Date Archives March 2022

The Lord is close

Christianity 1 Comment

Monday Devotional – March 21, 2022

God is close

‘The Lord is close to all whose hearts are crushed by pain…”

Psalms 34:18

Read: 

2. 'Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. 8.  “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” 10.  Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord . 12 - 17 As she was praying to the Lord , Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord . Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” ' 1 Samuel 1:2,8,10,12-17

Reflect:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” – that scripture has brought me comfort in many difficult moments. But as I reflected this time, I asked the Lord why He chooses to be close to the brokenhearted. Why did You ensure that this specific scripture was written? His response was one word: LOVE. 

Romans 8:38 reminds us that ‘there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. ‘

Yet so often when we are broken, depressed or drowning in sorrow our ability to sense love and the joys thereof diminishes. It is difficult to see anything beyond the pain. That is why He gets close. He chooses nearness so that we can sense His Presence. 

 I recently had to hold one of my sons close as he expressed his brokenness about losing his father. My job, at that moment, was to remind him by my presence that he was not alone. My touch was meant to communicate how deeply loved he is because love communicates safety and provides a space to heal. As I held him, tears streaming down his face and mine, whispering words of comfort I thought about the many times I felt the Holy Spirit do that for me. He cocoons me in a peace beyond human comprehension.

In times of turmoil and immense heartache, when we are broken and unsure if the pieces of our hearts are recoverable, God is close. It is hard to fathom, but it is true.

Today, if that is you, sit still enough to sense His presence, He longs to hold you and remind you that ‘He heals the wounds of every shattered heart.’ Psalms 147:3. Allow Him to heal yours. In the story we read Hannah brought her sorrow straight to the Presence of God. He granted her peace.

Song of the Week:

I found You in the middle of my mess
You had been there all along
Open arms and open heart,
You called me in
You didn’t hesitate at all

Prophesy Your Promise – Bryan and Katie Torwalt

Journal Prompt:

Share with God how you truly feel and then sit still and listen. Write what you hear.

Pray: 

Comforter and Friend, we need You today. Bring comfort to those who mourn. Bring healing to every place in our hearts that is broken and blocked by pain. Help us to remain aware of Your Presence. In Jesus name. AMEN

Affirmation: 

I am loved by God who chooses to be near

—————

Have a great week!

See you next week for another Mocha Monday – a weekly Monday Devotional by Lady Kavan.

To read more from Lady Kavan, check out her blog 

You can find Lady Kavan on Amazon. Follow this link for an overview of her available books

“I am seen” is a devotional about El Roi the God who sees me. A personal name for God who promises hope and a future

I am not crushed

Christianity Devotional Life

Monday Devotional – March 14, 2022

I AM NOT CRUSHED

Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option. 2 Corinthians 4:8 TPT

Read: 

'We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God’s, not ours. Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option. We are persecuted by others, but God has not forsaken us. We may be knocked down, but not out. We have the same Spirit of faith that is described in the Scriptures when it says, “First I believed, then I spoke in faith.” So we also first believe then speak in faith. We do this because we are convinced that he who raised Jesus will raise us up with him, and together we will all be brought into his presence. Yes, all things work for your enrichment so that more of God’s marvelous grace will spread to more and more people, resulting in an even greater increase of praise to God, bringing him even more glory!' 2 Corinthians 4:7-9,13-15

Reflect:

As sure as the seasons change in the natural realm, so is our assurance that seasons in our life change as well. For a long time, I somehow dissociated struggle or hardship seasons in life from Christianity. I didn’t recognize scriptures like the one we just read as relevant as is.  Paul noted we experience every kind of pressure. Every kind of pressure? Yes we experience mental, emotional, financial, sexual, relational, too personal to be verbalized kind of pressure. Yet  Paul declares I am not crushed.

Why? Why could he make such a bold pronouncement even as he suffered. Let’s re-read verse 7. There is a glorious treasure within our frail earthen vessels. It is an immeasurable power belonging to God. That is the reason we face immense pressure but remain intact. It is not about the pressure or about us, rather it is the power of God in us that makes it happen.

