You know what it’s like when a friend commiserates with you when you are upset? They often assure you that the emotional reaction you described is “normal.” They often tell you that “anyone would have felt that way.” Whether our injury is emo­tional or physical, it’s “normal” to move into retaliation mode. Normal thinks, “You hurt me, so I’m gonna hurt you.” This kind of response is the natural, normal pattern of the world. It’s no secret that forgiveness is not the normal response.

But Jesus shows us a new normal. In fact, He calls us to give the oppo­site response when we’ve been wronged. We’re to reflect Jesus and give the supernatural response. Returning evil for evil is not how Jesus responded to the abuses heaped upon Him. He responded in the exact opposite way! He said, “if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you” (Mark 11:25). With these words, Jesus Himself lets us know what He desires from us.

Jesus is asking you and me to forgive as He did—to reflect Him. He wants us to respond to a higher standard, a divine standard. Like the saying goes, “To err is human, but to forgive, divine.” This means that if the person who hurts you or devastates your life never repents, or never acknowledges the pain caused to you, or never asks you for forgiveness, or never even apologizes, you are still willing to extend forgiveness. Forgiving that person will free you of a heavy burden of bitterness. Forgiveness is not about them. It’s not about those who hurt you. It’s about you and your connection with God.

A pure heart filled with God’s security and love will enable you to forgive someone who’s wronged you. Forgiveness must come from the inside and work its way out into a physical response. Jesus knows your heart and He also knows that at times it’s difficult in your heart to forgive those who have hurt you. So, as an act of your will, try responding with a new normal:

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise“ (Luke 6:27-31).

How is this done? First, mentally refusing to constantly rehash or dwell on a hurt will demonstrate a new normal. A next step would be to extend kindness and goodness. You can send a note. You can give a helping hand. You can smile at that person. Many times you’ll discover that your first move will melt their coldness toward you. But regardless, you will have activated—or defrosted!—any coldness in your heart. You will be moving forward in forgiving a person who’s wronged you. You’ll find your heart melting so you can freely forgive another just as God in Christ has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

RESPOND:

Lord, please begin the act of melting my heart so that I may forgive others. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

This Bible study on the book of Judges, Cultivating A Life Of Character, makes a great resource for women’s small groups, Sunday School, and personal reflection.

REFLECT:

How am I holding on to bitterness towards those who wronged me?

REMEMBER:

Forgiveness must come from the inside out.

What problems or trials are you experiencing in life? Are you at a crossroads in your career? Could you use some direction in your relationship with your spouse, a family member, or a friend or workmate? You need wisdom—God’s wisdom—and there’s no need to wait even another second for it. Why? Because God has promised you wisdom. He calls out in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without approach, and it will be given to him.” In this verse we are presented with the common problem of being without wisdom, given instructions to ask God, and encouraged with God’s promise to be given wisdom.

Whatever issue or problem you are facing, you don’t have to argue, debate, or make lists of possible positive and negative outcomes. You don’t have to wrestle with your views and thoughts for days or weeks on end. You don’t have to agonize or grope around in the dark, hoping to stumble upon answers through trial and error.

Whenever you need wisdom, all you need to do is pray and ask of God, and He will respond. Wisdom will be given to you!

Proverbs is considered to be “the wisdom book” of the Bible. Proverbs 1 reminds us that we can attain wisdom and discipline, understand words of insight, acquire a disciplined and prudent life, learn what is right and just and fair, gain prudence, and increase in knowledge and discretion.

We can also gain wisdom from wise people, teachers, and counselors, and from experience. Please take advantage of all of these means for increasing in wisdom.

Do you want a surefire, wide-open, readily accessible avenue for getting wisdom? All you have to do is ask God for wisdom through prayer. Proverbs 3:13,14 says, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and yields better returns than gold.”

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, I call out to You for wisdom. Thank You for the blessings of Your guidance. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In “A Woman’s Guide to Making the Right Choices,” Elizabeth George compiled her proven guidelines for taking action to make a true difference in managing women's many responsibilities.

REFLECT:

What problems am I trying to solve on my own?

REMEMBER:

We can learn wisdom from wise teachers, counselors, and experience.

Family time offers many opportunities to gather with people who have hurt us and whom we may otherwise avoid. Thankfully, God’s Word can help us navigate such relationships. How many times should I forgive?

One day, Peter asked Jesus a question that had prob­ably been forming in his mind for some time. He asked, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21). Peter was being generous when he sug­gested forgiving someone seven times, for the traditional rabbinic teaching was that an offended person needed to forgive a brother only three times.

However, Jesus’ reply communicated that we need to exercise forgiveness to a much greater extent. “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22). Jesus taught that forgiveness has no limits. We’re to forgive no matter the number of sins committed!

Then Jesus told a parable that illustrated the concept of unlimited forgiveness in Matthew 18:23-35. He told of a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One servant owed an enormous amount—the equivalent of about a million dollars in today’s economy.

Of course the servant couldn’t pay. According to the custom of the day, the king ordered the servant and his family to be sold as slaves to recoup part of his debt. But when the servant pleaded with his master, begging for time to repay his debt, the master took pity on the servant, canceled the debt, and set him free.

What did the forgiven debtor do? He went out and found another servant who owed him a much smaller amount—the equivalent of a day’s wages. The first servant demanded payment and refused to show mercy toward his debtor. In fact, he had the second servant thrown into prison until he paid the debt.

Others went to the master and told him what had happened, and what his forgiven servant had done to a fellow servant. When the master heard this, he called back the first servant and jailed him for failing to show mercy to a fellow servant, when he himself had been forgiven a much greater debt.

In this parable, Jesus taught that forgiveness should be in direct proportion to the amount we’ve been forgiven. If you are a child of God, all your sins have been for­given through faith in Jesus Christ. When someone sins against you, you are to forgive that person fully from your heart, no matter how many times the act occurs.

This does not mean that you are to continue to place yourself in a position to be abused. But, the spiritual act of forgiving another helps you recall that we are all sinners, and it is God who is judge, not us. As a believer, you have the love of God within you to praise God for His grace to you and forgive another’s actions against you in order that they know that a kind, good, and forgiving God can rescue them from their sin too.

RESPOND:

Lord, thank You for Your unlimited forgiveness. Thank You for the power of forgiveness. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In ”A Couple After God’s Own Heart,” Jim and Elizabeth share their 40-plus yearsof marital wisdom and experiences to help couples grow closer to each other and to God.

REFLECT:

How am I holding on to unforgiveness in my heart?

REMEMBER:

If you are a child of God, all your sins have been for­given through faith in Jesus Christ.

I’ve heard it said that you can tell the spiritual maturity of a man by looking at his bank account or his credit card statements. Well, how do yours look? What do they reveal about you and your spiritual maturity? What would another person see if they were allowed a peek at your accounts? Would they see money given to missionaries, to your church, or to charities? Would they see expenses from the necessities of life, the needs of your family, and your children’s education? Or, would they be staring at a long list of purchases for excesses, frivolities, fun? To prevent money from controlling your life more than it should, try these six things that can make a big difference:

1. Give to God first. In the Old Testament, God’s people were commanded to offer the first portion of their crops to God as a tribute to His abundant provision. In the New Testament, too, we are to give according to how we “prosper” (1 Corinthians 16:2). But the principle of “giving off the top”—the firstfruits—is a good way you can acknowledge your trust in God’s provision for you and your family, not only today but also for the future. Give to God first. Then trust that “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

2. Have a budget. Most financial experts say the starting point for money management is having a budget. Without a budget, you will probably buy things that are not essential. A plan for saving and spending gives the two of you boundaries and defines what’s important. There are budgeting apps available that can make this an easy step. But the real key to a budget is making it together with your spouse and being in agreement as to what’s in and what’s not in your budget. Then you can hold each other accountable and celebrate and enjoy the benefits that having and sticking to a budget brings your way.

3. Pray over major purchases. Since the money you are to manage is really God’s money, shouldn’t He be consulted as to how you spend it? Hopefully you have already committed your budget to the Lord, praying about what should be included in your monetary plan. Therefore, if something is in the budget, you don’t necessarily need to pray about it again. So praying over major purchases has to do with non-budgeted purchases. You may want to pray for answers to questions like, “How will this purchase impact our budget? Can the purchase of a newer car be delayed by fixing the ‘clunker’ just one more time?” These are the kinds of prayers and questions that are necessary when making decisions about major purchases.

4. Get organized. Finances are complicated, even with the simplest of incomes. You can use a filing system to keep track of important documents and financial statements. One idea is an accordion file folder with slots for each month of the year. Then drop your bills into the month they are due. As the bills are paid, drop in the receipts. At the end of the year you have everything handy in one place that you need for tax purposes.

