we sat there in our seat-less chair, he told us something profound:
“When you’re tired, you resort to whatever feels natural. If your default defensive stance is bad, then that’s what you’re going to do when you get tired. If your default defensive stance is good, then you’re going to have good defense, even when you’re tired.”
I thought about that a lot, not just for basketball but for my life. To me, it’s summed up by the question, “What is my default?”
Often when life gets hard, I notice a tendency to pull away from God and try to do it all myself. I stop communicating with God because I “don’t have time,” I get angry and frustrated, I get anxious and stressed because of all the change and transition.
My default is to pull away from God instead of run toward Him.
This Scripture reminds me that in my distress I should call on the Lord. I should run to Him for refuge. I should desperately seek His face because His refuge is greater than any solace this world can provide me. When the Lord is on my side, I will not fear.
How much would my life be different if, in times of trouble, God was always my default?
The actions we take every moment of every day train our mind, will, and emotions to either imitate Jesus or imitate the world. Our daily prayers, journaling, devotions, forgiveness, fasting, and other disciplines that we do are creating the muscle memory of seeking God. And in times of hardship, we discover our default.
Think about times of hardship you’ve experienced and what behavior you defaulted to. Was it toward God or away from Him? Ask God to reveal areas that need to be healed or corrected.
Prayer
God, I pray that in every moment of life, You would be my default. That in hard times I would immediately run to You with outstretched arms and seek Your will and Your favor. God, we recognize that Your plans are so much higher than ours, and through trials we are refined into an even clearer picture of Your Son Jesus. Help us to trust You like children and humbly submit ourselves to Your purpose for our life. Amen.
They Work When You Wear Them [Day 11]
By Linda Ho
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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 6:11-18 NIV)
These are unprecedented times. We’re engulfed by fear, negativity, hopelessness, depression, etc. Human interaction is at an all-time low, even for introverts. We all personally know people who have been impacted by this pandemic, whether it is yourself or someone close to you. People are losing jobs, loved ones are passing away, and we can’t seem to get a grip on next steps. There are a lot of domino effects, and it’s hard to keep faith when the world literally seems to be crumbling.
When these things happen, our faith can waver. It’s easy to miss a day of reading our Bible, especially if we have to apply for a job, take care of the family, homeschool our kids, work from home, etc. That day turns into a couple days, then a week, a few weeks, the entire quarantine. Tell me: each day you skip being in the Word, how do you feel? Do you feel like you can take on the day, with a glimmer of hope to hold onto? Or do you dread waking up each morning, wondering how you can be somewhat productive even though it’s been 22 days since you started working from home and still haven’t found a rhythm?
I went on a walk the other day—while social distancing—and noticed a sign by the water. It had a picture of a life vest and said, “Life vests: they work when you wear them.” And for some reason, I stared at it for a good three to four minutes. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t struggling to be in the Word everyday, or spending time with the Lord through prayer and worship. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t put my relationship with Him on the back burner. “God will understand I just need to get all of this done before I can spend time with Him” is one of the many excuses I tell myself when life becomes a bigger (and mistakenly, better) priority.
I’m not saying that praying and reading your Bible everyday guarantees God will answer all your prayers. Or, you’ll immediately experience a victory as soon as you say “amen.” What I am saying is these small sacrifices of time will shift your perspective. Have you ever been in a dry season but pushed yourself to spend intentional time with Him? (I don’t mean “multi-tasking, listening to a sermon as you’re driving” time. Actual time when all distractions are put aside, especially your phone). Maybe not immediately, but afterwards, did you feel different? Like you could take on the world? Like you were equipped with something? A new outlook filled with hope rather than despair? Emotionally lighter?
They work when you wear them.
If you’re struggling to want to know Him, first of all, do not feel guilt or shame. We all go through these seasons, and you’re not alone. Not now, not ever. But I want to challenge you: continue pushing through. Ask someone to be your accountability partner. Invite a friend to go through a devotional with you. Schedule 15 minutes everyday on your calendar for prayer.
Be honest with Him. You don’t need to be eloquent for Him to hear your voice. Don’t put yourself down because you’re not where you think you “should” be. Ask Him for a desire to grow closer to Him. Before you read your Bible, pray for God to reveal Himself through it.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for always welcoming me with open arms. No matter how far I fall or how much I pull away, You still love and pursue me. Thank You for Your constant forgiveness as I weave back and forth. I pray for a desire to know You, that I look forward to spending intentional time with You, not just to check it off my list. Give me a renewal of my spirit, for my flame to burn passionately for You. Help me remember the joy and comfort You bring. Help me see the wisdom and guidance, Your footprint, in all the Scripture I read. In Your mighty name I pray, amen.