Meditation of My Heart
Thoughts taken from journals and daily Bible reading - short thoughts that impact my life and might help others
EVERYTHING!
having cast all your anxiety on Him,
because He cares about you
1 Peter 5:7
Tickets purchased over a month ago; hotel secured; excitement building! Then, three days before the scheduled travel date, my friend discovered that the tickets wouldn’t pull up on the well-known ticket resale app. After hours of communication, it was clear: there were no tickets.
It was just a college football game.
I was new to “city” driving when I decided to make a hospital visit to an elderly friend from my hometown. I headed south across Kansas City, so I could see Mrs. Crum and return to my apartment well before dark. I found the hospital, and we had a pleasant visit. What I didn’t realize when I started back north was that many of the streets I had previously driven were one-way. I needed different streets to get home. (By the way, 1977 was pre-GPS!) In no time, I was hopelessly lost in a sketchy area, and I didn’t dare pull over to ask for help. Soon, it was after dark, and I had no idea how to get home!
I was just lost.
I had a busy day ahead of me. I wanted to look my best but be comfortable for whatever might come my way that day. I couldn’t decide what to wear.
I just needed to decide what to wear.
Life bombards us with numerous big and small issues throughout the day. Where are my keys, or that slip of paper where I jotted the phone number? How will I handle a sensitive conversation with one of the kids? Why am I feeling this way? What should I prepare for dinner? How can I deal with the anxious feelings boiling up in my mind and threatening to dampen my day? What if ______?
I just have so many “little” decisions to make each day.
I learned years ago that with God, there are no situations He would label as “Just…”. If I have a question, God has an answer. If I worry, God cares. Absolutely nothing in my life is too small to take to God in prayer.
Think about it like this: I am valuable to God, and so are you! Luke 12:7 states, “but even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.”
Would you like to know the end of the stories? Just a football game: Another friend “happened” to text today. When I shared the concern, she quickly replied, “Guess what? We have two extras that we hate to see wasted!” Lost in Kansas City: I fervently prayed aloud (more like a panic!) and had the sense to keep driving north. Finally, I came across an east/west street that I knew would intersect a familiar highway, albeit miles out of the way, but I would know how to get home from there! What to wear: Most days, this is how I choose what to wear! The little decisions: There are no insignificant issues with God. Everything is important!
Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap,
nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more important than they?
Matthew 6:26
I Peter 5:7 says to give God ALL your cares. Today, when you begin wondering how to handle even a minor issue, say aloud, “God, I choose to turn this over to You. How will You, my God, take care of it? I trust you.”
Delve Deeper: Begin reading one of the gospels in the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). Make a list of every way Jesus cared for people.
TRUSTING GOD
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore, my heart triumphs,
And with my song I shall thank Him.
Oswald Chambers, 1874-1917, posed a question in his book, My Utmost for His Highest, that continues to speak to me days after reading it. Tucked in a paragraph discussing “perfect trust in God,” he writes:
“…perfect trust in God—such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself.
Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected?”
Wow! That poignant message hits me boldly right in the heart! I can’t get it off my mind!
The question that Chambers posed, though, is one of reality. It isn’t merely a philosophical idea for an interesting debate. What happens when blessings diminish—or even disappear completely? What happens to my trust in God when life becomes overwhelmingly complex? What happens to yours?
When——
* Every day seems like a challenge—frustrations mount up with no relief in sight?
* Someone receives an unexpected (and unwanted) medical diagnosis?
* The one I love most dearly dies?
* Challenging children, spouses, neighbors, and co-workers become the norm for days or weeks at a time?
* No matter what I do, something seems to fall apart—one crisis after another?
* There is too much month and too little money?
I like my comforts. I like feeling healthy. I happily recount the successes of my children and grandchildren. I praise God for my “blessings.” I grew up singing The Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow… My joy was complete when I sat next to Daddy in church and heard his beautiful bass voice belting out those words of praise! I still love to sing praises.