5. Declare a day of fasting from spending money. In Bible times, fasting usually applied to food and was a religious exercise. Because those who fasted were not eating, their interests were diverted from the physical realm to the spiritual life. Similarly, when you implement a money-fast, you allow your interests to be turned from the “stuff” of life to the “Staff of Life.” And, as an added benefit, you come one day closer to staying within your budget. Now, that’s a praise! So take calendar in hand, pick a day, and proclaim it a day of fasting.

6. Make a list of ways to cut expenses. You might realize that your finances are a reflection of your spiritual condition. Isn’t self-control a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23)? And aren’t you a steward of God’s money? Whether you have enough money or not, then cutting expenses will do you good. If you don’t have enough money, trimming your costs will give you back some of what you need. To get started, take your new budget in hand and together see what you and your wife can lop off and live without. If you have a sufficiency of money, cutting expenses to give more to God will help you and your wife to “set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

RESPOND:

Lord, help me to take charge of my finances, with Your guidance. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In Small Changes for a Better Life: Daily Steps to Living Gods Plan for You, Elizabeth George shares dozens of practical tips for every area of life.

REFLECT:

How is money controlling my life in an unhealthy way?

REMEMBER:

Strive to create order in your finances to better reflect your goals of being a believer after God’s own heart.

Contentment is almost an extinct virtue, yet it is one of the greatest blessings in the world. The Word of God calls us to be content. In fact, Paul shares with us in 1 Timothy 6 that godliness with contentment is great gain and that food and clothing are all we need to be content. We can believe him, as he was a man who knew how to be content in all circumstances. Paul writes, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:11-12).

God promised us that He will provide all of our needs. Often, though, our issues with contentment are not over food, clothing, and basic supplies. We are human, and we have wants that are not always met. And though sometimes He will, we cannot expect God to provide all material things that we’ve ever wanted. It is better to be content and receive an unexpected blessing than to live disappointed and unsatisfied lives.

If Paul had to “learn” how to be content, then we can, too. Do you ever have thoughts like, “If I just had a little more money I’d be fine” or “If I could just get that better paying job my life would be okay.” These things aren’t true. We can be content right now, in our present state, if we trust in the Lord.

You are God’s child; you already possess all the treasures of heaven. You have the hope of eternal life! No amount of turmoil or tragedy will erase that. Look at God and see who He is. Look up His names: Provider, Almighty, Healer, All Seeing, All Knowing: God is our everything. Seek Him.

When we approach our lives from the perspective of already having what we need, from contentment, everything changes. We can trust Him fully and when we do that, the natural fruit of that trust is contentment.

RESPOND:

Lord, help me to live my life with contentment and by focusing on what I already have in You. Thank You for Your blessings. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In Life Management for Busy Women: Living Out God's Plan with Passion and Purpose, Elizabeth George shares life-changing principles for busy women.

REFLECT:

How am I feeding discontent in my life?

REMEMBER:

We can trust God fully to provide what we really need.

There is so much devastating news coming through the media every day now. How can we find peace in such turmoil?

How We Can Obtain This Peace

True spiritual peace comes with knowing that our heav­enly Father is continually with us—and indeed He is! God is omnipresent and therefore fully aware of every detail of our life at every moment and in every place. He knows our needs at all times and in every situation. As Psalm 139:7-12 teaches, we can never be anyplace, from the heights of heaven to the depths of the sea, where God is not present with us and available to us. The key to our peace is not the absence of conflict, but it is the presence of God no matter what the conflict.

Peace also comes with acknowledging that God will supply our every need as well as acknowledging His con­stant presence. The scriptures are filled with His promises that He is sufficient to face the circumstances challenge our peace.

Philippians 4:19 tells us, “God [will] supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

God is In the Storm

Can you imagine having perfect peace when the sirens are signaling a storm or when you’re waiting to get a loved one's report from the doctor? That, my friend, is the kind of peace God makes available to you and me for the storms of life. Many people think of peace as the absence of problems, as the feeling that is experienced when all is well. But the peace of the Lord is not related to circumstances at all. In fact, God’s peace comes to us and endures…regardless of life’s circumstances.

Remember these truths about the peace of our Lord:

• Our peace has nothing to do with daily challenges or crises, and everything to do with knowing that our times are in God’s hands.
• Our peace has nothing to do with the conditions of our life, and everything to do with knowing that God is all-sufficient.
• Our peace is an inward repose and serenity of soul that indicates a heart at rest — regardless of our cir­cumstances—as we place complete confidence in God minute by minute.

Take time to thank God today for His presence with us in all of life’s trials.

RESPOND:

Thank You, Lord, for Your constant presence during life’s storms and trials. Thank You for Your peace. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In Relying on the Power of the Spirit: Acts by Elizabeth George, you can read about living in the Holy Spirit’s power.

REFLECT:

How can you change your focus from your trials and onto God’s presence? Take time to write down the ways you see God working in your life during difficult times.

REMEMBER:

God is always with us.

Do you have a favorite place that ministers peace to your soul? Years ago, Jim and I had a place we loved to retreat, a pleasant 45-minute drive from our home. What drew us there? Well, there was an expanse of the Pacific Ocean and its never-ceasing surf. We loved to walk along its sandy shore.

After walking on the beach, there was charming sidewalk café beside a large pool that’s fed by a soothing waterfall where we would share a snack. There was also a cascading fountain in the center veranda where we enjoy our sandwich and coffee.

Still Waters

One day while I was thinking about our place, it struck me that water is the common denominator in all we love there. It calms us, inspires us, and moves us to focus on God’s larger plans for us.

As we look at God’s Word and His many provisions for us as His dear sheep, we discover an image of water in Psalm 23:2, “He leads [us] beside the still waters.”

He—the Shepherd—knows all about our need for peace and provides it. He made us, He planned our path, He knows our every challenge, and He provides the peace we need for fulfilling His will for our lives.

Leads—Our Shepherd leads us to the places where peace is plentiful, and He makes sure we attain it.

Still waters—He leads us beside still, restful waters of comfort.

Like the peace that comes from these still waters, you and I enjoy our hidden life with God, the private life we nurture in Him. Unseen by others, you and I are filled by God’s Spirit as we dwell in His presence and drink from His Word. In that holy mist He replenishes our dry souls until we are filled with His goodness.

Steady Stress

We know that we become dry on a steady diet of stress. We quickly become depleted and weary. We stagger, we stumble, we crumble, all because we need time beside still waters. Today, let’s follow God’s lead there. Find a quiet spot, alone, for 5-10 minutes and pray to God, asking Him for His peace. As you move your focus off of the hectic busyness and demands of life, and onto our Good Shepherd, you’ll find you are resting in His presence and peace.

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, Thank You for offering me Your peace. Help me to receive it. Thank You. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In Putting On a Gentle and Quiet Spirit: 1 Peter, Elizabeth George takes readers through a thought-provoking study of Peter's teachings on handling trials and persecutions.

REFLECT:

What place can I visit that reminds me of God’s peace?

REMEMBER:

Seek to enjoy your hidden life with God.

My girls are 13 months apart, which means that during their early years, I often felt like I had twins. I had to really be on my toes-there was little-or-no catching of mistakes I made on the older child so that they wouldn’t be repeated with the younger one. What I was—or wasn’t—doing to love and raise my children was being done to both of them at the same time.

I quickly realized the importance of getting God’s Word into my heart each day. I tasted the power­ful effect it had, both on my parenting and on the atmosphere in our home. The same can be true for you. When I didn’t take the time to nurture my heart in the Word, I found myself -

1. Running on empty. When we spiritually run on empty, our hearts become hol­low and numb. Without spiritual refueling, our parenting is empty, too. Life becomes dull and devoid of spiritual energy, purpose, motivation, and accomplishment for both parent and child.

2. Heartless. If we are heartless, our parenting becomes heartless and rote. We put ourselves and our child-raising on autopilot.

3. Worldly. We become preoccupied with the things of this world and enamored by earthly pursuits and rewards, and this affects our parenting. Instead of following God’s ways, we’ll be walking and parenting in the ways of the world, allowing the things of this world will creep into our homes and into our children’s hearts.

These are all serious concerns, all brought about through missing out on the daily goodness of God’s Word. The solution? Pick up the Bible and read it. God will touch and transform our hearts through His Word.

Spend time each day reading the Bible. Share its life-giving truth with your children. It requires the sacrifice of time and energy, but the years you have with your children fly by so quickly. Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart.”

What will happen if our hearts are dedicated to God and His Word, and filled with love for the Lord? By God’s grace, we will be godly mothers. And then we can successfully teach God’s Word to our children.

