Spirit & Trust

“Mommy, smoke!” my five-year-old hollered on a frigid January night.

I quickly looked to where he pointed. Pouring down the staircase of our 150-year-old farmhouse was gray, hazy smoke. I tore up the stairs and was met by a paralyzing smell. With a pathetic attempt to clear the air, I turned on the bathroom fan and bounded down the stairs, calling for my husband. We herded the kids and dog into the car, turned on the heat as we backed down the driveway, and stared at flames flickering in the windows.

At last, fire trucks roared into the driveway and struggled to contain the flames with icy hoses. It was a long night as hot spots flared from room to room. Our lovely home became a soggy, smoky nightmare filled with frozen waterfalls.

A house fire creates a huge mess. It damages everything familiar and interrupts daily life. It steals our homes and makes us anxious. It created an inner panic button in me. I was fearful of the slightest mishap. After a few days, I found my precious water-soaked Living Bible. I read from the Psalms to quiet my soul.

One morning, this verse caught my attention: He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him. Tears ran down my cheeks. Could I trust Jehovah to care for me? For my family? I copied the verse on an index card. In the days ahead, this precious verse anchored in my memory bank.

If you have been through a trial and can’t bear to look at the present—or if fear controls your thoughts—help is available. Believe that Jehovah will care for you when something presses your panic button. 

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and PublicDomainPictures.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)

I once had the opportunity to lead a Bible study for college students at my church.

I spent the summer teaching the truths of Scripture and my students how to apply it. During this time, the Holy Spirit revealed one of my supernatural giftings to me: teaching. When I first realized this, I was shocked and amazed. I could see how the Spirit had enabled me to teach the Word to build up the body of Christ. The more I have prayed and used this gift, the more the Spirit has given me opportunities to exercise my gift to impact others.

The Holy Spirit has given all believers gifts to build up the body of Christ. There are many different gifts, but all come together to form one body. Just as a body has many different parts that all serve one purpose, so does the body of Christ with the gifts of the Spirit.

Even if we don’t know our gift, the Spirit still has a purpose for us. We can learn our gifts through studying the different gifts, praying, fasting, and examining our lives to see if what we have been doing for the body of Christ aligns with any gifts. Just as we have been empowered and enabled by the Spirit of God, we should empower others by building them up through exercising our gift.

If our gift is teaching, we can empower others by teaching the truths revealed in Scripture. The Spirit still empowers us even if we don’t know our gifts. We can look for opportunities to build up our communities through evangelism, service, and generosity.

Ask the Spirit how He can use you in the body of Christ. Study the Bible to grasp better how building up the body looks. Talk to a spiritual leader about spiritual gifts. Actively seek out what you can do to build up and empower individuals in your community intentionally. Pray for ways or opportunities to use your gift in the body of Christ.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and geralt.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)

When I was a child in Sunday school many years ago, I met a love so grand.

I was introduced to God’s love and His beloved Son, Jesus. These days, I am a senior, relying on my walking stick. I can no longer kneel to pray at my church. But God understands I cannot do knee mails. His love, however, is still so grand.

Our Christian faith community leaders and members pray together. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. This text means our prayers said together are a real treasure. It is a gift to have Jesus’ hands healing and guiding us to persevere in godliness. Caring and compassion were Jesus’ middle names. They should be ours too.

In the morning, I greet the quiet dawn. I pray for people of every faith and nation to unite in a patch of global peace. All Christians can pray together, as Jesus guides us, for the world to devise realistic solutions for everyone on earth.

There is nothing wrong with praying full stop. It works for me and can for everyone. So, let us all keep praying together and meeting with Jesus’ blessings. This way, we can all dwell in God’s love so grand with faith and peace.

What are some ways you can experience a love so grand?

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and warrengrieve.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)

“Don’t do this. Don’t do that.”

Those were the words I grew up with. I heard them at church (man-made rules), and I heard them at home (my grandparents’ own interpretation of the Scriptures—along with the rules they had heard in church). Break the rules and you’re headed for eternal damnation.

I always felt like a tiny bug waiting to get squished underfoot by a supreme being I could not see, hear, touch, or understand.

Did God really make all those rules? I often wondered. Or did people take it upon themselves to determine good from evil?

As I studied the Word for myself and grew in my relationship with the Lord, I realized He was the only one qualified to differentiate good from evil, right from wrong. I found more dos than don’ts—something I was never taught in church. One writer suggests that we cannot live by human inclination but by divine revelation. Don’t believe it? Just ask Adam and Eve. I’m sure we would get an earful.

Jesus came to set us free from the bondage of man-made rules—like the ones created by the Sadducees and Pharisees. Then He sent His Holy Spirit to live inside us. To lead, guide, and direct us. To show us right from wrong. To keep us on the right path and convict us when we’re tempted to stray from it. I once heard a friend say, “When we get to heaven, we’re going to find out God wasn’t nearly as concerned about all the little petty things we thought He was.”

God is not a hard taskmaster. He is a loving Father who cares about His children more than we could ever comprehend. And He does not want us to walk around fearing that we might make one wrong step and miss eternity in His presence. Instead, He richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. That’s His pleasure.

As they say, don’t sweat the small stuff. Seek God with all your heart, soul, and strength; He will keep you on track.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and MonikaP.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)

“This is your captain speaking. We are seventh in line for takeoff.”

“This is your captain speaking. We are fifth in line for takeoff.”

“This is your captain speaking. We are second in line for takeoff.”

We wait. And we wait some more. Life offers many opportunities for waiting, which provides time for growth in our lives. We gain strength and patience as we wait. We also learn contentment and courage. 

As we wait, we can complain, whine, and be miserable. Or we can search for good, joy, and opportunities to serve the Lord.

We can write a note to one who needs reminding she is appreciated and loved. We can send a get-well card to one who is housebound. Or we could also take a much-needed nap.

And no, I’m not writing this as I sit on an airplane, waiting for takeoff. I have seven loads of laundry waiting for their turn in the washing machine and the dryer. So, I might as well make what could be a chore into a fun activity as I wait for the Lord.

Take a moment to thank God for the many opportunities during which He allows you to wait. Ask Him to help you use your time wisely so you can bring praise, honor, and glory to Him.

What do you do during your periods of waiting?

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and 822640.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)