When I feel useless, I remember words from a devotional:
"...some of My greatest workers are those physically unable to serve, but who have learned to wield the powerful weapon of prayer.” Streams in the Desert (as recorded by Laura A. Barter Snow)
Arthritis? crippling disease? home-bound? bedridden? stuck in a nursing home? feeling useless?
Pray...
Praying for others who are able to do work you're unable to do...pray for God's power to fill the spaces that Satan would use to get in and get a foothold and stop forward progress of these saints of God who are battling on the front lines as ministers, as firemen, teachers, nurses... and police officers.
Praying for volunteers in disaster situations, rescuers, responders: cooks, babysitters, clean-up crews.
Praying for our military: those in special operations who do almost everything in secret, for others who battle depression, for Vets who come back maimed and suffering. For military families who lose loved ones and must walk on alone.
Praying today that you, my friends, prosper and bring honor and glory to the kingdom. May Christ be manifested in all your efforts.
The absolute most devastating moment in my life was the day I learned my 33 year-old son was dead. A massive explosion of pain struck me in the gut. My mind was a billion pieces of shrapnel whirling through space:
Inevitably, memories and promises from God won the battle for my sanity.
The single most gripping passage that came to mind was "My grace is sufficient." I argued with God a lot in the following hours, days, weeks, months and years about the sufficiency of His grace.
I asked, will I ever feel peace again? Will peace ever be a reality? How can I be at peace when my heart is so very broken...when every shred of confidence in God's watchcare and omnipotent protection had been ripped from my soul? Each time I struggled against harsh reality, pain returned. It wasn't until I rested in His promises that peace became the new reality.
Days followed that I felt numb. Numbness is not peace. Even in numbness turmoil hovers like a thick cloud of despair. Writing about this brings the monster of sadness to the forefront of my mind. However...
I know that this is not where God wants to meet me. I know this because peace is not found in despair. It's not found in turbulence. Peace is found in Him. I must look beyond the turmoil and visualize that God is a like a gigantic magnet-- He holds the turmoil at bay. He shields it from my spirit and soul. I am in the palm of His hand and nothing can take me from it. Nothing-- not heartache, not rejection, not turmoil, not brokenness, nor death.
Life is not just this space--this time--this glimpse in eternity. I learned this truth.
I learned to look to my Father for joy. The joy of the LORD is my strength. He alone can give me peace. The world offers inadequate substitutions, distractions, diversions. Christ gives peace. Here is the key--the roadmap to peace:
"4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation [consideration, graciousness, reasonableness, gentleness] be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice. Public consideration--gentle, thoughtful behavior. Don't worry--instead pray with thanksgiving and let God know what you want. Then...
...then the peace of God comes through Christ Jesus. He keeps my heart and mind at peace when I rejoice in Him. Rejoice...repeatedly rejoice. "Do not mourn as those without hope." My hope is in Christ-- not temporary situations, relationships, or worldly comforts. His grace is indeed sufficient. He is enough. "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want." He will keep thee in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on--focused and resting on-- Him.
So, "Come all ye who are weary, take my yoke upon you, I will give you rest."~Jesus
O, LORD... give peace, comfort and joy to those who stumble upon this post today. Let them know the all-sufficient grace that can be theirs when they turn their eyes and attention to You. Give them strength and courage to meet the tasks before them, to make the decisions they need to make to leave the world's cares behind them and walk with You. Amen. selahVtoday by hariettepetersen
and pierce our souls. When criticisms are unending. When we are falsely accused and stand in the chambers of our private thoughts, we are reminded that: God has done great things; and none is like Him--above or below. He shows us great troubles sometimes. But...He also is the One to revive us again as Psalm 71 tells us:
"You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth." vs. 20
More than simply bringing us up from the depths of our despair, and plunking us into the crowded streets of greater adversity, He takes the thousand pieces of hard and broken chunks of clay and adds His Living Water to our parched, thirsting spirit. He softens the dry shards of our self-worth in the center of His palms...
kneading, ever-kneading--sometimes gently,
sometimes with great pressure, till we are made anew.
Then we are altogether strengthened by His grace.
Meadows of glory bloom. For what purpose, we sometimes wonder. Why do You care when I am broken and crushed? Why do seeds die, then struggle to reach the top of the earth? To burst forth in glory for the pleasure of You, O, Lord. You have a plan for each seed that dies and you have a plan for me each time my heart is broken. From the depths of my pain are pods of stronger seeds to share with others. To give away. To flutter in the wind, sometimes. To be picked up by some passing swallow and carried across rivers and plains to rest upon a land I've never seen. And in that land, another meadow begins to grow. selahV
"You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side." vs. 21
Remind me, Father, of the flowers I have found along the way.
