Clear the Debris
Our stress-laden society has developed many skills for dealing with anxiety. We have breathing exercises and mediation techniques. But the person in whom the Spirit dwells have the greatest of resources. The apostle Paul said, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18-19 NIV).
The apostle contrasts two strategies for facing inner chaos: inebriation and celebration. Many people numb themselves, if not with liquor, with bouts of shopping or hours of playing. The better option: celebration. Constant worship clears the debris from our hearts. Praise is the cleansing element that flushes the trash of worry and anxiety.
For the Misfits
1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV) says, “…man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Those words were written for misfits and outcasts. God uses them all. Moses ran from justice, but God used him. Jonah ran from God, but God used him.
Rahab ran a brothel, Sarah ran out of hope, Lot ran with the wrong crowd, but God used them all. And David? Human eyes saw a gangly teenager, smelling like sheep. Yet the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is the one!” (1 Samuel 16:12 NKJV).
God saw what no one else saw: a God-seeking heart. David took after God’s heart, because he stayed after God’s heart. And in the end, that’s all God wants or needs. Others measure your waist size or wallet. Not God. He examines hearts. And when he finds one set on him, he calls it and claims it.
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Descending Like a Dove
“When He had been baptized, Jesus…saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him” (Matthew 3:16 NKJV).
The Holy Spirit is depicted in many different forms in Scripture, but here at the coronation of Christ, the Spirit chose to descend gently as a dove. Why? Part of the answer might lie in the maternal tenderness of the Holy Spirit. In biblical times the dove was a feminine symbol, and the Hebrew word for spirit was feminine.
There are occasions when we need a father’s strength, and God, our Father, provides it. There are occasions when we need the friendship of a brother, and Jesus, our spiritual sibling, offers it. Yet there are many times in which our spirits are troubled and anxious. We long for the tranquil assurance of a loving mother. For this we turn to the Holy Spirit.
Calming Presence
Anxiety. The emotion is not a sign of weakness, immaturity, or demon possession. It is simply the result of living in a fast-changing, challenging world. Anxiety is not a sign of weakness, but anxiety does weaken us. Yet help is here. The Holy Spirit is the calming presence of God in the world today.
His first act in earthly history was to turn chaos into calm. “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2 NKJV). The inaugural activity of the Holy Spirit was to hover over a frenzied world. Before God created the world, the Spirit of God calmed the world.
Make A Plan
You can’t control the weather. You aren’t in charge of the economy. You can’t un-wreck the car. But you can map out a strategy. Remember, God is in this crisis.
Ask God to give you two or three steps you can take today. Seek counsel from someone who’s faced a similar challenge. Ask friends to pray. Most importantly, make a plan. You’d prefer a miracle for your crisis? You’d rather see the stormy sea turned glassy calm in a finger snap? God may do this. Then again, he may say, “I’m with you. I can use this for good. Now let’s make a plan.”
God’s sovereignty doesn’t negate our responsibility. It empowers it. So don’t let the crisis paralyze you. Trust God to do what you can’t. Obey God, and do what you can.
Keep Forgiving
Colossians 3:13 says, “As Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Really, God? Begin the process of healing. How?
Keep no list of wrongs. Pray for your antagonists rather than plot against them. Hate the wrong without hating wrongdoers. Turn your attention away from what they did to you to what Christ did for you. Outrageous as it may seem, Jesus died for them, too. If he thinks they are worth forgiving, they are.
Does that make forgiveness easy? No. Quick? Seldom. Painless? Forgiveness vacillates. It has fits and starts, good days and bad. Anger intermingled with love. Irregular mercy. We make progress only to make a wrong turn.
Step forward and fall back. But it’s okay. As long as you’re trying to forgive, you’re forgiving.
It’s when you no longer try that bitterness sets in. So, keep trying, keep forgiving.
Daily Devotional – Max Lucado
All above devotionals are the property of Max Lucado.
The Unexpected Way To Fight and Win
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV)
As I listened to the news, I grew increasingly bothered by the reality of what was taking place in the world. “That’s not right!” I exclaimed at the television screen. For days, I remained frustrated with all the headlines, commentaries, and anyone who disagreed with me.
My emotions were a mix of anger, anxiety, sadness, and shock. The reality of what was being reported on national and international news was overwhelming. I felt stuck. And unfortunately, this was not a one-time occurrence. I’ve found myself returning to this place repeatedly as I have allowed the current political climate to rob me of my peace. I want to change outcomes. I want to change people. I want to win arguments.
I have been fixated on problems I cannot control and reluctant to admit what will really make a difference. Only the power of God will make a difference. Yet I’ve heard a similar sentiment of powerlessness from many Christians. We sometimes act like the world: short-tempered, defensive, tense, and divided, keeping records of wrongs. We are often at odds with one another.
The Apostle Paul was keenly aware of this inclination, and he gave believers some cautionary guidance in 2 Corinthians 10:4 when he said, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
The Corinthian church was divided and provoked by false teachers, and Paul was writing to refute them — not by earthly means but rather spiritual weapons.