There is something freeing as well about knowing that Paul, experiences the pressure, just as we do. The Miriam Webster dictionary defines experience as  something personally encountered, undergone, or lived through. In other words, he felt the pressure, lived through it and I can guess felt all the human emotion associated with the experience. However I am excited that there is a “but”. Having the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead within us means that no pressure has the power to permanently defeat us. We are more than conquerors.

like diamonds…

I will remind you of a popular metaphor. Carbon becomes diamond under immense pressure over time. Our character under pressure becomes like diamonds over time, with the Holy Spirit guiding our responses, teaching us coping mechanisms and pointing us in the right direction. 

Today as we think about the “every kind of pressure” threatening our sanity and our joy, remember the more important truth that Christ in us means that we have the power to endure and to declare “I am not crushed”

Song of the Week:

Cross Worship | Same God ft. Jillian Ellis & D’Marcus Howard (Official Music Video)

Same God by Cross Worship

Journal Prompt:

  1. What will you approach differently in your life, knowing you are seen?
  2. How does knowing you have a part in God’s big picture help you to live fully  today?

Pray: 

My God, All Powerful One, Creator of all.  You never give more than I can withstand because Your power within me makes it so. Where I feel at my breaking point Lord give me wisdom, guide my response, teach me coping mechanisms and or point me in the direction of the help I need. I thank You Lord that You already know what I need and are making it happen in Jesus name!

Affirmation:

I may be under pressure but I am not crushed. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is in me. Therefore nothing has the power to defeat me.

—————

Have a great week!

See you next week for another Mocha Monday – a weekly Monday Devotional by Lady Kavan.

To read more from Lady Kavan, check out her blog You can find Lady Kavan on Amazon. Follow this link for an overview of her available books

I am seen

Christianity Devotional Life

Monday Devotional – March 7, 2022

I AM SEEN

‘Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord , who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” Genesis 16:13

Read: 

'Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away. The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied. The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.” And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.” Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord , who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” ' Genesis 16:6-13

Reflect:

At the burning bush Moses asked God His name: “Who should I say sent me?” In response God declares Himself as “I am”; a name that is both definitive and open ended. God cannot be confined to a box. As we progress through life’s journey our revelation of Him evolves. In different circumstances we are able to append different descriptors of Him. He becomes Ezer (our Help), Jireh (our Provider), or Rapha (our Healer). 

One of my favorite descriptions of God comes from the scripture we read above. Interestingly , this name appears only once in Scripture and I feel like it was added just for me. In Genesis 16, Hagar is placed in an awkward position. She is given to be a child bearer for her mistress and then is despised and mistreated for it. This was not her choice. With no seeming way of escape, Hagar runs away.

In this place of feeling lost, unworthy, betrayed, abused, despised, rejected and unseen, I Am sends help. He calls her by name and promises her a future. Thousands of years later, we know her name. In response Hagar calls God “EL ROI”. The Hebrew translation for The God who sees me. How powerful. 

Imagine, that as a servant girl, crucial  to the functioning of her master’s household she was part of the family but not a “main character”. How interesting that God pauses the story of Abraham and Sarah to validate this supporting character in the story. He makes it a point to affirm her value in the big picture.

Today He wants to do the same for you.

Have you ever felt unseen or unheard? Have you ever felt as though your contribution was not valued, not enough, not deemed worthy or taken for granted? This morning, the Lord wants to remind you that you <insert your name here> are seen. He sees you. All of you and He loves you. He sees the injustices that keep you up at night. He sees the reasons for your pain. Though it is hard to see now, there is a place for you in God’s big picture. Embrace God in your mundane knowing He will weave all things in your “today” for a greater purpose tomorrow. “He works our progress and our failures, our tragedies and our victories into a beautiful rendition of a poem called good.”

Song of the Week:

Journal Prompt:

  1. What will you approach differently in your life, knowing you are seen?
  2. How does knowing you have a part in God’s big picture help you to live fully  today?

Pray: 

El ROI, You are God who sees me, all of me and I am grateful. Lord help me to see myself as you see me, full of purpose. Help me to remember that in you, I have a legacy greater than I can ask think or imagine. Teach me to walk in obedience to You in Jesus name. AMEN

Affirmation:

El Roi sees and knows me. I have a story to tell and a part to play in God’s big story. I am worthy of Life and of Love.

_____

Have a great week!

See you next week for another Mocha Monday – a weekly Monday Devotional by Lady Kavan.

To read more from Lady Kavan, check out her blog 

You can find Lady Kavan on Amazon. Follow this link for an overview of her available books