I've had this mug for over 8 years or more. It's a Christmas mug. I used it every day, no matter the season. It was special because my granddaughters gave it to me when my son took them Christmas shopping at the Dollar Store. Its value did not rest in its brand or maker. Its value was in the thoughts it brought me of a sweet son who took time to teach his girls to give. That was such a fun Christmas. He let the girls pick the craziest gifts for the family. My husband got one of those pair of glasses with the nose, mustache and eyebrows. Everyone took turns trying them on and taking pictures. I often thought of my son and his daughters and the love I have for them when I drank my morning, afternoon, or evening coffee. I often whispered prayers for them over a cup of steaming cocoa.
Yesterday, I drank my last sip of coffee from it and placed it on the stand beside my recliner as I read.
Unfortunately, I failed to place it far enough onto the table and it came crashing to my cement floor. I knew the second I released the handle that I'd misjudged the distance from my arm. Now, my familiar friend is gone. For a few moments I just sat there thinking about it. I didn't even look down. When I did look, a twinge of grief pinched my heart. I swept up the ceramic shards and sadly dumped them into the trash. I went to get another cup of coffee and realized it was the only mug, other than my husband's, that I'd packed from my house to bring to our new home. I started to close the cupboard door when I looked up and saw another mug I'd gotten from my daughter's house the day before. Imprinted in pink was the word "Joy".
I smiled. A broken mug cannot destroy the memories of joy I have in my heart. Though we may have times in life which bring us sadness and grief, when we trust in God, we know we have His joy to carry us through the valleys and up the mountains.
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
Life is not always fair; in fact, it is rarely fair. Life is not free of suffering, heartache and distress. Trouble is a fact of life. It goes with breathing. It rains on the rich and on the poor. Death is no respecter of persons, position or status. It visits the homes of godly and ungodly. Yet, we can still find comfort.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.
Thorns. Drought. Disease. Loss. Betrayal. Rejection. Disasters. These touch all of us. We are not exempt because we love God. We are not exempt because we live in a specific neighborhood or nation. Our Savior suffered; Jesus faced all the things we face today, yet he didn't whine, complain, and blame others for the trials of life. Trouble followed Jesus wherever He went. It followed all the disciples till the day they died.
So where is our comfort? Our comfort is in Jesus. Jesus gives us comfort...it is not the kind we find from our warm bed, our stuffed recliner, or air-conditioned home. It is the comfort we find in knowing this day shall pass. We have trustworthy God. He is a merciful God. We do not get what we deserve, we get a hope that is imperishable, an inheritance that is certain. While the earth crumbles, quakes, and falls into the sea, I take comfort in knowing we are not in control. The God of grace and comfort is. What greater reasons to praise than that? selahV (hariette petersen)
Comfort. That inexplicable all-knowing peace that surrounds my heart in troubled times. I can't explain it anymore than I can explain the comfort my granddaughters get from cuddling their little pink blankets. It's just there.
Haylee and Kinsey call them "Pinkie". One side is soft terrycloth, the other side is satin. When they want to be warm, they lay the terry side on them. When they want to be cool, they lay the satin side on them. When they cry they want them, when they sleep, and many times when they eat. When we go to the movies they take them and cover their eyes in scary parts of cartoons. The girls remind me of the Charlie Brown cartoon character, Linus. We've had many a frantic search for Pinkies at bedtime or when boo-boos attack their fingers and toes.
It will take time and teaching for the girls to grasp the truth in God's Word that He is our comfort--our stay--that He will cover them in their anxiety, and keep them through each trial in life.
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4
All the shadows we face in life are known by our Father in Heaven. He understands the fright that may confront us. As we grow closer to Him we find the things we once feared do not frighten us anymore. Many things we feared as children are mere shadows. Experience and reality dispels the fear and uncertainty they once provoked.
With Christ we are not left alone--without comfort. He is with us through all we face. He tells us to "fear not, for I am with you". His rod and staff guide us and are trustworthy to keep us through the difficulty--no matter the crisis. Just as my granddaughters seek the comfort the tangible nearness that their blankets offer, we have the presence of God through His Spirit as a constant comfort. We need only seek Him.
What breaks your heart? There are so many things we could list that break our hearts. A friend's betrayal. A child's rebellion. The loss of a loved one. An injustice? And when we dwell upon the darkness in our world, often our spirit is crushed. Depression invades our minds, despair cripples our movements, and hopelessness drains us of joy. As Christians, we have a shelter.