But what happens to my praise when I don’t see the blessings flow? My heart yearns to trust and praise my God, regardless of whether I receive tangible blessings or not. I choose to TRUST.
If every blessing disappeared for you today, like it did for Job, would you still trust God and praise Him? If life continued to press in, would you trust God and talk to Him, or would you focus on dealing with your issues in the best way you could?
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning;
Write a personal statement of commitment to God, just as Job did in Job 42:2. He attested to God’s faithfulness before he even knew God had a plan for restoring his blessings. How will you respond to the question Chambers posed?
Delve Deeper: The evangelist and teacher Oswald Chambers, born in 1874, died at the age of 43. His wife compiled many of his sermons into books. The devotional I mentioned earlier, My Utmost for His Highest, has become a regular part of my reading. Read about other modern-day men and women of faith: Corrie ten Boom, Jim and Elizabeth Elliot, George Mueller, Mother Teresa, and others. What helped them remain strong even when the blessings seemed to wane?
REJOICE—A WAKE-UP CALL
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Many mornings, I awaken with this song on my mind. The song uses the words from Scripture. What a great wakeup, Reveille!
This is the day. This is the day that the Lord has made.
That the Lord has made. I will rejoice. I will rejoice—and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
I will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day. This is the day that the Lord has made.
I also wake up with a choice. Will I see this day half full or half empty? Will I see the blessings and focus on God’s love, or will I continually try to correct and figure out something that has gone awry? My blessings are abundant! As I think rejoice over the weekend, I recall:
Seeing God’s presence moment by moment
A family bonfire and a wiener roast
FaceTime calls, texts, “real voice calls” with the rest of the family
Our most gorgeous maple tree is ablaze with color
A Sunday school class full of friends and ladies eager to know God
Watching a young man publicly announce his faith in Jesus Christ
Sensing God’s nearness
Warm home, delicious food, comfortable chair
Crocheting a new afghan and watching it become a thing of beauty
Recognizing God’s healing work in the lives of those I love
Giggles and teasing from little ones
S’mores, roasted hot dogs, visiting around the fire
Emmalin’s presence, even when she could have chosen a high school event
The cousins (Lincoln, Liam, Dax, Phillip, Wyatt, and Grayson) runniing in the dark with squeals of delight
Football games in the living room with “instant replays” by Dax and Phillip
Baby cuddles from Asa and Scarlotte
Watching heartfelt prayers from long ago morph into answered realities
Anticipating baby cuddles from Silas soon, I hope
Just knowing—that confident trust in my God—for all things good
My list can go on and on! Yes, life is full and overflowing. Today is another day. I will rejoice and be glad—oh so glad—in it!
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Begin an ongoing list right now—whether in your mind or on paper. This is the day the Lord has made for you. How will you rejoice in it? Tonight, read back your list aloud. Fall asleep rehearsing your list. Be grateful and rejoice!
Delve Deeper: Revieille, the traditional wake-up bugle call, signals the beginning of the duty day for soldiers. Listen to the song, This is the Day. Memorize it. Sing it. Make it your personal wake-up call each day this week.
Be still—God’s Got the Ticket
“Stop striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.”
And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down, leaving the water perfectly calm.
My head clamored.
Do this! Do that!
Make a call. Confirm arrangements.
Why didn’t you (insert any number of things!) way back then?
Why didn’t I complete that project?
I can finish this if I hurry up.
The to-do list in my head would not calm down.
You know the drill; most men and women are familiar with the constant barrage of messages bombarding their minds. The messages might be a nagging to-do list or a health issue. It might be the fear of letting someone down or not meeting expectations. It might be a health issue. Have you ever just wanted to silence the noise? I have! Yet, when I’m in the middle of the message glut, I wonder, “But how?”
God spoke through the psalmist, stating, “Stop striving. Know that I am God.” When I read this, it is as if God is telling me personally, "I've got this. Remember, I’m God. You have no reason to keep thinking about this.”
