Our culture is always offering us something better than what we already have. As soon as we pay for a new phone—there’s another one on the market with a better camera, reception, or audio quality. It could be an athletic shoe that promises to make our kids jump higher or move faster. While there’s nothing wrong with creativity and being on the leading edge of technology, we also need to master the art of contentment.

When we focus on our haves—we take the time to express thankfulness to God for everything He has given us both spiritually and naturally. Many of us aren’t the wealthiest in our neighborhoods nor do we work at an executive level; however, we are rich in joy, peace, and love. We may not own the latest and greatest in homes, clothing, or technology; however, we have what we need to live in our communities.

When we focus on our have-nots—we take the risk that a root of bitterness may spring up in our souls. As a result, we find ourselves struggling with envy and jealousy of everyone who has things that we don’t have for ourselves.

Mastering contentment touches every level of our lives—learning to be content in our relationships, workplaces, and attitudes. It’s not settling for just anything, rather it’s raising the bar on knowing the difference between what we need versus what we want. Because of our dependence and allegiance to Jesus Christ, we aren’t subject to the pulling of our culture to the right nor left. We make our own pathway based on God’s leading our footsteps in the right direction.

Dear Lord, help me to keep my heart secure in contentment at all times. Thank You for everything You have given me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

When we’ve done everything we know to do in the Lord, it’s time to just stand firm in our faith. We’ve prayed consistently, served God’s people, studied the Scriptures, and shared our faith, among other things. Yet the waves of trials and tribulations attempt to pull us from God’s purpose. We will be tempted to step back into our comfort zone. Our flesh will cry out for relief from the pressure. How should we S-T-A-N-D on the solid Rock of Jesus Christ regardless of the storms?

S – Stay true to what we know is right in God’s word even in the time of testing.

T – Take time out for quiet prayer, meditation, and reflection.

A – Align our hearts and minds with the truths of Scripture.

N – Never let ourselves get wrapped up in the regrets of “what-ifs.”

D – Determine to press forward in this lifetime until the Lord takes us home.

Dear Lord, help me to stand in the midst of these trials. I don’t want to move one step away from the solid Rock of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Samaritan woman was minding her own business when she had an encounter with Jesus. He asked her for water, and she questioned Him because Jews didn’t deal with Samaritans. Jesus spoke to her about the living water in which she would never thirst again. She asked for this water, and Jesus told her to go get her husband. She replied, “I have no husband.” Jesus told her that she answered correctly because she had five husbands and the one she was with wasn’t her husband. 

The Samaritan woman was not the only person in that day struggling with her relationships; however, she was the one Jesus chose to reveal Himself to in that city. She may have been an outcast because of her choices, but Jesus knew and made a way for her to know Him.

Jesus knew about her before she was at the well because nothing is hidden from His sight. He still asked her the question about her husband because she needed to speak the truth. Just like her, our hidden sins aren’t hidden from God. He sees everything and longs for us to come clean to ourselves and to Him.

God knows, and He doesn’t give up on those He loves. God knows, and He will do whatever it takes to bring us back to the place where we belong. God knows, but just as Jesus with the Samaritan woman, He’s not looking for an opportunity to beat our heads down in shame. He longs for us to come to the place of repentance and trust in Him for strength to overcome our weaknesses.

The woman’s testimony brought many Samaritans to come to know Jesus. Just as the Samaritan woman, we can be healed, set free, and used by God to draw many to Jesus when we are willing to speak the truth to Him because God already knows.

Dear Lord, You know me. You know my heart longs to know and please You. Give me the strength to walk in truth in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Today we are fasting from the thought that says, "God is far from me."

PSALM 46:1 SAYS, "HE IS AN EVER-PRESENT HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE"

Wow! You have to love this thought. Have you ever had times of trouble? But notice, He is ever-present. Then, it says, help in times of trouble. It is His ever-presence that brings us help in times of trouble.

TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD

Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, "Lo, I am with you always; even to the end of the age." There is no way to misinterpret this verse. Jesus is with YOU always. That has to warm your heart and comfort you.

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A LIFE OF ATTAINMENT, BUT A LIFE OF RECOGNITION

In Job 3:25, Job feared that his children would curse God, and that’s what happened. When you realize fear has the power to produce negative results, you stop dabbling in it. When a child learns what fire can do, he no longer plays with matches!