Your time in God’s Word is time God will use to make you a mom after His own heart. It is time well invested.

RESPOND

Lord, Your Word is my source of strength and refreshment each day. Deepen my understanding of Your love and Your will so that I become a mother who invests in her faith and family with everything she has and is.

RENEWING RESOURCES

In ”50 Most Important Teachings of the Bible”, bestselling author Jim George highlights key teachings every believer should know.

REFLECT

Make daily time in God’s Word a habit. How can I display a love of God’s Word to my children?

REMEMBER

If our hearts are dedicated to God and His Word, and filled with love for the Lord, by God’s grace, we will be godly mothers.

How Easy is to Memorize Scripture?

Most of us have no problem memorizing the lyrics to our favorite songs. Sometimes we know them so well, or they're so deeply ingrained in our minds, that they get stuck in our heads. The moment certain songs come on you'll see people rocking in the car or singing along.

The words are stored in their minds and coming out of their mouths. Well, that’s how easy and natural memorizing God’s Word can be, if you choose to make it a part of your life.

Remember the verse that says, "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45)!"

Hide Scriptures on Faith in Your Heart

The Bible tells believers to “hide” God’s Word in their hearts. Why? So they won’t sin against Him (Psalm 119:11). When you have the Bible in your heart, and meditate on God's Word day and night, it serves as a safeguard against sin, and against suffering the painful and shameful consequences that go along with making wrong choices.

Benefits of Memorizing Bible Verses

There are many benefits to memorizing Scripture, but here are our favorites:

1. It increases your knowledge of God: of who He is, what He's promised, and who we are in Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
2. It equips you to rightly handle the complications and hardships of life (Proverbs 3:5-6).
3. It supplies us with the wisdom to make the best possible choices (Psalm 119:97-100).
4. It helps us to think about the things that are excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).
5. Our daily downtime counts for eternity and will endure forever (Ephesians 5:16, 1 Peter 1:25).

A Biblical Example of Memorizing Scripture

Mary, the young teen who became the mother of Jesus, was passionate about memorizing portions of the Bible. How do we know this? Because Mary was a girl who treasured and pondered God’s Word in her heart. When she opened her mouth to praise God for the blessing of the Savior, out came Bible verses — she cited at least 15 passages from the Old Testament (Luke 1:46-55). These were verses and truths Mary had memorized and learned by heart. They became her language. When she opened her mouth, her lips leaked God’s Word. And it was His Word in her heart that helped her live out God’s plan for her to become Jesus’ mother.

A Special Assignment for You

What is your favorite verse in the Bible? Write it out and begin to memorize it. Make it your own! And if you can’t think of a verse, use one of the two below to get you started:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6).

RESPOND:

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of Your Word. Help me to memorize it and hide it is my heart today. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In “One Minute Insights for Men,” Jim George shares a selection of devotions designed to help men discover rich spiritual wisdom.

REFLECT:

Make a list of verses from the Bible that you want to memorize. Take five minutes to get started on the first verse today.

REMEMBER:

Memorizing God’s Word can be easy and natural once you set your mind to it.

Romans 5:5 tells us, “And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

If we allow Him to, the Lord will use everyday things to speak His words of wisdom to our hearts. Once while I was cooking my favorite soup, He gave me a wonderful illustration to ponder. You see, the world is suffering through many illnesses lately: COVID, cancer, stomach viruses, allergies, colds, flu, and more. When illnesses like these surround us, it is more than enough reason to cook a big pot of life-giving chicken soup. Chicken soup is full of flavorful, healing components, but only if it is the real thing. It needs to be made from the whole chicken with lots of fresh vegetables and herbs.

However, when you have a sore throat it is hard to eat anything. Sipping smooth, warm soup broth is nourishing but please, no chicken and veggies because they will irritate an already swollen throat.

Once the broth is done cooking, you must pour the soup through a strainer so all of the vegetables and chunky pieces of the chicken are held back. Only the shimmery liquid passes through. With it goes all of the vitamins, minerals, and probiotics: the healing components.

The Voice of God

Sometimes lives can be sore and irritated. Sometimes things won’t go the way we plan or purpose. Kids will get sick and plans will be delayed. Obstacles will come and we must choose how we will react. We can either chew on those seemingly appealing bits of chicken and carrots (emotions, flesh, peer pressure, and judgment) that cause further irritation or we can sip on what brings life.

Of course there are times when we might want to whine or complain, but after hearing what God whispered to me I decided to rest in His peace instead. We need to turn to the nourishment that comes from the hearing the voice of God.

The Filter of the Hold Spirit

What God whispered to my spirit while straining that soup is this: Every decision we make goes through a filter. We call that filter the Holy Spirit.

Jesus says, “But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14

Hearing from God through Scriptures

“If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within.” John 7:38

When you use the Scriptures as a filter for all of your decisions, you receive life. Just like when a mother makes life-giving soup for her sweet babes, our Father in heaven offers us life-giving water that nourishes and quenches. We have the gift of the Word of God—thanks be to God!

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, please help me to walk forward in Your Holy Spirit and dedicated to the Word of God—Your voice. Please speak to my heart and remind me to filter all things through your Holy Spirit. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Creating a Beautiful Life by Elizabeth George—Each new day presents opportunities to grow your faith, manage your work and goals, and make good use of the time God gives you. This book for busy women will help you create a more beautiful and productive life.

REFLECT:

What am I listening to besides the Holy Spirit?

REMEMBER:

We have the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

If today is “one is those days” that you’d rather forget, remember that God is available to you every moment of it, no matter what you are facing. Choose not to focus on your problems, but to focus on God. Begin by praising Him for the gift of your salvation.

Everlasting Gifts

A mere “Thank You” is hardly a sufficient response for the gifts of salvation and eternal life, but expressing praise to God will go a long way in showing your thankfulness. So choose to praise the Lord! Praise Him for the wonders that are at work in your life and in the lives of your loved ones. Proclaim His praise to the people you meet.

Praising God is a wonderful way to testify to the reality of the living God. Praise Him for the true joy you find in Him and in His promises. Ask Him for grace—and thank and praise Him for it. Ask God to help you remember to go to Him for His comfort and guidance in your times of need.

Every Breath

Until you are with the Lord forevermore, there will always be suffering, disappointment, dashed dreams, and even ridicule and persecution. It is at these times you may not feel like praising God, but let your suffering cause you to offer to Him a sacrifice of praise. Christ’s victory, accomplished through His death and resurrection, rendered earthly opposition null and void. We will suffer, fall, fail, and be attacked. But Christ’s victory has already guaranteed a smashing defeat of the world and its evil, including our trials.

James 1:2-3 reminds you to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Praise God and His blessed Son with every step and every breath you take today.

RESPOND:

God, I dedicate my day and myself to You. Today I commit to bless and serve my family and others You bring across my path. I will count it joy—all joy—to rely on Your strength when trials come my way. Thank You for Your comfort and guidance! Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Finding God's Path Through Your Trials by Elizabeth George acknowledges the hard times we all face and reveals how people can "count it all joy.”

REFLECT:

What disappointments and trials are you experiencing? Sit with the Lord today, asking for His help and thanking Him for His presence.

REMEMBER:

Count it all joy today when you face trials and difficulties today.

Our behavior is heart driven. There­fore, correction, discipline and training, every aspect of parenting, must be addressed to the heart. The fundamental task of parenting is shepherding the hearts of your children.

Our children are blessings given to us by God and their hearts are your stewardship from God. He expects you to do your part in raising them to know and love Him. The good news is He has given you all you need in Him to accomplish his purposes. The heart is the best place to start!

The prophet Samuel spoke for God when he rebuked Saul for failing to obey God’s specific instructions (1 Samuel 13). Over and over again as reported in 1 Samuel, Saul overstepped the bounds God set for him. On several occasions he specifically disobeyed God. Although he was very careful to offer prescribed sacrifices to Him, Saul failed to offer God the ultimate sacrifice—obedience from a heart wholly devoted to Him (1 Samuel 15:22).

Finally, after one extremely serious act of disobedience, God sent Samuel to Saul with a twofold message: “Your kingdom shall not continue” and “The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).

God was communicating something along this order—”Saul, you’re through as king. I’ve put up with your rebellious, unresponsive heart long enough, and now I’ve found just the right man to serve Me. This man who will take your place is a man with a responsive heart, a man with a heart of obedience, a man who will follow all My commands, fulfill all My desires, and do all My will.”

This is where we witness two very different kinds of hearts—the heart of David and the heart of Saul.