Just this morning, I was concerned about a health issue. In some ways, it seemed like no big deal, but in other ways, the questions continued to nag in my mind. I said out loud, “God, when will I know what’s going on? When will I know what to do?” I immediately recalled an account from Corrie ten Boom’s autobiography, The Hiding Place. She shared a conversation with her father from her youth. Corrie had asked her father a question about death; his response was to ask her a question in return. He questioned, “When you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?” She answered, “Just before we get on the train.” Her father assured Corrie that in the same way our wise God knows when we need things also. It felt as though God was saying to me, “When you need more information or another plan, I will show you. You will know.” I reasoned—I’m on a need-to-know basis, just like my young children were on a need-to-know basis so often.
God was telling me not to strive. “Strive” is one of those words that sounds a bit archaic, but it is a fitting word for what I do sometimes. When battles rage in my mind, or all my energy focuses on the next passionate endeavor or task at hand, I can easily reason that I need to work harder. Plan longer. It seems counterintuitive to rest, reflect, take a moment, and watch God tell the storms in my life to 'Be Still.” Yet that is precisely what God wants me to do: Trust Him.
This morning, God reminded me once again that He is God, and I am not. I needed that reminder.
Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me that you have my life (and all the nitty-gritty details) in Your Sovereign care. Thank you for loving me so much that I have the assurance of salvation eternally, but also the assurance of care for every detail of this earthly life.
What do you continue to mull over in life—even to the point of worry? Take an index card and make a ticket. Write on it: God will give me the ticket when it’s time. Carry this reminder in your pocket.
Delve Deeper: Read Matthew 6:26—34. Make a list of everything Jesus encourages us to remember. Place a check mark next to any item on the list that you are currently concerned about. Say a prayer right now and give that concern to God. Repeat this meditation as often as needed until you feel at peace, saying, "God's got this!”
A Trifecta of God’s Faithfulness
The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end,
for His compassions do not fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I wait for Him.”
I laughingly say, “I experienced a ‘trifecta’ of God’s faithfulness,” recently. The word “trifecta” comes from the prefix "tri," denoting a group or set of three, or a triad. Another definition is coined from the use of trifecta in modern-day racing circles. A trifecta is a type of bet, especially on horse races, where the bettor must select the first three winners in the exact order. (To be quite honest, I knew the word “trifecta” meant three in a race, but I had no idea it was linked to betting!)
My silly title has nothing to do with horse racing, but it has everything to do with three events in the short space of three days, and the surety of God’s faithfulness in all three situations. Once again, gratefully, God proved He is my portion through thick and thin!
On a whim, Don and I decided to head to beautiful Colorado for three nights in mid-October. Longing for even a glimpse of waning golden aspens and snowcapped mountains, we left early Tuesday morning and arrived in Avon, CO, by evening. After a good night’s sleep, we headed out on our first scenic mountain drive. Knowing we missed the height of spectacular golden aspens, I quipped, “Yep, the glass is either half full or half empty. I choose half full.” Brilliant patches of yellow aspens pressed against the dark green pines and popped forth when snow-covered mountains rose in the background. Don and I were in our happy place. The Colorado River and its tributaries meandered below us along US-6 and 24 through Leadville, CO. At Twin Lakes, we turned onto CO-82 to ascend even higher. We wound around steep curves as we made our way to 12,000-foot Independence Pass. God’s creation never disappoints. We pulled over and got out to enjoy the crisp, clear air and mountain vista.
Soon, we were chilled enough to begin our descent away from Independence Pass, continuing our drive through the Sawatch Range and the Elk Mountains in the Rocky Mountains. We hadn’t driven very far when we both realized something was not right—in fact, in no time, we knew something was terribly wrong. I spoke to Don, but only unclear syllables came out. He thought he had just misunderstood my soft comment. I tried again. I recall having an obvious picture of words in my mind, even seeing the letter “B,” but when I opened my mouth and tried to purse my lips for the “B”, I heard different letter combinations slide out. They were more like unmatched syllables. This is not good.