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
When we find ourselves so alone that life seems to lose power with each breath, we have a Lord Who is close to us. He feels our pain, fills our emptiness and replaces the void with His grace. He saves us in our darkest moments, when our spirit is so crushed by circumstance, trial and loss. He never leaves us. Why is our soul cast down? Because our eyes and mind have followed our souls into a cavern of discontent. We must raise our eyes and look up. If that is more than we can do, we need only rest till the Lord touches our lids and heals the brokenness within. The Lord is close...sometimes so close that our vision is blurred by the palm of His hand. selahV
...in the depths of Christ's love than to be where I was without Him. Without Him, my life was a broken cup, a shattered dream, an unending nightmare, a sunless sky, a tasteless meal. Jesus took the shards of my life and tossed them into the deepest ocean and gave me a brand new life in Him.
I truly had nothing. I felt as though I was nothing...barely a speck in the universe. However, I'd rather be lost in space without oxygen than to be lost without Christ a second. I'd rather be scorned and ridiculed and mocked with Christ, than praised, lauded, and validated without Him. We may think we can rule the world and have the power to manipulate our way through life. But we are powerless. Jesus Himself tells us we can do nothing without Him.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
Nothing. Nada. Zip and zilch. We can do nothing without Jesus.
I found out at my son's funeral that two weeks before he died, Chad met with his Bible study group and had them all kneel in a circle as he prayed individually for each and every one of them. For twenty or more long minutes, Chad poured out his heart before God and cried out that he was nothing without Christ. In the background of that prayer, Chad had his leader play Bebo Norman's song Nothing Without Him. Chad told him to push the repeat button so the song would continue playing as he prayed for everyone.
Learning of this tender moment about my son has comforted me for the six years he's been absent from his body and present with the Lord. Bebo's song has also given me great solace. You can listen to Nothing Without Him and read the lyrics HERE/link. I pray it brings you as great a comfort as it has me.
I truly believe when we get to the place that Bebo's words mean everything to us, everything will mean nothing at all--save Jesus Himself. selahV
So many times we are overloaded by the world's woes. We are consumed by the heartache we see, the friends who are sick and dying. We are overwhelmed by the chaos caused by sin, by day to day difficulties we encounter. In these times we are able to cry as the psalmist:
"Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness [uprightness, justice and right standing with You]! You have freed me when I was hemmed in and enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me and hear my prayer." Psalm 4:1
We can take courage that He indeed hears our prayers. He knows we hurt, and those we love hurt. He knows we are lonely. He knows our worries today, and the concerns that will confront us tomorrow. He understands and He is faithful to free us from those things which hem us in on every side and stall our progress. Sometimes, like Paul, the Holy Spirit holds us back from going where we think we need to go, from following after our own hearts. He knows what is best, and the difficulties we face are sometimes the stop-signs of life, where we need to yield our thoughts, our fears, and hopes to His keeping.
"For You, Lord, will bless the righteous [him in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with good will and favor." Psalm 5:12.
Sometimes the answer God gives is, "Fear not. Peace, be still. Lo, I am with you. Let not your heart be troubled." He is our comfort and our shield. selahV
An interview? A bad report card? A difficult boss? Perhaps you are concerned about an unkind remark someone has said to you or someone you love. Maybe you are worried because your family doesn't go to church together. Perhaps you are missing someone you care about...someone far away.
Or maybe you just don't know if God cares. If that is you, then this verse is for you:
"The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever--forsake not the works of Your own hands." Psalm 138:8
Think about this verse a moment. The Lord will, not the Lord might--the Lord will perfect what concerns you. Another thing to note is that some strange person doing an interview isn't going to perfect what concerns you. Neither is an amiable boss. But God, Himself, will work things out for you. God will have mercy upon you. His loving-kindness surrounds you when others betray you or desert you. The Lord will not forsake the work of His own hands. He has made you. He loves you and watches over you. Memorize this verse and when you suffer a difficulty or trial, the Holy Spirit will bring it to your mind. His gentle reminder will touch you. Encourage you. Give you the strength and courage you need for whatever comes your way. selahV
THE ABOVE IS HOW TO FOLLOW THE DEVIL WITHOUT EVEN TRYING
Sometimes I wonder how much better off the world would be if everyone purposed in their hearts and minds to compliment ten people a day.
THE LORD'S ON GUARD "The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and him who has it..." Pr.22:12
Oh that Wisdom be confirmed by the knowledge we discover and grasp. God expects discretion be used in the knowledge we have so that He be glorified. God will guard our hearts and minds "but He overthrows the words of the treacherous."
With believers, knowledge comes with responsibility. All we do with what we know is accountable to God. Likewise the words of our mouth reveal the integrity of our hearts. May we speak and act with integrity with that which we know that the Lord be glorified. selahV
DAILY IMPACT Devotionals
TERRORS OF THE NIGHT
It doesn't have to be a monster at your door keeping you awake. It doesn't have to be a thief with a gun. It doesn't have to be an approaching tornado, or a rising river. It doesn't even have to be an attack on your heart, nor a life-threatening disease.