• David served God while Saul served himself and did things his way.
• David was concerned with following God’s will, but Saul cared solely for his own will.
• David’s heart was centered on God, and Saul’s was centered on Saul.
• Even though David didn’t always obey God, he had what mattered over the long haul—a heart after God. In sharp contrast, Saul’s devotion to God was impulsive and sporadic.

David was a man’s man, well-known for his physical prowess and might as a warrior. Still, he was humbly dependent upon God, trusting in Him and repeatedly acknowledging, “The Lord is the strength of my life” (Psalm 27:1). Saul, on the other hand, was proud. He relied on his own skill, his own wisdom and judgment, and his arm of flesh.

God gave both of these kings opportunities to lead Israel, but in the end they walked down different paths—Saul away from God and David toward Him.

The heart God delights in is compliant, cooperative, and responsive to Him and His commands. When you train your children, be sure to look to their heart for insight into the behavior. Pray and ask God to reveal their hearts to you so that you can parent them better. And don’t forget that being a good role model is Godly parenting at its finest.

RESPOND:

Lord, help me to shepherd my child’s heart, and parent out of love rather than fear. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Delight in God and discover how to experience a richer, more exciting spiritual walk as you embrace God's design for true beauty in your life.

REFLECT:

Is my own heart responsive to the Lord?

REMEMBER:

When you train your children, be sure to look to their heart for insight into the behavior.

Hannah appears in the Bible during the last days of the judges of Israel when “there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Even though Elkanah, Hannah’s husband, was a godly man, he followed the common practice of polygamy. Unfortunately, Hannah was barren. This was the ultimate curse for a married woman then.

Hannah had been married to Elkanah for a number of years and had not borne him any children, while Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, had children constantly and yet harassed Hannah for her barrenness. Hannah was childless but she wasn’t without prayer. Before God, she wept, prayed, and vowed that if God gave her a son, she would give him back to the Lord. Eli, the priest, assured Hannah that her prayer had been heard. With great joy, Hannah returned home with a renewed trust in God.

Before the next year’s trip to the house of the Lord, Hannah gave birth to a son. When the child was weaned, Hannah brought little Samuel, her only child, to the priest Eli and left him there. Standing with her son before Eli, Hannah uttered a song of thanksgiving. While her earlier prayer came from bitterness, this prayer of praise came from joy and gratitude to God. The contents of her prayer form the basis of the “Magnificat” offered up by Mary, the mother of Jesus, to the same covenant-keeping God (Luke 1:46-55).

More than anything, Hannah wanted a son, and when God gave her one, she fulfilled her vow to give Samuel back to the Lord. Her sacrifice was rewarded by God with the births of five more children. Samuel grew up to reflect his mother’s godliness and became a man of prayer and intercession for God’s people all his days.

What has Hannah taught us?

• Pray about life’s sorrows. Hannah’s suffering compelled her to turn to God in prayer. Problems do that for us too. Praying passes your burdens from your shoulders onto the strong shoulders of the Lord. Cast “all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
• Follow through on your promises. Hannah could have made many excuses for not giving up her only child. But Hannah followed through on her promise to God to dedicate Samuel to God’s service. Make good on your promises, whether they are made to God or to anyone else.

Hannah perfectly illustrates how unpleasant circumstances can produce a beautiful outcome.

RESPOND:

Lord, thank You for Hannah’s example of a mother after God’s own heart. I want to be a mom like Hannah— a mom who prays, instructs, and dedicates my children to You for Your purposes. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

“Raising A Daughter After God’s Own Heart” provides an engaging and inspirational resource for every mom who wants to lead her daughter to a godly life by example, encouragement, study, and prayer.

REFLECT:

How have I lacked trust in God? Do I petition Him with needs or turn to worry instead?

REMEMBER:

Turn to God in prayer, and trust Him in life’s sorrows.

We’ve all struggled at one time or another with our ability to fully trust God. I never truly realized the extent to which I wrestled with Him over both the simplest of things, and the big things, until I had children. Yet, I would always hear Him whisper to my spirit, “I will protect them. Trust me.”

As the mother of girls I may have had misplaced faith in that fact. After all, girls tend to be more cautious. But maybe you’re the mother of boys. You might hear God ask you to trust them to His care and immediately begin to think of all the dangers that could beset them. But again He says, “Trust me.”

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible” (Matthew 17:20).

A friend once shared a story with me. As she meditated over scripture and asked for revelation of what God wanted to show her, she began to pace the floor and pray. Then she heard Him whisper to her spirit to sit down. Obeying God, she sat down in the nearest chair and that is when He dropped revelation into her spirit.

Sometimes we have more faith in a chair’s ability to sustain us than we do in God’s ability to sustain us.

We never question whether or not the chair will hold us, or if it has a flaw in it somewhere, or whether or not it has secure footing. We certainly don’t question whether or not it loves us enough to hold us up. We just sit. We simply trust. We don’t walk around and test all of the chairs to see which is the strongest or which seems better for the job. We sometimes have more faith in a random inanimate object than we do in our loving and eternal, living God.

My friend confessed that she now shakes and pushes on chairs almost every time before sitting in them just to make God laugh. God showed her that another root of not trusting or having little faith is pride. It is the pride in our own ability to make what we perceive to be better decisions than God. We think we have a faster response time than God, and more love for our children than God. Yes, she admits, she truly thought, and said it often, that nobody loves her kids like she does. She didn’t mean for that to include God, but obviously, in her heart she had.

You see, the profound part about her chair shaking escapades is that she knew clearly that she didn’t worship a chair or put more trust and faith in it than she did in God. What she began to realize was that her faith was in herself. Her trust was in her knowledge. She knew the chair would hold her because she had sat in it before. She trusted herself more and that is why she now had a problem trusting God with other areas of her life.

Pray and ask the Lord to help you put more faith and trust in Him. He is our Father and Creator. Ask Him to take your faith, even as small as a mustard seed, and use it for His glory.

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, thank You for using our small faith. Thank You for being worthy of trust. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

A Mom After God’s Own Heart: 10 Ways to Love Your Children by Elizabeth George helps you make God an everyday part of your child's life.

REFLECT:

In what areas of your life have you misplaced your faith?

REMEMBER:

We’ve all struggled at one time or another with our ability to fully trust God. But He can use even our small faith for His glory.

How did men and women in the Bible accomplish great things for God? There wasn’t any secret formula or bestselling book on success for them. In fact, they were ordinary people like you and me. What made them effective was their willingness to obey God—one decision at a time.

Life requires that you make decisions, and obviously there are a variety of levels of decisions to be made. Some are simple, and others complex. Each and every decision you make, regardless of its level of intensity, can have long-lasting consequences. Your impact on the lives of others is cultivated with each decision you make, no matter how small. If you had to make any of these serious decisions on your own, it could create stress and anxiety.

But God hasn’t left you without help. He has given you His Word to show you the way as a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). He has also given you spiritually mature Christians in your church who can help provide guidance. As I look back on other decisions I’ve made, I realize I learned many times the hard way that, when I didn’t pray, seek God’s wisdom, or ask for godly advice, I just about always make wrong decisions.

So, speaking from experience, here are some guiding principles to use before making a decision:

No decision made without prayer (Philippians 4:6-7)

When in doubt, don’t (Romans 14:23)

Always ask “What does the Bible say?” (John 17:17)

Always do what you know is right (James 4:14)

Don’t let fear influence you (1 John 4:18).

Thank the Lord for His wisdom, follow the principles He has provided in His Word, and conquer each day's decisions with the confidence only He can provide.

RESPOND:

Father, may this day be filled with small steps of obedience. Thank You for Your help in making decisions. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Each new day presents opportunities to grow your faith, manage your work and

your goals, and make good use of the time God gives you. But making the right choices moment by moment isn't easy. Prepare to create a more beautiful and productive life and make each day more meaningful. God's best awaits you when you choose to live His way!

REFLECT:

Take time today to reflect on decisions that need to be made, and pray for wisdom in making them.

REMEMBER:

Thank the Lord for His wisdom, follow the principles He has provided in His Word.

There are few things that can change a marriage the way prayer can. While I was an associate pastor, a couple came to my office for marriage counseling. After we pinpointed several areas of concern in their marriage that needed their attention, I asked the husband to commit the couple’s desires to the Lord. As the man finished praying, I looked up to discover that his wife was crying. She explained through her tears that this was the first time in ten years of marriage that they had prayed together as a couple!

Too often we find ourselves in a situation where things in our marriage are festering inside of us and instead of taking those things to God, we hurl them at our spouse or gossip about them to our friends and family. If we want things to change then why would we do this?

The Bible instructs us to make our requests known to God. In fact, we are instructed in Philippians 4:6 to make our requests known to God though prayer and supplication. Most of us know that prayer is the general term for conversing with the Father, but do you know what supplication means? It means to pray with a sense of need. What greater need might we have than to save our marriage if there is trouble on the horizon?