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ABOUT US FINDING GOD

It’s about Jesus finding us, spilling His blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, taking us into His arms, and breathing His very Spirit into us. Now He lives in every person that has accepted Him as their Savior and Lord. Romans 8:11 tells us that the Spirit of God lives in us!

RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO PRAY, "GOD, COME DOWN AND HELP ME" OR "SEND YOUR SPIRIT"

He has already come. He has already sent His Spirit. Our battle is to believe this whether we feel His presence or not. He is in us!

THINK IT AND SAY IT

I am not separated from God in any way. He is an ever-present help in my time of trouble. His ever-presence brings me help! I recognize that He is already in me. That’s what makes my faith work.

Has your mind ever been besieged by the ‘what-ifs’? What if my marriage doesn’t work out? What if I never get married or have children? What if the stock market plunges? What if my job begins laying off workers? What if I don’t pass this test? What if my children get addicted to drugs or alcohol? What if someone hacks into my bank account and steals all my money?

To forgive and forget isn’t a biblical practice. The pain of betrayal may lessen in intensity over time, but that doesn’t guarantee complete forgetfulness. Forgiveness doesn’t always come easy. A small “paper cut” of offense may be more easily forgiven than a “deep, internal wound” of pain that may require more than just a thin bandage.

Forgiveness is an individual choice that can be difficult; however, the process of forgiveness can be readily understood with the acronym A-B-C:

A – Acknowledge that we’ve been offended. (Psalms 57:2-3)

B – Be honest with God and others about our feelings. (1 Peter 5:7; 2 Corinthians 13:11)

C – Choose forgiveness out of obedience in the grace given by God. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Dear Lord, I’m struggling with forgiving this person. I need Your grace to lead me to the right steps of forgiveness in the right time. I know I will overcome this mountain with help from Your Spirit. Amen.

After the tremendous miracle of fire falling from heaven by the prayer of Elijah, he was on the run from the fury and threats of Jezebel. Elijah seemed to quickly forget the power and majesty of the Lord. He went into a cave to hide and God found him.

Many of us are also in caves—not physical, but spiritual, emotional, and psychological caves of fear, doubt, and worry. As a result, our faith is paralyzed and we find ourselves unable to cope with our problems. As believers in Christ Jesus, we need to come out of our caves and step into the Lord’s presence.

Our caves don’t offer us protection nor solutions for our situations. Our caves keep us trapped into the deception that sin and Satan are more powerful than God. Yet, we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus and greater is He who is within us than he that is in the world. (Romans 8:37, 1 John 4:4)

Elijah stepped out of the cave when God questioned him with “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9) God is asking the same question of us…what are we doing in our caves? He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome fear and engage us in courageous works. The Lord has provided everything we need to let go of our doubts and step out in faith. He has given us the gift of prayer to lay down our worries and trust in His peace that passes all understanding.

It’s time for us to step out of our caves and into the presence of God. When we come to Him, He will fill our hearts with the assurance of His calling and purpose on our lives.

Dear Lord, I want to step out of this cave and into Your peaceful presence. Strengthen my faith to follow You with all of my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen

I refuse to throw awaymyconfidencenomatterwhatIsee. IwillnotallowwhatIseetodiscourageme. IwillnotallowwhatIseetopullmedownandtomakemethrowawaymy confidence. ImakeadecisionthatIwillnotthrowawaymyconfidence,becausemy confidencehasagreatreward.(Hebrews10:35) Itmaytakeawhile,butIhavepatience.Forinalittlewhile,whatHepromised willmanifestbecauseIam thejust,andIlivebyfaithandbecauseIlivebyfaith,I willnotshrinkback.BecausewhenIshrinkback,Godhasnopleasureinmeand mynumberonegoalistobepleasingtoGod.(Hebrews10:38) Imaintain,therefore,anattitudeoffaith,aspiritoffaith,apositionoffaiththatis alwayspleasingtoGod.And,therefore,themanifestationwillcome,becauseI maintainmypositionofpleasingGodbyusingmyfaithandholdingfasttomy confessionandneverlettingitgo.(Hebrews11:6) Iwillnotdrawback. Iwillnotshrinkback,butIwillhavefaithuntiltheend,untiltheoutcome,until whatIbelieveiswhatIsee.IfIdon'tseeit,thatwon'tchangewhatIbelieve. BecausethereasonI'm believingisfirstandforemosttobepleasingtoGod,then toseethemanifestation. ThemanifestationwillcomewhenI'm pleasingtoGod.AndIchoosetoholdfast tofaith,toconfidenceinthisWord,andIwillnotletgo. Iwillnotgiveup. IwillnotletgoofmyconfessionnomatterwhatIsee,nomatterwhatIfeel,no