Terrors in the night are anything that robs you of peace. They may waken you with a dream. Like a thunder crash or lightning flash. They chase your thoughts from place to place and whisper words of accusation. They keep sleep in a chokehold and will not let you rest. They remind you of your failings. They taunt you with doubt and offer futility and hopelessness with situations you are facing. Terrors in the night. They are real. Yet...
"You shall not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor of the arrow ( the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday." Psalm 91:5,6.
"You shall not be afraid." Why?
"Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place." Ps. 91:9
I have a little secret that helps me get back to sleep in the midst of a dark night of demonic attack and oppression. Whenever that happens to me, and I am not a stranger to the realms of darkness enveloping my mind and trying to crush my spirit, I go to the Word. Literally. I take my Bible and I lay it upon my chest and pray. I cling to the Word and all the promises within it that may not even be clear in my mind. I begin to pray for others who have difficulties. I pray for missionaries in foreign lands who face incredible dangers. I pray for pastors under attack. I pray for battered wives, and bereaved mothers. I pray for anyone and everyone the Lord calls to my mind.
For He has given His angels charge over me to accomplish and defend and preserve me in all my ways of obedience and service. (Ps.91:11) I feel the pleasant pressure of my Bible against my heart and know that God is all-sufficient to meet my needs and those of ones I love and have committed unto His care. And then I sleep. selahV
[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2008]
FEARLESS CONFIDENCE
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Discouragement sits on every corner. It lurks in the shadows of joy, waiting for the opportune time to jump out of the darkness and wipe out all the goodness in a moment's achievement, success, or blessing. It's sole purpose is to impede forward progress. It is born of negative thinking and leads to apathy and uselessness.
Many times discouragement is carried into the rooms of our hearts by friends who linger too long at the well of negativity. But we need to take heart and not allow it to attach itself to our lives and destroy our confidence, hope, and faith.
"Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward." Hebrews 10:35
Our confidence can be thwarted and our courage quelled when we allow the stones of discouragement and arrows of despair to penetrate the armor of God. We must hold fast and cling to our fearless confidence in the Redeemer and Protector of our faith. He sits on His throne and His enemies are His footstool. Nothing can harm us, nor override His plan for our lives when we rest in His presence and power. selahV
[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2008]
WHEN OTHERS HURT
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It seems there are many many folks who are either hurting or know someone who is hurting. And for all the wisdom, resources and desire we have, we cannot do a thing about the hurting. We sit in our worlds and ponder our usefulness. We contemplate the call of believers to reach out to brothers and sisters who need us. We long to make the difference in their lives and know we cannot. We feel an emptiness that contradicts the hope in our minds.
Yet, we cling to the faith within us that we will persevere, and those we love will endure. Then we pray without ceasing for the needs in our lives and recall the promises of God. In the difficulty of the day, we wrestle with principalities and realms of darkness and implore the Lord for assistance. We seek our Lord on our knees in brokenness and shame, we raise our voices in wordless prayer. Our Spirit makes intercession for us. Then we commit ourselves and our concerns to Him once again.
"For I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." Pause and think about it.
I believe God brings us to these desert times to remind us of our only need--HIM. Our rest is in Him. Our hope is in Him. Our love is in Him. Our future is in Him. Our provision is in Him. And He will keep all that I commit to Him any time I bring it to Him. And He will fill up my soul with His refreshment and grant me His peace which the world cannot give. Grace, grace, marvelous grace; a grace that is greater than all my sin. Sufficient is our Lord. selahV
[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2008]
WILL YOU PRAY THIS PRAYER FOR ME?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“For this reason we also from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special request] for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things—
that you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please HIm in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition].
[We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, Giving thanks to the Father….” Colossians 1:9-12a.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know someone was praying like that for you? For your loved ones? For your church members? For your pastor? What a wonderful way to pray! Shall we start today? selahV
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HOW ARE YOU KNOWN?
Today there are folks who know you. They only know you by what you write, how you act and interact with others. They only know you by your words, your behavior–your reputation. What do they know? How are you known? When I read the passage below from Romans, I paused and thought about what Paul is saying:
“First, I thank God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because [the report of] your faith is made known to all the world and is commended everywhere.” Romans 1:8.
Wouldn’t it be the most amazing thing to have someone commend you in this way? To have such a faith that the report of it honors your Lord all over the world? When you write, do you think of this? When you talk to others, do you keep this in mind? When you begin your week, do you even consider how you are known to all the world–or your portion of it? These are questions we might all ponder today. selahV