The Bible gives us many examples of others who have done this very thing:

• Isaac prayed for his wife Rebekah to conceive (Genesis 25:21).
• Hannah prayed for a son (1 Samuel 1:11).
• Zacharias prayed for a child (Luke 1:13).
• Paul prayed for the salvation of his countrymen, for the Philippians, and for Timothy.
• Jesus prayed about His death (Matthew 26:36-46).

Our Savior and these heroes of faith prayed for specific needs, desires, and requests. You and I are to do the same. Be faithful to lift up the personal needs in your life and those of your loved ones to God through specific supplications and petitions. Then watch to see how God will answer. If you really want to see some change, take your spouse’s hand and unite together in prayer. Mountains will move. Try it.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to strengthen your marriage. Make it a point—and a practice—to come before the Lord in prayer together as a couple. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, or formal, or take more than a few minutes. Make it as simple and easy and natural as you can for both of you.

I guarantee you will both be blessed, and it will also do wonders for your marriage. After all, what is the old saying? “The couple who prays together stays together.” Prayer together is a shared spiritual experience. It is a strong tie that binds two hearts and souls together. And imagine the mutual joy you’ll experience as you witness God’s answers to your prayers…together!

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, thank You for Your promises to us. Thank You for the privilege of coming to You in prayer. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

15 Verses to Pray for Your Husband  will help you make it a habit to pray for God’s guidance in partner’s life.

REFLECT:

How can you set aside time to pray as a couple? What issues are you worrying about that you can take to the Lord in prayer?

REMEMBER:

Make it a point—and a practice—to come before the Lord in prayer together as a couple.

Christ’s death and resurrection is a core value of Christianity. The resurrection is the focal point of every truth Christ taught His disciples while on Earth. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25). It was the resurrection that turned Jesus’ brokenhearted followers into courageous witnesses and martyrs who, in just a few years, would spread the gospel across the Roman Empire and beyond. The resurrection proclaimed the fact that when Jesus died, so did death. Here are three reasons why Christ died:

Jesus died to buy you back from the bondage of sin. Jesus told His disciples that He must die, and He told them why: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, mankind came under the bondage of Satan, sin, and death. Jesus’ death paid the ransom price that was necessary to satisfy God’s holiness and justice. God’s holiness required that the penalty be paid, and God’s love provided that payment in the death of the Son ( John 3:16). Jesus’ perfect life was the only sacrifice that could be offered that would satisfy God’s justice. Jesus died so you don’t have to die.

Jesus died to prove His power over death. Jesus had to die not only to pay the penalty for our sin, but also to show His power over death. The apostle Paul said Jesus “was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead”(Romans 1:3-4). Jesus’ resurrection from the dead proves He is God and that He possesses eternal life, and that He can therefore give this same eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Jesus died to defeat death. At first glance, Satan appeared to be victorious in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Adam and Eve had disobeyed God, and their sin resulted in immediate spiritual death and ultimate physical death. Even at the cross, when Jesus died, Satan seemed to have won. But God turned Satan’s apparent victory into defeat when Jesus rose from the dead. Death is no longer a source of dread or fear for us—it “has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Christ overcame death, and a day is coming when all those who are in Christ will overcome it, too.

Are you a believer in Christ? If so, you will not experience spiritual death. With that in mind, take to heart the apostle Paul’s challenge to “stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

RESPOND:

Thank You, Lord, for the resurrection and the reality that death is defeated! Amen

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Commit your heart and life to Christ now, with the goal of becoming a man after God's own heart--you'll find it the most rewarding pursuit ever!

REFLECT:

Take time to thank God for what His death and resurrection means to you.

REMEMBER:

Christ’s resurrection is a core value of Christianity.

The Savior of the world certainly came to earth in an unexpected way. He came as a servant of God to sacrifice himself for us. It wasn’t immediately apparent to others that Jesus was the Messiah, the King, they were waiting for.

But God had prepared a way. Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, was very popular among the people of Israel. Large crowds followed him, heard him preach, and submitted to his call for repentance from their sinful lifestyle. At the peak of John’s popularity, Jesus came to the Jordan River, where John was con­ducting his ministry. John recognized Him and humbly told his followers, “I am not the Christ, but I have been sent ahead of Him…He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:28,30).

But even John the Baptist wasn’t entirely enlightened about Jesus’ full mission. John the Baptist had introduced Jesus to the people as the One who would bring judgment with His coming (Matthew 3:11-12). Later, when John was put in prison, he heard that Jesus was heal­ing the sick, and not bringing judgment as John had thought. He wondered if Jesus really was the One.

Some of John’s disciples were sent to ask Jesus to confirm that He was the Messiah. In response, Jesus confirmed John’s message that He was the Messiah and sent them back with the confirmation of many miracles and fulfilled prophecies.

Rather than reprimanding John for his unbelief, Jesus said that John was “more than a prophet,” and that “among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist” (Mat­thew 11:9,11). Using Old Testament scriptures, Jesus shared God’s description of John: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.”

Jesus wanted the people to know how unique John was. Jesus was grateful that the Father had sent John as His herald, His messenger. Unless someone preceded the King to tell people of His arrival, how would they know that the King was coming?  Jesus’ words conveyed how thankful He was for John. And He wanted to ensure that John was never forgotten. Jesus also must have been considering His own future suffering when He encouraged John that his suffering and humble service were for the greater purpose of offering redemption and eternal life for all.

Do you proclaim Jesus as the Savior of the world to the people around you? This is a wonderful week to thank God for the gift of His Son, our Savior, and those saints who came before us proclaiming the Gospel. Take time consider who you could proclaim the Gospel to or invite to church this Easter Sunday.

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, thank You for the privilege of proclaiming Your coming to a watching world. Amen

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Bare Bones Bible Handbook by Jim George is the perfect tool to discover fascinating and inspirational stories from the Bible. This resource is a fast and friendly overview of every book of the Bible.

REFLECT:

How can I tell more people about the coming of Christ?

REMEMBER:

Take time consider who you could proclaim the Gospel to or invite to church this Easter Sunday.

Jesus Himself gives us the supreme model of joy in the midst of life’s dark pain. There was probably no greater source of pain in the ancient world than crucifixion on a Roman cross, but we read in Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus, “For the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.” Knowing that His suffering would result in great joy, Jesus looked toward His future with the Father as He endured the excruciating pain of death on the cross.

As one Bible commentator notes, “Despite the misunderstanding, the rejection, the hatred, the pain He endured from men while incarnate among them, the Lord never lost His joy in the relationship He had with His Father. And that joy He gives to each of His followers.” The same wondrous joy that Jesus experienced in His darkest hours is yours and mine today. Won’t you look to God for that joy? Let it help you endure your dark and pain-filled days.

What can you and I do to cultivate this fruit of joy in the Lord in our daily walk with God?

Offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually—even when you don’t feel like it (Hebrews 13:15). Through the power of the Holy Spirit, this act of thanksgiving transforms our pain into praise.

“Consider it all joy… when you encounter various trials,” writes James in chapter one verse two. As I said earlier, let the very hindrances to joy become the soil out of which joy blossoms! This is what happens when we let hard times drive us nearer to the Lord, the only Source of gen­uine joy and real hope.

Give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Whatever is happening—good or bad—give thanks to God for His sovereignty, His perfect timing, His per­fect plan, and His unconditional love.

Bless the Lord at all times (Psalm 34:1). Offer unceas­ingly the sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15). The Spirit can—and will—use your praise to touch you with God’s joy.

Focus on the reality of God’s promises. Every time you open your Bible, read with a marker in hand and look for powerful promises that can change your out­look to one of joy. Go a step further and memorize those verses you like best and meditate on them.

Look up. Shift your eyes and your hopes away from your suffering and focus instead on the splendor of God (Psalm 121:1-2).

Obey God’s command to be joyful always (1 Thessa­lonians 5:16). As author Jerry Bridges notes, “We are not to sit around waiting for our circumstances to make us joyful. We are commanded to be joyful always… we should continually be growing in joy.”

Go to God to be filled with His joy whenever you need it.

RESPOND:

Father, my heart overflows with the love and blessings You’ve given me. Even in the midst of my trials and sorrow I can be joyful in my heart because I know You are in charge. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

If you are facing a difficult or painful situation, you are not alone. Draw on God’s Word and the experience of others in ”Finding God’s Path Through Your Trials” by Elizabeth George.

REFLECT:

What trials are you going through right now? How can you use them to point you to Christ?

REMEMBER:

Shift your eyes away from suffering and onto the splendor of God.