Don slowed the car and asked me to look at him. He told me later that my eyes were wide with questioning surprise, but my face showed no drooping. I looked fine, yet I sounded quite the opposite. Our minds raced with mostly unspoken words, no pun intended on my part! Lack of oxygen at high altitudes? Stroke? Heart? To make matters worse, our winding highway descent was out of cell phone range; we couldn’t call 9-1-1.
Don fervently prayed for wisdom while keeping an eye on the road—and me. He says he knew he just needed to get down the mountain into the town of Aspen. They would have a good hospital. If nothing else, we could pull over and call an ambulance soon. Within 15-20 minutes, my speech improved. I reasoned that this was probably a now-corrected reaction to a lack of oxygen; he reasoned that we would definitely find out at the hospital.
Trifecta Event #1 — God Provides Expert Health-care Workers for my care!
In less than two minutes of arriving at Aspen Valley Hospital, I was whisked away from the ER registration desk to a bed surrounded by professionals. In the next 18 hours, I experienced every imaginable preventive care and test: heart monitor, blood work, an IV, a CAT scan, an MRI, and an EKG. I even had a “video” exam and a consultation with a neurologist in Denver. The result? After an overnight stay for observation and more tests, my expert staff explained I had a transient ischemic attack (TIA), often called a mini-stroke. I came home wearing a heart monitor and some new prescriptions. I also came home knowing that my God provided exactly what I needed when I needed it, and where I needed to be seen. I couldn’t have asked for better care!
Trifecta Event #2 — God Cares about Traffic and Finances!
We pulled away from the hospital in grateful prayer the following day. We felt a rush of emotions over God’s beautiful creation and the excellent care I received. During the nearly two-hour drive back to Avon, we discussed the inevitable Denver rush-hour traffic the next morning; we reasoned that we would much rather face traffic now than then. By the time we returned to our hotel, we had reservations for a motel in Limon, CO, so we packed quickly and headed east.
We discovered Denver’s evening rush hour traffic comparatively light, with only slowdowns, no complete stops, and no delayed waits. Answered prayer! We were on I-70 in relatively open space when suddenly, we heard a loud POP. What was that? Almost immediately, we watched a crack creep across the top of our windshield. This felt like small potatoes compared to the past few days. “We’ll have a deductible, but we’re fine,” said Don. I agreed. The rest of the drive was peaceful. Thank you, God, for ease of traffic, safety on the roads, no severe damage, and good car insurance.
Trifecta Event #3 — God Knows All Ahead of Time and Satisfies our Every Need!
The Friday drive from Limon, Colorado, to home was uneventful. Per the doctor’s orders, we stopped every hour or so to stretch our legs and for me to walk a few minutes. We also laughed that more than one doctor or nurse told me I could tell everyone back home I had slept in Aspen’s most expensive overnight spot and purchased the most costly souvenir bracelet available in the town! There is always a silver lining if you look for it.
We walked into the house at 5:30 pm to the sound of water running! Yes, a tiny nut on the water supply line in our main floor half bath had burst; we had a fountain of water squirting upward and splashing in all directions. The bathroom and adjoining hall carpet were soaked. Water seeped down the pipes and through the floor downstairs. We found ourselves in a rain shower. The unfinished basement had standing water, spreading under the stairs storage area and into the finished portion of the basement. As we squished across the hallway, bedroom, bedroom closet, and family room, we knew this job needed more than all our fans and shop vacs put together! More quick thinking. More clarity of mind. Thanks in part to homeowners’ insurance and the expertise of trained professionals, we quickly began the task of drying out and replacing the flooring. Thank you, God, for clear thinking and the assurance that you know all — even before we are aware of it.
My Trifecta of God’s Faithfulness
1. Praise God for no full-blown stroke, for skilled health care professionals, and for His comfort while maneuvering the unknown.