This reminds us that we can’t truly demolish strongholds like false arguments, pride, lies, and sin through tactics the world employs. Things like getting the last word; seeking vengeance; or exploiting money, power, and might are not where our confidence should lie. On the contrary, we fight with heavenly weapons: prayer, humility, truth, righteousness, unconditional love, and our testimony to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross (Revelation 12:11).
These weapons may appear weak. Never have we heard a military commander give orders like this. Our Commander, however, is not of this world, and neither are we, if we are followers of Jesus Christ. God says we can demolish strongholds with His weapons because they come with His unexplainable, supernatural, divine power.
In Paul’s day, a stronghold was a fortress that protected against enemies, often built on elevated ground and surrounded by stone walls. Yet Scripture says unassuming heavenly weapons have the power to demolish even a seemingly impenetrable fortress.
When we feel powerless to change problems, people, and outcomes, we can trust in the mighty weapons given to us by our Commander. This is the unexpected way to fight — not against each other but for God’s Kingdom. This is how we win.
Heavenly Father, help me to lay down the weapons of this world and choose to trust in the divine power that comes from You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Author: Kia Stephens
The Ties That Bind
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted …” Isaiah 61:1 (ESV)
Scripture tells us that Jesus came “to bind up the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61:1). These are not just poetic words; they are a divine declaration. When Jesus stood in the temple and announced who He was in Luke 4:18, He chose to quote this very passage penned 700 years prior by Isaiah.
Jesus was sharing His mission to heal, restore, and reconnect us to the heart of a good Father. Reconnection brings healing.
God sees. He hears. He knows. He comes to the broken parts of us — not just the visible wounds but the fractures buried beneath our armor. Jesus doesn’t walk away from pain. He walks straight into the messiest places and draws close where we’ve felt abandoned. He gently mends the tears. His scarred hands begin the sacred work of binding up what’s been broken.
What heartache do you carry today? Maybe it’s a diagnosis, broken trust, or a wayward child. You don’t have to suffer alone.
Jesus came to reconnect you with the One who never turns away, who calls you precious and delights in you. You no longer have to be an orphan fending for yourself. In Him, you are brought near, embraced, and adopted.
Amid challenging circumstances, you and I may often default to self-reliance rather than running back to the Father. But together, let’s remember who God says we are — chosen and beloved. Even those sacred words are a balm of healing. We can find comfort in relishing how He defines us.
Wherever you find yourself — hiding, hurting, or maybe just tired — know this: Jesus came for you. To bind up your broken heart. To reconnect you to the heart of a loving Father.
You can let Him into your tender places today. His ties that bind are stronger than anything that’s tried to break you.
Jesus, I surrender my striving. You restore, and I welcome You into every corner of my story. Thank You for pursuing me. Reconnect me to Your heart and the truth of who I am. Heal what I cannot. I trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Author: Jenni Lord
The Spirit Whispers Truth When I Forget Who I Am
“The women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel.’” Ruth 4:14 (CSB)
The past few years have been hard, filled with some of life’s most challenging transitions. One particular therapy session was heavy as I came up against my lack of faith, my need to control, and my difficulty with letting go and trusting God. In my heart, I was shaming myself, wondering who wants me … like this.
But that evening, as I was visiting a friend, her 15-year-old daughter sheepishly whispered to me as we ate dinner, “You’re gorgeous!” When I felt so far from gorgeous or good enough, the Holy Spirit used this young girl to whisper truth to me that I couldn’t see.
In the book of Ruth, Naomi also struggled to see what could be. Naomi left Israel during a famine and settled in Moab with her husband and two sons, who found Moabite wives. Unfortunately, her husband and sons all died. Hearing of the Lord’s provision in her homeland, she started the journey back to Bethlehem with her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. But in her pain, she pushed them both away.
Naomi couldn’t see a way forward. She couldn’t imagine them having new families and a future. Her logic and her physical capabilities left her with a dim view of life. Though Ruth refused to leave her side, Naomi returned home saying, “I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty” (Ruth 1:21a, CSB). While raw and vulnerable in her feelings, she lacked faith in her Lord and gratitude for Ruth.
I realized I had been like Naomi. Maybe you see yourself in her too. Discouragement has settled in, and while you want to believe life will turn around, it just seems so hard.
Sister, would you let me encourage you? We serve a faithful God who didn’t forget Naomi and hasn’t forgotten us. In the Lord’s kindness, mercy, and grace, He opened Naomi’s eyes to the truth of her situation: She forgot she had a kinsman-redeemer, Boaz. But God remembered. Boaz would marry Ruth and provide a grandson for Naomi. In a full-circle moment, the women of Bethlehem spoke truth to Naomi:
“Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him” (Ruth 4:14-15, CSB).
Today might feel heavy, and hope may seem far, but know this: God is not finished with your story! Though you may not see it, His redemption is unfolding…
You are seen.