We live in a world of fires, floods, earthquakes, and other kinds of disasters from which people need to be rescued. Some of these rescues are performed by police and fire personnel, while others are done by other specially trained individuals. These professionals spend a lot of time preparing for the possibility that they might need to rescue a person. Their ability to do the job well can mean the difference between a victim escaping alive or being lost.

Have you ever thought about the fact that God is in the rescue business? But with God, it’s a different kind of rescue—He takes those who are dead in their sins and gives them life. Rescue began in eternity. If you are a believer in Christ, your salvation was not a recent development on God’s part. Your rescue was planned in eternity past and executed in the realm of time.

This rescue was accomplished in time. The Bible says, “You were dead in your transgressions and sin” (Ephesians 2:1). Because you were spiritually dead, you could not comprehend your need to be rescued. You were spiritually lost and didn’t know it. Unless God intervenes in the life of an unsaved person, he or she will continue down the path to eternal destruction. But thankfully, God does intervene and gives certain people the desire to be rescued.

A good example of God’s intervention is seen in the life of a woman named Lydia. Acts 16:14 says, “The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.” At God’s appointed time, Lydia’s eyes were opened and she realized she was in a burning building and responded to the gospel. Salvation is accomplished as God opens the hearts and minds of people to repent of their sins and accept Christ’s death as the payment for their sins. The apostle Paul said it this way: “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13).

Out of gratitude for God’s grace and mercy, lift up ongoing praise to God! Be excited about telling others who need to be rescued that Christ offers them salvation and a new life in Him! Knowing that only God can save should prompt you to pray for unsaved family members, friends, and workmates. Ask God to open their hearts to the gospel. You are not saved for your own purposes, but to praise God, honor your Savior, and serve His people as you wait expectantly for your coming inheritance. What a glorious day that will be!

RESPOND:

Thank You, Lord, for rescuing us! Help us to live in thankfulness to you during this Easter season.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

You will experience peace, order, and joy when you follow God's guidelines for every area of your life as you embrace God's plans for you. Find real purpose through a life of prayer and practicing God's priorities, as you determine to be A Woman After God’s Own Heart.

REFLECT:

How has God rescued you?

REMEMBER:

If you are a believer in Christ your rescue was planned in eternity past and executed in the realm of time.

Confidence is a quality that everyone desires. Self-confidence suggests that one trusts in his or her own abilities. The “self-made” person has a firm trust in their education, professional abilities, athletic skills, looks, health, or material resources. Their belief in themselves produces a state of mind and manner that is marked by freedom from uncertainty, self-doubt, or embarrassment. But there’s another kind of confidence. This confidence is also is based on trust. However, it’s not a trust in self, but a trust in God. Who better to demonstrate the confidence that comes from trusting God than God’s only Son, the Lord Jesus? Even at the early age of twelve, while teaching at the temple (Luke 2:41-52), Jesus was confident in His identity as the son of God.

Likewise your confidence must come from your identity in and with Jesus. He has made you a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and given you a fresh start. Your past has been forgiven. The slate of your sins has been erased. Your present is empowered by Jesus’ Spirit. And your future is guaranteed for all eternity. You are one with Christ. Therefore, there’s no reason to be fearful of anything. Oh, you must have a healthy respect for the fragility of life and the need for wisdom and safety precautions. But there’s no reason to be anxious about your normal activities.

If your confidence for some challenge is wavering, maybe you’ve lost sight of who it is you are to trust. Trusting in yourself is shaky ground. Trust instead in the rock that is solid—Jesus Christ. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7).

Jesus once instructed His disciples before sending them out for ministry. He cautioned them, explaining, “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16). This doesn’t seem like a very good way to instill confidence in a newly appointed evangelistic team, does it? Jesus wanted to give His new team a realistic picture of what they would face. He told them the truth to make them wiser about what was really out there.

But Jesus wasn’t finished. To ensure that the disciples’ confidence wouldn’t waver, He ended His pep talk with an assurance of God’s care. He clearly communicated that the same God who takes care of the insignificant little sparrow would surely take care of them. Jesus then told them, “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31).

God places great value on you. Savor this truth! In fact, you are so valuable that He sent His only Son to die for you (John 3:16). And because of God’s love, you never need to be afraid of personal challenges or difficult trials. Yes, times of trouble will come, but rather than hiding in fear, have the confidence to trust your all-wise and loving heavenly Father. The wolves are out there, but the Good Shepherd knows that you are one of His sheep. He is always there with you and for you!

RESPOND:

Lord, You are the Solid Rock worthy of my confidence. Thank You for Your love, care, and protection. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In “Relying on the Power of the Spirit” by Elizabeth George, you can study the book of Acts, which is filled with incredible examples of God's Spirit at work in the lives of His people. Step out in the Spirit's power and yield yourself completely to all God wants to do through you.

REFLECT:

How have you seen God’s care for you grow your confidence?

REMEMBER:

When your confidence wavers, turn your focus to Christ and what He has done for you.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28.

Do you ever have what I call doubtful days—days when the dull routine of duty weighs you down? Or days when the curve balls of surprise, disappointment, and tragedy leave you feeling like you’re striking out? I remember when my life had no purpose. As an average woman with an average marriage, two average preschool daughters, and an average house, I shook my fist at the kitchen ceiling one average and desperate day and cried, “There has to be more to life than this!” My lack of purpose caused me to wonder, to doubt, and to rage.

But, praise God, He used my search for pur­pose to help me recognize that I needed Jesus Christ! I became a Christian several months later. And suddenly I saw the purpose of everything in my life because I saw that God had a purpose for me! Knowing that God has a purpose for my life and for my salvation brings me great joy and hope. You see, now that I know there is a use and a reason for my life, and days, and minutes, and I also know I can no longer live my life according to my own desires, plans, dreams, or whims. I am to live totally for God’s purposes. Therefore, I am not to make decisions based on pleasing people. No, I must please God! You see, I exist to serve Him and His people according to the gifts He has given me and in the situations where He places me.

One evening while looking at pictures of English garden mazes in a coffee-table book at a friend’s home I thought, “Why, this is the way life is!” These intriguing puzzles, created by six- or seven-foot hedges, were used initially to provide people with some entertaining exercise after their meals. Similarly, we follow along the maze of life, randomly making turns and choosing our paths.

Then we come to know Christ as our Lord and Savior. From that point on, we have purpose—to serve God. We’re still traversing the maze of life, but now we have direction. God keeps us moving forward as we pray and dedicate our lives to serving Him, becoming more Christ like, and spreading the Gospel.

While we’re in the maze, we never know who or what we’ll encounter. Why, we don’t even know exactly where we’re going! But we do know that we are to keep moving. And as we continue on according to God’s will and His leading, He fulfills His purpose for us. God doesn’t ask us to understand the twists and turns, the why’s and the how’s of life. He asks only that we trust that He is working His pur­pose in us as we live out our purpose of serving Him.

Now we’re right back to the incredible promise of Romans 8:28! We know God has a purpose for us. That’s yet another sparkling reason why we can have joy and hope in Him each day…no matter what happens in that day. And knowing that God has a purpose for us makes every day significant.

RESPOND:

Jesus, lead me through this maze of life. Help me to believe in Your supernatural guidance and accept my purpose from You. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

“Living with Passion and Purpose” by Elizabeth George focuses on Jesus' teachings and the principles He lived by. This study of the book of Luke helps women know Him more intimately.

REFLECT:

Do I trust in God and His purposes for my life?

REMEMBER:

God fulfills His purpose for us.

Sitting in our Sunday school class, I listened as my husband Jim taught a series on the “one anothers” in the New Testament. He taught about the ministries each Christian is to have to “one another” in Christ’s church. This particular Sunday Jim spoke on edifying one another— encouraging them, building them up, contributing positively to their lives, and benefiting them in some way.

After summarizing the lesson, Jim chal­lenged our class. He exhorted, “With every encounter, make it your aim that people are better off for having been in your pres­ence. Try in every encounter to give something to the other person.” I have never forgotten these words. What a great and simple way to positively influence the lives of other people. Everyone needs edification and encouragement, and we are free to offer that when we have hearts filled by God.

Sometimes we can feel immobilized in our service toward God by an over-emphasis on spiritual gifts or a fear of not being the right person for the job. You might think, “If I am not a natural encourager, maybe I should serve on the parking team instead.” Or, “I’m not wealthy. How can my contributions make a difference?” We are all unique in our giftedness and the hurdles toward serving God and others. I found it a relief to learn that are three ministries that you, I, and all Christians can have.