2. Praise God for help through traffic, no severe damage from the rock, and for the finances to have good car insurance!
3. Praise God for the presence of mind to deal with the water, for helping Don recall contact information for a restoration company from years ago, and for the company’s ability to show up the very next day—on a weekend!
4. Praise God for favor with every examiner and worker who has been in and out of our house the past two weeks.
5. And, praise God for opportunities to share about His love with more than one of the workers. It is heartwarming to see how God paves the way to share His love and faithfulness!
And my God will supply all your needs
according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
How do you see God moving to meet all your needs? Begin a running list of both the small things and the biggies.
Delve Deeper: The Bible doesn’t guarantee a life without problems. Yet the Bible does promise God will never leave us nor forsake us. Memorize Lamentations 3:22—24.
Waiting on the Lord
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
Isaiah 40:31
Weariness hit this morning, mixed with a smidgen of trepidation. This reaction surprised me because I really thought I was doing fine. Have you ever been reading God’s word when suddenly the verses spoke to you in a new, refreshing way? Or perhaps a pointed, convincing way? Or have you had those moments when God just seemed to wrap His loving arms around you, saying, “I got this,” and you knew with all certainty that He did. You knew you didn’t need to do anything but wait, so you let the tears flow.
Emotions from previous days bubbled like Pacific Ocean waves rumbling below the surface of Oregon’s Devils Churn, only to burst forth unexpectedly. Don and I had just returned from Colorado. Our planned three-night getaway was interrupted on the first morning: I experienced a TIA, transient ischemic attack, while coming down from a 12,000-foot mountain overlook. Suddenly, everything was wrong with my speech. I clearly saw letters and words in my mind, but they didn’t match the sounds coming from my mouth. I couldn’t make sense. Don quickly realized something was wrong; so did I. Since we had no cell phone signal, all he could do was drive down to Aspen Valley Hospital.
My speech! What? I’m verbal. I’m a writer. A teacher. A talker! Life’s “What ifs?” can easily consume us, can’t they? After I recovered my speech and settled into my “overnight hospital observation,” I mused to Don, “I wonder if I could have used sign language? I wonder if I could have written on paper?” I can’t imagine losing my ability to use words forever. I have a newfound empathy for people who have language in their minds but no means of communication. A bit of grieving swirls in my head just thinking about that possibility …
Yet, there is a bigger question: What does one do when life changes suddenly and the norm isn’t “the norm” anymore?
WAIT.
Lamentations 3:25 states, “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.” How often did I ask our kids to “wait?” Wait to get out of bed on Christmas morning. Wait until the rain lets up before going outside. Wait while the cake is baking before having another snack. Wait until you are just a little older. Wait for me. Wait before making that decision. You know the drill.
Waiting isn’t a bad thing. Just like my children didn’t need to understand my requests—or even begin to like the waiting—I knew waiting was important for many reasons, and they didn’t always need to get it at first glance. I just hoped they would trust me because I loved them. The same with me; I can trust God for my future. I don’t need to know or understand what might happen next year, or even tomorrow. I need to trust the God who holds my future.
How about you? When do you need to shut off the questions, the demands for explanations, the clock-watching impatience, or the anxious heart? When are you behaving like an impatient child? Won’t you agree with me to “wait on the Lord?”
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
And in His word I hope.
Psalm 130:5
Where do you struggle in the waiting? What situations do you sense you need to give over to God? Where do you need to allow Him permission to replace your weakness with His strength?
Delve Deeper: Ask God to speak to you while reading the following verses related to waiting: Exodus 14:14, Psalm 33:20-22, Psalm 37:7, Psalm 62:5, Psalm 130:5—6. Close by meditating on Psalm 46:10.
