"I will praise the LORD at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the LORD;
let all who are helpless take heart.
Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness;
let us exalt his name together.
"I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears."
Psalm 34:1–4
"Are you feeling helpless or afraid? The antidote is to focus on God. There are many things we can't control, and we can feel helpless about our situations, other people, and even our own ability to change. But we can look to God, who is never helpless. In fact, he wants us in our helplessness to turn to him so we can experience his great power. Focus on the Lord, not your uncontrollable situation. Tell someone about something wonderful God has done for you. You've got a great God; boast about him and watch your helplessness evaporate!"
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
In His Love, Cathy
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Stay Thirsty
"Moses responded, 'Then show me your glorious presence.'"
Exodus 33:18
"The more Moses experienced God and his presence, the more he wanted. God is salty; he makes you thirst for more of him. If your heart has grown cold, find ways to get close again to God. Remember his goodness to you, and let that make you thirsty for more."
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
In His Love, Cathy
Exodus 33:18
"The more Moses experienced God and his presence, the more he wanted. God is salty; he makes you thirst for more of him. If your heart has grown cold, find ways to get close again to God. Remember his goodness to you, and let that make you thirsty for more."
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
In His Love, Cathy
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Patience Requires Courage
"Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14
Today's morning devotion was the perfect followup to my devotion yesterday on waiting for God's plan. Today's devotion reminded me that sometimes waiting on God's plan to unfold not only takes patience, but bravery and even courage.
When we are in the midst of our struggles, it is so tempting for us to search for a quick fix - anything to help us out of the immediate situation - anything to get us out of the discomfort we feel. Because of our impatience and lack of trust in God, we enact our own short-sighted plan. In short, we meddle.
When you are in the middle of troubles, it takes real guts to wait patiently on God. It takes courage and bravery to wait on God's plan to unfold in His perfect timing - especially when everything seems to be falling apart around you. Resist the urge to find a quick fix. Instead, meditate in prayer. Ask God for the patience and courage you need to wait on Him. And when it is time for you to act, He'll reveal just how. You'll know because you'll have His peace about it. You'll have His confirmation through how events unfold and through the encouragement of other believers. I'm not saying live life without planning for anything. What I'm saying is plan with His will in mind. Patiently wait on Him, yielding to His plan and His timing .
God doesn't leave us hanging. He has a plan. Trust in Him. Praying for you to have patience, bravery, and courage in the midst of life's storms!
Peace and blessings!
In His Love, Cathy
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14
Today's morning devotion was the perfect followup to my devotion yesterday on waiting for God's plan. Today's devotion reminded me that sometimes waiting on God's plan to unfold not only takes patience, but bravery and even courage.
When we are in the midst of our struggles, it is so tempting for us to search for a quick fix - anything to help us out of the immediate situation - anything to get us out of the discomfort we feel. Because of our impatience and lack of trust in God, we enact our own short-sighted plan. In short, we meddle.
When you are in the middle of troubles, it takes real guts to wait patiently on God. It takes courage and bravery to wait on God's plan to unfold in His perfect timing - especially when everything seems to be falling apart around you. Resist the urge to find a quick fix. Instead, meditate in prayer. Ask God for the patience and courage you need to wait on Him. And when it is time for you to act, He'll reveal just how. You'll know because you'll have His peace about it. You'll have His confirmation through how events unfold and through the encouragement of other believers. I'm not saying live life without planning for anything. What I'm saying is plan with His will in mind. Patiently wait on Him, yielding to His plan and His timing .
God doesn't leave us hanging. He has a plan. Trust in Him. Praying for you to have patience, bravery, and courage in the midst of life's storms!
Peace and blessings!
In His Love, Cathy
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Deja Vu
"The LORD says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.
Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.
So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!"
Psalm 32:8, 10–11
Deja Vu!
Yep. I'm blogging about the same passage that I have already blogged about just recently. You see, this is the second time in TWO weeks that the very same passage has appeared in my morning devotions - each time from completely unrelated devotional sources.
Thought I was having a spiritual deja vu!
But as I read and studied this passage for the second time in two weeks, God showed me something completely DIFFERENT than He had shown me previously. I love how He reveals only what you need to know or understand at the moment. I love how He dishes out the spritual truths in bite size morsels that we finite beings can spiritually digest.
And that is where I stand this morning, in awe that a passage I just recently studied would give me fresh, new insight that I was blinded to only a couple of weeks earlier.
But this new revelation and understanding, was once again, in God's perfect timing. When I last studied this passage, it was the day after my Nana passed away. I was at a completely different place in my life then with a totally different focus. But a lot has happened in these last two weeks. My heart was prepared for the next treasure of truth from this same passage.
So what did He reveal to me today that was new in this passage? That His promise of a better pathway to life is for those who yield to His wisdom and advice - especially in difficult, hopeless situations. You see, I tend to want to fix things my way, especially when God doesn't move fast enough to suit me. But I've learned the hard way that quick fixes are most always not the best. And sometimes, unforseen consequences can make matters worse. And that is where the bit and bridle comes into play. When we become impatient with God and try to put in motion our own plans, then we are setting ourselves up for a fall - setting ourselves up for Him to reign us back in.
God desires nothing more than to guide us with love and wisdom. Yet, in our stubborness and impatience, we sometimes leave God only one option - spiritual discipline.
God is working on me to trust in Him alone, even in the most hopeless of situations and difficult of circumstances. He emphasized just how important it is for me to yield to His better plan, not my feeble, short term fixes.
Deja Vu today? I think not. It's more like a divine intervention.
Peace and blessings!
In His Love, Cathy
I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.
Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.
So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!"
Psalm 32:8, 10–11
Deja Vu!
Yep. I'm blogging about the same passage that I have already blogged about just recently. You see, this is the second time in TWO weeks that the very same passage has appeared in my morning devotions - each time from completely unrelated devotional sources.
Thought I was having a spiritual deja vu!
But as I read and studied this passage for the second time in two weeks, God showed me something completely DIFFERENT than He had shown me previously. I love how He reveals only what you need to know or understand at the moment. I love how He dishes out the spritual truths in bite size morsels that we finite beings can spiritually digest.
And that is where I stand this morning, in awe that a passage I just recently studied would give me fresh, new insight that I was blinded to only a couple of weeks earlier.
But this new revelation and understanding, was once again, in God's perfect timing. When I last studied this passage, it was the day after my Nana passed away. I was at a completely different place in my life then with a totally different focus. But a lot has happened in these last two weeks. My heart was prepared for the next treasure of truth from this same passage.
So what did He reveal to me today that was new in this passage? That His promise of a better pathway to life is for those who yield to His wisdom and advice - especially in difficult, hopeless situations. You see, I tend to want to fix things my way, especially when God doesn't move fast enough to suit me. But I've learned the hard way that quick fixes are most always not the best. And sometimes, unforseen consequences can make matters worse. And that is where the bit and bridle comes into play. When we become impatient with God and try to put in motion our own plans, then we are setting ourselves up for a fall - setting ourselves up for Him to reign us back in.
God desires nothing more than to guide us with love and wisdom. Yet, in our stubborness and impatience, we sometimes leave God only one option - spiritual discipline.
God is working on me to trust in Him alone, even in the most hopeless of situations and difficult of circumstances. He emphasized just how important it is for me to yield to His better plan, not my feeble, short term fixes.
Deja Vu today? I think not. It's more like a divine intervention.
Peace and blessings!
In His Love, Cathy
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