When I read Balancing the Christian Life by theologian Charles Caldwell Ryrie, I discovered three ways of serving others in the faith that are not only listed as specific spiritual gifts, but they are commanded of all Christians. They are serving, giving, and showing mercy (Romans 12:7-8). Hear how Dr. Ryries defined them:

Serving is sometimes called help or ministering. “It is the basic ability to help other people, and there is no reason why every Christian cannot have and use this gift.”

Giving is another ministry you and I should be involved in. “Giving is the ability to distribute one’s own money to others, and it is to be done with simplicity which means with no thought of return or gain for oneself in any way.”

Mercy is next. “Showing mercy is akin to the gift of ministering and involves succoring those who are sick or afflicted. ‘Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction’ (James 1:27).”

Serving, mercy, and giving: each is a specific spiritual gift, but each is also commanded of us as Christians. And each was carried out and modeled for us by our Savior, in whose steps we are to follow. So commit now to kindle your efforts to serve, show mercy, and give, and thus fulfill the law of God and encourage His people.

RESPOND:

Thank You, Lord, for Your gifts of service, giving, and mercy. Help me to follow in Your steps by ministering to others. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES: 

In “Following God with All Your Heart”, Elizabeth encourages women to embrace radical faith as they serve God by helping people and accomplishing His projects.

REFLECT:

How can you serve, show mercy, and give in your local congregation?

REMEMBER:

All Christians are called to serve, show mercy, and give to others in the faith.

The Bible tells us that as Jesus grew, He “increased…in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). Do you ever wonder how to increase in favor and therefore increase your godly influence on those around you? Try these three ways to improve your relation­ships with people, and become a blessing.

Mind your mind—This step is unavoidable. Your actions will reveal your mental attitude toward people. That’s the message of yet another proverb: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Thoughts that are critical, negative, harmful, and jealous not only go against God’s Word (Philippians 4:8), but they lead to actions that are critical, negative, harmful, and jealous. So train yourself to think loving, positive, generous thoughts when it comes to other people.

Mind your mouth—Our relationships with people are enhanced when we follow in the steps of the Proverbs 31 woman who “opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness” (Proverbs 31:26). If her thoughts weren’t wise or kind, her mouth was shut!

Mind your manners—The number one way to be pleasing to God and approved by man is to be the servant of all. Our servant assignment from God is to give honor and preference to one another (Romans 12:10). Regarding others as more impor­tant than yourself gives you the mind and manner of Christ (Philippians 2:4-5).

You and I are to focus away from self and out to others. We are to become other-oriented. To do this, as mundane as it sounds, we have to train ourselves to, for example, stop talking about ourselves (or our children or our grandchildren) and instead ask about the other person. We may also have to learn some good manners because love has good manners (1 Corinthians 13:5).

God calls you to love Him, first and foremost, with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27) and to allow that rich love you enjoy in Him to overflow into your family, into your neighbors, into the lives of others. How can you be a person who looks around for ways to bless others and encourage someone with God’s love? He can make this happen as you let Him grow you into a woman after His heart.

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, thank You for Your love. Help me to be a person who blesses others. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Elizabeth George’s book, “A Woman's Walk with God”, is an invitation to experience the joys of moment-by-moment living in the Lord's power, and producing the fruit of the Spirit in every circumstance.

REFLECT:

How can you be a blessing to others and become a woman known for her love?

REMEMBER:

Train yourself to be other-oriented rather than focused on yourself.

It can be difficult for us as Christian women to know our purpose. There are so many voices shouting at us, suggesting all kinds of expectations for us to prove our worth. But God’s Word rises majestically above the clamor, and the good news is that God doesn’t ask a thousand or even a hundred things of His women.

He only asks us to focus on ten essential things that help us fulfill His grand purpose for us as women who love Him, who love and serve others, and who reflect Him to the world. His list, found in Titus 2:3-5, con­tains these essentials on which to focus our time and energies:

• Be godly in your behavior.
• Be truthful and kind in your speech.
• Be disciplined and self-controlled.
• Be devoted to your husband.
• Be devoted to your children.
• Be discreet and wise in your actions.
• Be chaste and pure inside and out.
• Be focused on your home.
• Be kind and good to all.
• Be a teacher/encourager of good things.

It’s profoundly liberating to know your purpose in life! And, from this list it’s not as mysterious as we might think.

Ladies, you may already be pursuing God’s purpose in Titus 2:3-5. But you might also want to ask yourself, “Who, not what, is my Purpose?” Am I faithfully serving those in my path who are part of my purpose—my family, my church, my co-workers and acquaintances? Am I willing to follow in Jesus’ faith­ful steps and make the sacrifices faithfulness requires? Growing more like Jesus awaits you on the other side of these answers and actions.

Take time today to consider your answer these questions and your willingness to serve the Lord in the manner He is calling you.

But if you’re a little behind or uncertain, spend time examining Jesus’ life. Pay close attention to His focus and confidence as He lived God’s pur­pose on a daily basis. Notice how He fixed His gaze on God’s plan for Him. And be encouraged! As a woman who is seeking God’s plan, you are already evidencing purpose. You are reflect­ing Jesus as you live out His instructions to “seek first the king­dom of God” (Matthew 6:33).

RESPOND:

Lord, thank You for Your plan for me. Help me to know and live out my purpose as a woman after God’s heart. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Taken from Discovering the Treasures of a Godly Woman by Elizabeth George, this beautiful print displays all the characteristics of a godly woman, based on Proverbs 31. Purchase and download this printable.

REFLECT:

Am I willing to follow in Jesus’ faith­ful steps and make the sacrifices faithfulness requires?

REMEMBER:

You reflect Jesus as you live out His instructions.

It may seem late in the new year to be talking about goal setting. But, if you are like me, January seems to go by in a blink of an eye. And, it’s sometimes February before New Year’s plans and schedules fall into place.

There were times when I was aimless in many areas of life. But, today I can’t imagine a day (or a life) without goals. Goals give me a target. As I rise each morning and take aim at my day, the arrow I shoot may wobble and weave, but at least it’s in flight and headed some­where. Just as goals help us in the day to day, goals are also an aid when it comes to our spiritual growth.

Goals provide focus. It’s definitely true that if you aim at noth­ing, you’ll hit it every time. So when I was a mom with preschool­ers, I aimed at something—reading one book a year. I asked myself, “If I could read only one book this year, what would it be?” I read a suggested parenting book that helped me deter­mine the road I wanted our family to head down. I read it in bits and pieces, remembering that something is better than nothing. I set a goal—and reached it.

And that one book I set out to read went straight into my heart—and my life. As time and years went by, my list of books grew to include a variety of other titles, all of which have contributed to my personal and spiritual growth and to my ministry to others.

Goals provide an opportunity for specific measurement. Setting goals that are specific helps you move forward in the direction you want to go. So when it comes to making goals for yourself, stay away from the vague. For example, the goal “to be a godly woman” or “to walk with God” is honorable but hard to measure. It’s far better to be specific.

Answer the question “What does a godly woman do?” and let your answer give you specific and measurable behaviors (i.e. Bible study, prayer time). Write down steps you can actually take toward those behaviors (baby steps count!) and mark them off as you accomplish them. I’m often asked about my writing, including questions like “How do you do it?” and “What must I do to write a book?” My answer is always the same. I have a goal to write five pages each day. Now that’s specific. There’s nothing vague about that.

Goals provide encouragement. When a week, or month, or year is over, do you ever wonder, “Wow, what did I do? Where did it go?” As I began to write down specific, measurable goals and keep track of my progress in my planner, I could see firsthand the growth that had taken place, the number of books that had been read, the vari­ety of classes and seminars taken, the women I had shared God’s truths with, the number of family reunions and birthdays celebrated, and even the pounds lost. Believe me, as you keep track daily of your efforts and God’s grace, you will be able to celebrate the progress made, and give God thanks.

RESPOND:

Thank you, Lord, for helping me accomplish my goals in life. Thank you for growth in You. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In Life Management for Busy Women, Elizabeth George shares how the love and patience of God taught her life-changing principles, including how to live each day God's way and be a better steward of resources.

REFLECT:

What goals have you met in the last year? What specific goals are you planning to set today?

REMEMBER:

Goals are an aid when it comes to spiritual growth.

As we start a new year, we often reflect on accomplishments (or lack there of) of the past year. It is often easy to focus on all that was left undone or the regrets of unrighteous behavior or decisions. Many times we cannot face a new phase of life when we dwell on failures of the past.

Our enemy Satan delights when our failure to obey God keeps us from serving Him. You and I can all too easily wallow in the fact that we’ve failed God and then allow our emotions to keep us from going on and follow­ing after Him. We may know we are forgiven. And we’ve stopped the behavior, acknowledged and confessed our sin, forsaken our thoughts or actions, and cleared up the situation (1 John 1:9). But we still say to ourselves, “I can’t believe I did that, said that, thought that, acted like that. How could I have done that? I’m unworthy. I am totally unfit to serve God.”