Clutter in the Closet
Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2

My office is my favorite room. Years ago, after all our grown children had moved out, my husband suggested, “Why don’t I turn this bedroom into your office?” And so, he did. Don painstakingly cleaned woodwork trim, discreetly etched years ago by one of the girls, now a lovely mother, transformed the shades of green walls into lighter coral shades, and hung a large, hand-sewn quilt on the wall behind my taupe-colored recliner. My mother’s great-aunt Selma created the colorful quilt over a hundred years ago. Her patience, perseverance, and attention to detail are on display. How could she have possibly pieced together each small triangle and arranged them in such a unique pattern? How difficult was it to combine seams and then design the intricate backing while hand-stitching each identically spaced tiny thread? I admire my quilt in awe.
The beauty of my cherished wall hanging juxtaposed itself one particular day when I opened my closet door. It menacingly taunted, “I dare you to clean me up!” Books, papers, bags, and unfinished projects threatened to roll out onto the office floor. Clutter threatened to ruin my day and send me retreating.
“You won’t get the best of me,” I triumphantly retorted. In no time, I emptied the large bedroom closet into my office. As I pulled out items, I resisted the urge to sit down and read the books, look through the photographs, and dream up new projects. Stay on task. De-clutter the closet! Minutes morphed into hours, but I finally closed the door on a closet so meticulous I bet even Great Aunt Selma would give me kudos. Most of all, I felt a sense of peace after hours of persistence and attention to detail.
My mind can be a cluttered closet. What about yours? When life becomes overly busy, when I hear disconcerting news, or when I put off God and replace quiet time with activity, I feel the angst of confusion. Worldly thoughts consume my mind—and I don’t mean sinful immoral thoughts—I refer to those busy to-do lists, the mind-numbing TV shows, alluring media posts, and haunting “what-ifs?” of the mundane busy life. Little by little, my focus is off God and on “Me and the things of this world.”
I have a choice: clean out the closet clutter of my mind or focus on this world. I choose to sequester myself for however long it takes to get back on track through Bible reading, prayer, confession, and meditation. Then, I need to set in place tools to keep my mental closet clean and focused: a scheduled daily time with the Lord, memorizing Scripture, listening to worship music and old hymns, journaling, and practicing the presence of God, even during the seemingly mundane tasks of the day. For me, a God-focused mind yields a peace that surpasses all understanding, as described in Philippians 4:7.
Dear Lord, I want peace of mind, and I know that can only happen when I keep You as my focus—my center. Show me ways to set my mind on the things that are valuable to You. Show me what to remove and toss aside—all those things contributing to the clutter.
Take a few minutes to think. What consumes you and potentially clutters your mind, taking your focus away from God? How might Colossians 3:2 challenge you today? What small step will you take now?
Delve Deeper: Read Philippians 4:4-9. List ways you can rid your mind of clutter based on these verses. What can you add to your thinking to draw you to God?
Bless the LORD, My Soul Praises
BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL PRAISES

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Psalm 103:1-2

This morning, I read Psalm 103 line by line. Slowly. Thoughtfully. Respectfully.
I didn’t read it as one who needed to hurry up and finish my devotions because today’s “to-do” list was already gnawing at me to get started. I wanted to read it because my very life depended on the blessings of God’s Word of Truth.
As I read, I made a list in my journal. I found myself listing the choices I make each morning. It morphed into a list of who God is in my life. Then, once again, it transformed—this time into praise and the benefits of my choices in this earthly life with God as my guide, my very reason for living!
Here is just a glimpse of my list:
I choose to put God ever before me.
I decide to walk in God’s ways.
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt God’s ways are above all else, and I need Him!
WHY?
You are God! Yes, You give me incredible blessings—yet, there is more!
* You forgive.
* You heal.
* You redeem.
* You crown me with love and compassion.
* You satisfy me with goodness.
* You renew my youth with Your righteousness!
* You are just in all my life.
* You are slow to anger and full of love.
* You give mercy—I don’t receive what my sin deserves.
* You are faithful in LOVE.
Psalm 103:17-18 “But from eternity to eternity the LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His instructions.”