You are loved.
You are not forgotten.
Father, walk patiently with me as I shed all the limiting beliefs that keep me from seeing the great purpose You have for me as Your daughter. Help me to embrace the truth of all that is possible in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Author: Shala Wilson
Burned Out? Hope Is the Oxygen Your Soul Needs
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end …” Lamentations 3:21-22 (ESV)
My hair was falling out. Yes, me — the girl whose hairstylists always declared, “Wow! You have a lot of hair!” Now I freaked out every time I shampooed.
Initially, I wasn’t too worried. It’ll grow back. Things will be better by summer; I reassured myself.
With deadlines hanging over my head, my anxiety climbed as I juggled the gazillion hats I wore. My top priorities were my husband and kids. Me? I’ll figure that out later. But my emotional reserves, once filled with optimism, started thinning along with my hair. The more stressed I became, the more hair I lost.
I needed hope. Optimism is imagining how circumstances will get better, but hope is seeing God’s love and care during difficult circumstances. Hope is our refuge in uncertainty, even when optimism runs dry.
Are you feeling weary today in the middle of a hard season you thought was temporary, only to discover you’re stretched so thin that you’re burned out, losing your joy and hope?
We often don’t know how stressed we are until our body sends us physical signals. But God cares about you. It breaks His heart seeing you, His little girl, running ragged.
There’s a story of a little girl in the Bible who everyone thought was gone forever as she lay on her bed, not breathing. Everyone had lost hope. But when Jesus came and gently held her hand, He brought her back to life. Then guess what He said.
“… Give her something to eat” (Mark 5:43b, CEV).
Jesus didn’t tell her to greet the crowd gathered outside or to do her chores. Instead, He lovingly focused on her well-being. It’s important to God that we nourish our bodies with rest, taking time to feel His loving touch revive us through His Word.
God wanted me to believe I was worthy of care and to take action during my stressful season. Three practical changes that helped me were to develop healthier eating habits (no skipping meals!), face my fear by setting boundaries and letting go of responsibilities that were no longer healthy for me, and pray “breath prayers.”
These prayers nurtured hope whenever I felt overwhelmed. It’s a simple way to pray using Scripture to release tension in your body and reoxygenate your soul with God’s peace.
Use this breath prayer based on Lamentations 3:21-23: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (ESV).
Inhale: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
Exhale: Your mercies are new every morning.
God can renew your hope. Hope gives you permission to do things differently and to believe God will be faithful to help you. His love fuels your hope, the oxygen for your soul.
Thank You, Jesus, for being my anchor and hope. Help me rest in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Author: Bonnie Gray
Keep On Asking
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 (NLT)
With a recent move, I assumed my family’s search for a new church would be easy. We knew the benefits and blessings of belonging to a church. We also knew the heartache of conflict and slander.
Wanting to avoid the pain of the past and dive into a healthy church quickly, I came in hot, ready to join and serve.
Each Sunday, I had fresh optimism: This will be where we finally settle, heal, and have hope again. But we didn’t settle. We weren’t yet healed. And hope was fading.
My constant prayers for God’s help and direction through our church hurt seemed to go unanswered. Didn’t God want us settled in and serving, like, right now?
Have you ever been lost in the wilderness of church hurt and church healing? Trying to find your new place? Wondering how to reconnect after the disconnect?
Friend, I know that journey well. Walking with a hurt not yet fully healed, waiting and wandering, wishing for clarity and belonging right now.
Today’s key verse encourages us, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
Jesus preached this to a crowd as He taught them about prayer, urging them never to give up asking for what they needed. Prayer is not a one-time wish on a penny tossed into a fountain. It’s intimate, ongoing communication with God where we get to know His heart and He transforms ours.
He promises us that when we pray persistently, He provides the path. It’s often an unexpected one — because it’s His and not ours. But through consistent prayer, He reconnects our disconnected hearts with His.
Waiting can feel like the worst thing, especially in our world of instant answers. But what if God has something more for us in the waiting?
Our waiting is working out God’s will in us, healing our hearts, building boldness and blessing as He strengthens our hope and faith to reveal His glory and goodness. Waiting produces stronger faith, more joy and peace, more Christlike character, more love. It shows us more of God Himself.
As I wait with Jesus, my church hurts are healing and making me more empathetic to others on a similar road. Many of us have experienced church hurt or know someone who has. We might struggle to keep showing up, or maybe we’ve stopped going to church altogether. Jesus knows what deep hurt and rejection feel like. He sees us in our pain and longs to heal us and reunite us with His people.
Our job is to cheer one another on so we won’t grow weary or lose heart as we wait for healing (Hebrews 12:1-3). Let’s keep praying and keep being transformed.
Lord, we want more of You. Help us to keep asking while we wait, and as You transform us, You will answer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Author: Jodi Harris
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All devotionals are the property of Proverbs 31 Ministries & the authors.
