Posts tagged encouragement

The Lord is close

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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

It’s Healthy to Remember

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It was close to midnight. The house was quiet because everyone had retreated to bed. The night light was my only visible company and my thoughts became almost audible. The thoughts I had been avoiding all week found an audience with my consciousness. It was the eve of December 7th and I did not know what to do with it, how I would respond or how I should respond. On the one hand, who wants to recall the horror of it all. Yet, I knew I could not ignore it.

There was a lot happening, I had set the release date of the devotional to December 7th, hoping to mix a little joy into the sadness I invariably felt on this day. It is as if my mind has permission from an unknown source on this day, to mount the memory of that horrid morning on the screen of my mind. Replay, rewind, repeat. Learning to grief with hope is still an active lesson in life’s curriculum for me and I’m still trying to get it right.

I spent the day riding the waves. I cried when I needed to but was intentional about finding reasons to smile or even laugh. I was excited that the devotional was out and that people were encouraged by it. I was honoured that at least my pain could be used for something beyond me. I was grateful that somehow God was able to process the mess of that day to fertilize growth in the future.

Eventually, I want to get beyond “surviving” the day. I want to be able to explain to the boys, when they are older, what happened that morning. I want them, us, to remember December 7th as the day their father gave the ultimate sacrifice in an attempt to keep them safe. It’s the day that reminds us, pushes us even, to live fully. Anything less is an indictment on his memory. To live less than fully would refute the sacrifice he made, he would have died for nothing.

I can’t help but think how much this should already be the case for those of us who accept the gift of Christ’s sacrifice. He gave it all, not just for earthly abundance but a far more eternal gift. I feel as though I’ve been doubled dared to live and to do it fully holding nothing back. Like His heavenly Father, my late husband Chris did nothing in half measures. He was an all or nothing kind of guy. He was either a christian or not, he was either committed to a task or not. If he gave his word he honored it. Those lessons I take with me now every day. Lessons I commit to teaching our sons.

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (Jn 10:10, NLT). When I reflect on that morning the thief did accomplish its mission from a physical or temporal perspective with the ultimate aim of stealing my faith, killing my hope and destroying any path to a successful future.  However, My God in His ability to do abundantly above our thoughts and imagination provides for needs we didn’t realize we had.  This includes the need for peace and a firm anchoring in Him that has nothing to do with possession, other people, or circumstances. In that place, His plans, opportunities and purpose unveil themselves like a comet in the night sky.

My encouragement is no matter how dark the day, hold on to the  immutable hands of a Good Father who loves you more than you can fathom. I double dare you. LIVE!