I love you, Lord. Show me the fullness of Your love for me, please. I want to make the choices today so I love you even more tomorrow and in the days ahead. I want my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to know You and love You! Move in me today. Thank you!
Will you click on the link and read Psalm 103 today? Take a moment to create your own list today (either in your journal or in your thoughts throughout the day).
Delve Deeper: Consider how the choices you make today will affect your children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren in the future. Are you establishing habits and a love for God that ensures their best life? If yes, praise God! If no, ask God what to do now. Enlist the help of a spouse, friend, or family member to get you back on track.
Simplicity of Devotion
Simplicity of Devotion

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness,
Your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB)

My mind is abuzz this morning. As a result, I’m having trouble concentrating on the scriptures. You know my heart, Lord. Lead me through these thoughts.
I finished reading 2 Corinthians 11:3. Those words, “the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ,” captured my mind. What does a life of simplicity and devotion to Christ look like? What can I do to make my busy, sometimes distracted, devotional time more effective? What should I eliminate? What should I change? Show me, Lord. Then help me be brave enough and ambitious enough to follow through.
Simplicity – ridding myself of much.
Ridding Myself of …
Much clutter; Much stuff; Much human nostalgia
The lure of more “stuff”
Boxes, boxes, boxes
Keepsakes that haven’t seen the light of day in years
Projects meant to be finished and given as gifts – years ago
Now, token symbols of good intentions; of failure; of unfinished goals
Disappointing reminders of incomplete gestures
Endeavors that were never completed nor given to an unsuspecting recipient
Ridding Myself of…
The obsessive lure to check the phone, always in my pocket
The demanding to-do list I’m forever putting together
The “shoulda, coulda, woulda” phrases flitting in my mind
Purity of Devotion—
Add on…
All diligence in faith
Moral excellence, knowledge, and self-control
Perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness
Christian love
Love— A life of simplicity and pure devotion to God looks like a life where I focus on “adding on” more of Christ in my life. The cluttering thoughts and lures of this life dissipate slowly when I choose time with my God. Indeed, human emotions and my mind weave such tangled webs. The enemy goads me with tears and remembrances of past failures. I still prepare meals and make appointments. Busyness rarely ends. Yet, my God is more than a conqueror! He wants to help me. He wants me to ask. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” That assurance is the comfort I need when “my” to-do list seems impossible or when I feel lacking.
Today, I chose to live a life of simplicity. A life of pure devotion to God. A life of faith. A life starting and ending my day with focused attention on God’s movement in life.
As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:3-4 (NKJV)
Don’t beat yourself up. God knows your heart and mind better than you know yourself. Allow Him to show His divine power in your life. Ask God to reveal to you what you need to release and what you need to add to your life. Jot those thoughts in your prayer journal.
Delve Deeper: Read this verse from Matthew 6:33 (NKJV): “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Write it on a notecard. Read it regularly throughout the day. When you turn out the lights tonight, reflect on how God revealed this truth in your life today.
The One Who Lifts My Head
But You, O Lord, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
I was crying to the Lord with my voice,
And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.
Psalm 3:3-4
The phrase leaped from the verse and into my mind’s eye: the One who lifts my head. I thought of the hundreds of times I had leaned down over an emotional student or had knelt next to one of my children. Those tear-stained eyes locked on the ground. Gently, I touched my fingers under a chin and said, “Look at me,” as I ever so purposefully lifted the chin so our eyes met.
Children aren’t the only ones with eyes focused downward. I’ve been there and so have you. If not, why would phrases like “downcast eyes,” “troubled stares,” or even “nose to the grindstone” be so easily understood? What causes adults, as well as children, to “hang one’s head?”
Shame. Knowledge of my wrongdoing. Guilt. Fear of exposure. Desire not to be noticed. Weariness. Loneliness.
Intense searching for a lost object. Focused concentration on the task at hand. Overwork. Overwhelming expectations.