When that’s the case, we need to turn to another truth from God’s Word and let it lift us up, dust us off, refresh us, and set us back on His path. Speaking divine directions to us through His Spirit, God encourages us—those of us who have confessed our disobedience and been forgiven—to be “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead… [and pressing] toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Once we’ve acknowledged and dealt with our failure to follow God whole­heartedly, once we’ve addressed our acts of disobedience, you and I are to forget those things from the past and go on. We are to remember the lessons learned, but we are also to train our hearts to obey by obeying this command from God to go on.

Whenever I am down about myself, discour­aged by my faults, doubting my growth in Christ, depressed, defeated, or dismayed (someone once quipped that all these “D” words are from the Devil!), I stop and remind myself, “No matter what has happened, no matter what life looks like, no matter what you’re feeling, you are accepted in the Beloved—and nothing else matters!” Indeed, God has “made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6)!

When you and I come to a saving knowl­edge of Jesus Christ, we are given a new beginning, a fresh start, forgiveness for the past, wisdom for handling life, and power for doing what’s right. The Apostle Paul explains it like this: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Don’t continue to wallow in the drudge of failure at the side of the road where Satan wants you to get stuck. Claim the promise of Philippians 3:13-14 which compels us to reach forward in a continued walk in this newness.

RESPOND:

Lord, thank You for making me a new creation. Help me to walk in the newness of my life with You. Amen

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In Beautiful in God’s Eyes, Elizabeth George reveals how you can experience a richer, more exciting spiritual walk as you embrace God's design for true beauty in your life.

REFLECT:

What mistake or failing am I struggling to move on from?

REMEMBER:

In Jesus we have a new beginning.

We are at the beginning of a new year filled with the potential for new highs and lows, new joys and new fears. If we take time to read through the Gospels, we cannot miss an important lesson in how Jesus prepared for a new season of His time on earth. Jesus made it His habit to pray before important events and about important decisions in His life. For instance:

Jesus prayed as He began His ministry—Jesus’ baptism was a significant milestone in His life. It heralded the beginning of His public ministry. How did He approach this momentous occasion? We find Him offering up His first recorded instance of prayer, “When all the people were baptized… Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended” (Luke 3:21-22). Whatever work God has given you to do pales in comparison to what Jesus did. Nevertheless, it is your ministry (see 1 Corinthians 12:7, 11, 18). And your ministry merits and requires your prayers.

Jesus prayed as He chose His disciples—Jesus had many follow­ers, but He desired to choose twelve as leaders, as apostles, as “sent ones.” These men would be given special authority to deliver His message to the world. Their selection would mark the beginning of the focused training of these men who would take the gospel to the ends of the earth. This was definitely a historic occasion. How would Jesus choose from all those who followed Him? Again, prayer was His answer, “He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day…He chose twelve whom He also named apostles” (Luke 6:12-13).

Jesus prayed before going to the cross—In this last scenario, Jesus’ time on earth was coming to a close. His time of training His disciples was also over. He knew His death on the cross was ahead of Him, and He knew its implications for all mankind. So He moved with His disciples to the Garden of Geth­semane, His customary place of prayer, to pray. His impending crucifixion would be excruciatingly painful and difficult, and His soul was in agony. The Lord’s anguish had little to do with fear of the physical tor­ture of the cross or even His death. No, He was sorrowful because the full cup of divine judgment against sin would soon be His to drink. How did Jesus handle this horrendous situation? “He…fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me'” (Matthew 26:39). And, as He prayed a sec­ond and a third time, His prayers changed to reflect the powerful strength of His resolve: “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42).

You and I will never know or experience anything like Jesus did as He prepared for, faced, and endured death on a cross. But we do suffer—physical pain, emotional pain, lacks in our lives, dif­ficult circumstances, challenging relationships, an uncertain future and more! To pre­pare for, face, and endure life’s challenges, you know what you need to do—pray!

Jesus shows all Christians the importance of praying when we need to make decisions and gain direction for our lives. He prayed when He had to make an important decision or a spe­cial or trying occasion presented itself. His habit of prayer teaches us how to tap into God’s power and grace, too. Jesus’ desire was to follow the Father’s will completely, and prayer was a vital part of His decision-making. The same is true for us as we seek to do God’s will.

As you think about your life and the new year ahead, what important event is about to occur? What guid­ance do you need for your future, or a child’s future? What strength is lacking for an impossible but nec­essary decision? Follow the Lord’s example and, like Him, pray. God has given you an effective resource in prayer. As one of my favorite prayer verses bids:

“Let us…come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

God bless you and keep you as you pray for God’s will for you in this new year!

RESPOND:

Lord, thank You that we may come boldly to the throne of grace in our time of need. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Elizabeth George shares from her own personal experiences, points to specific and helpful Scripture verses, and offers soothing prayers to help readers with anxious hearts in Prayers to Calm Your Heart.

REFLECT:

What events do I have approaching that need prayer?

REMEMBER:

Pray for God’s will in this new year.

As you look ahead, what do you anticipate facing in this new year? Are you struggling with your roles and responsibilities? Are you at a crossroad in your career? Do you need direction in dealing with a family member, a workmate, or your finances? Or are you needing some help with all of the above? Then you need wisdom—God’s wisdom. Well, wait no longer!

Blessings of Wisdom

God promises you wisdom—and it’s free and readily available. Your job is to pray, seek, search, and dig for God’s wisdom in His Word. God’s job—and His promise to you—is to give you all the wisdom you ask for, and all the wisdom you need.

Do you realize what this means? It means that whatever issue or problem you are facing, you don’t have to grope around in the dark, hoping you will somehow stumble upon answers. You don’t have to stab at a solution and hope you made the right choice—the wise choice, all the time fearing that maybe you made the wrong choice. No, you have a surer way to tackle life’s problems—and gain God’s peace of mind in the process!

Benefits of Daily Bible Reading

Start today by reading Proverbs 1 and 2. Tomorrow, read chapter 3. On January 4, read chapter 4, and so on…and by the end of the month, you’ll have read the entire book.

As you daily make your way through Proverbs, starting in chapter 1, you can’t miss the truth that evil does its worst in secret and solicits new followers in the dark. But God’s wisdom is public. As verses 20 and 21 note, “Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings.”

There is so much to tend to, worry about, fear, and beware of. Every minute of every day can be full of fear and charged with anxiety. But God and His Word quell all our fears. “But whoever listens to me [wisdom] will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:33).

Whenever you need wisdom, you can pray to God, ask of God, look to God’s Word…and wisdom will be given to you!

May God bless your New Year with His wisdom, hope, and joy.

We look forward to growing together as men and women after God’s own heart in 2024!

RESPOND:

Thank you, Lord, for Your promise to give us wisdom. Thank You for Your Word. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Purchase and download this Bible Reading and Study Tools Pack to help keep you on track with Bible reading in the new year.

REFLECT:

Have I asked God for wisdom as I make decisions for the new year?

REMEMBER:

Turn to God’s Word for wisdom in this new year.

Isaiah is considered among the greatest of the Old Testament prophets because of his many predictions of the Messiah. For instance, you’ve probably heard this one during the Christmas season: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

A Child is Born

Are you wondering, “Why do I need a Savior?” Many people ask this question when the Christmas season approaches. This the reason Joseph was given regarding Jesus’ birth: “And [Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

The birth of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus, was the culmination of thousands of years of anticipation. Jesus’ coming to earth as the Savior was the fulfillment of the covenant promises that were made to Israel that shape the structure of the Old Testament. From this point onward, the rest of history would revolve around the brief years that Jesus Christ lived among us.

Consider all that Jesus, the Savior, offers you and me. He:

S-ubstitutes His sinless life for our sinful one (2 Corinthians 5:21)

A-ssures us of eternal life (John 10:28-29)

V-anquishes Satan’s hold on our life (2 Timothy 2:26)

I-nitiates us into the family of God (Galatians 4:4-6)

O-verthrows the power of sin (Romans 6:1-10)

R-econciles us to a holy God (2 Corinthians 5:19)

Jesus is the Promised One who, through His birth, death, and resurrection, brings us into a relationship with God when we believe in Him. This, my friend, is the true meaning of Christmas!

RESPOND:

Dear God, this Christmas season give me a heart that marvels at the fulfillment of Your promises and the blessing of Your Son. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

This beautiful printable features Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on who his favor rests.”

REFLECT:

Take time to consider all that the Savior does for you.

REMEMBER:

Jesus coming as Savior is the true meaning of Christmas.