I think back to many times as a parent or school teacher when I encouraged a little one, “Look up. Look me in the eyes. You aren’t in trouble. I’m not mad. Let’s work on this so we’ll both feel better.” Often, this quiet urging resulted in an engulfing bear hug of love, an attempt to smother out all pain and fear. At other times, I had to wait patiently until the little one could trust me.
The psalmist David declares that the Lord God Yahweh is the One who lifts his head. He isn’t looking for a person to make all things right; He knows his true comfort is in God alone. When I am the one looking down in my time of need, God says to me, “Here, look at me.” “Let me help.” “You don’t need to search any longer. I’m here. Let me, the Lord God Almighty, do what only I can do!”
God sees through my sadness and regret, saying, “I understand. I will fix everything.”
Once I allow God to lift my head and set my focus on Him, I see more clearly. I can use my eyes and ears to gather information accurately around me. I’m not limited to the shadowed views from the periphery of my sight or the clamoring suggestions of this world. God indeed shines light in my darkness. With a lifted head, I look directly at the One who can make a difference: my Savior. I hear more distinctly. The disquieting murmurs of this world dissipate as I hear my Redeemer’s voice.
My Savior and Lord. My Forgiver. My Redeemer. My Encourager.
The One Who Lifts my Head!
Lord, remind me to keep my eyes on You and remember You are the only One who can lift my head with answers of truth. I choose to cry to You, my God. In You, I have all I need. Lamentations 3:22—23 assures me Your love never ceases, Your compassions never fail. Great is Your Faithfulness, O Lord. Thank you.
What causes you to be downcast and avoid looking to God? Imagine God gently placing His strong hands below your chin, lifting your face ever so gently, so you can gaze directly into His loving eyes. What might you say? Open your journal or speak a soft prayer. God welcomes your honest entreaty as you trust Him.
Delving Deeper: Write out Psalm 3:3—4 (as found above) on one side of an index card. Look up and copy Lamentations 3:22-23 on the reverse side. Read these verses throughout the day. Consider memorizing them.
Words of My Mouth; Meditation of My Heart. Some “go-to” verses
I reached for my Bible as I sipped the hot coffee. Thank you, God, for awakening me early before anyone else is up. My mind, already abuzz with its never ending “to-do” list must be reined in – in Silence before the noise of a busy day.
Where would I begin? My Bible fell open to the tattered edge of Psalm 19, a familiar Scripture. The faded underlining and notes jotted in the border reminded me of God’s intimate voice, speaking to me personally over the years. Each comment or colored line stirred up memories from the past. I smiled as one of my “go-to” verses seemed to pop off the page. Its rich newness this morning juxtaposed itself against the worn paper. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” I spoke Psalm 19:14 aloud. No need to read those words; they embedded themselves in my heart well over 50 years ago.
“Great is Thy Faithfulness, oh God my Father.” The familiar hymn flowed through my mind and heart in worship. Yes, God again spoke through His Word. Your Word is truly new every morning. Thank you, God.
I slowly turned the pages. Underlined verses leapt from the pages in comfort and promise. God’s Word, although as old as time itself, spoke to me as clearly and personally today as they had year after year, season upon season. My go-to verses.
The “go-to” office worker is that dependable staff member who will definitely get the job done. I prepare my “go-to” recipes at a moment’s notice. The ingredients for these quick and easy recipes are always in the pantry, the recipe is memorized from years of use, and I know dishes will be tasty and colorful. My “go-to” clothing consists of my jeans and a comfortable V-neck sweater. Dress it up or dress it down. I laugh: this world’s “favorites” change over time, when jeans give way to stretch pants, or a tasty new recipe comes to the forefront. Yet, God’s Word never changes. Never fades. Never fails.
A Little Bit More …
List and meditate on five “go-to” verses for yourself. Memorize them.
Check out your closet’s “go-to” clothing. Donate anything else.
Sort out your “go-to” recipes. Stock up on the necessary ingredients, so you’ll always be ready for a quick meal or dessert.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (NASB)
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)