It’s hard work trying to be a good mother. Many of us want the best for our children, so we work tirelessly to help them grow up to be strong men and women of God. To the best of our ability, we attempt to provide everything they need in order to succeed in life spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Many mothers have labored all day and stayed up all night because of the inner passion to have their children overcome where they may have failed in life.

FOR WE ALL STUMBLE IN MANY WAYS.

JAMES 3:2

It’s hard work trying to be a good mother. Many of us want the best for our children, so we work tirelessly to help them grow up to be strong men and women of God. To the best of our ability, we attempt to provide everything they need in order to succeed in life spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Many mothers have labored all day and stayed up all night because of the inner passion to have their children overcome where they may have failed in life.

However, even with the best of intentions, mothers fail, and what follows is the mother’s guilt. Sometimes our guilt is the result of our sinful actions, and sometimes there are issues completely out of our control. The mother’s guilt knows how to hang on our hearts throughout the day and night. It lingers off to the side to remind us that we have stumbled and we can’t get a redo of the situation.

In James 3:2, we are reminded that we all stumble in many ways. Obviously, a stumble isn’t always predicted or foreseen. When walking along the way, we may become distracted or enthralled with a scene and find ourselves stumbling forward. Sometimes a stumble results in a fall, but most times we are able to regain our steps and keep going.

It is the same with Mother’s Guilt–we need to release it so God can continue to use us in the nurture, care, and admonishment of our children (both young and old). If we have sinned, confess it and receive forgiveness from God and/or others. If we have missed something due to our humanity, get over it. We are not perfect like Jesus, just being perfected in God. He can use our mistakes to reveal to our children our complete dependence on a perfect God.

Dear Lord, help me to accept that I will never be the perfect mom, but that I can be perfected in Jesus Christ to lead my children to the cross. Forgive me where I need to be forgiven and help me to walk in the freedom of forgiveness rather than the heaviness of mother guilt.

PERSONAL CONFESSION

What’s your Goliath? A Goliath is anything that attempts to disrupt God’s purpose and plan for your life. The Goliath that David faced in 1 Samuel 17 flagrantly made his intention clear—to destroy God’s people. How did David defeat his Goliath?

#1) He immediately recognized Goliath’s defiance was against God. (v. 26)

#2) He pushed back the criticism of people. (v. 30)

#3) He stepped up when no one else had the courage. (v. 33)

#4) He remembered how God had delivered him in the past. (v. 36)

#5) He took action and followed through against Goliath in faith. (v. 47)

GREET THIS DAY

I will greet this day with God’s love in my heart! It is the greatest secret to success no matter what life brings. It calms every storm. When the enemy persecutes my soul, love comforts it. When I face darkness, love brings light. When my heart is overwhelmed, love will inspire and encourage it! When my heart is distressed, love will remind me of God’s goodness over the years.

THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.

ECCLESIASTES 1:9

Some of us are planners, and some of us take each day as it comes. Regardless of our approach, many things can happen to us that we never saw coming. We can plan for our retirement, but our 401K suddenly drops. We can plan to be married and have children at a certain time of our lives, but we haven’t met the right person yet. We can plan to graduate from college and start working to pay off our loans, but we struggle to find a job.

Life happens whether we plan for things or not. As believers in Jesus Christ, we all can come to the place of surrendering our well-thought-out plans to God. This valuable spiritual step helps us avoid the pitfalls of falling into despair when life doesn’t happen like we think it should.

It’s good to remind ourselves every day that God is God and we are not. So when trouble or crisis comes our way, we know that God knew about it beforehand and already has a plan worked out for us. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make plans for our lives, including a budget, after college, after marriage, after a baby. We just make our plans loosely, trusting in God to help us grow up in our faith.

Until the Lord calls us home to heaven, we will be subject to life changes. Even though we live in a dynamic and ever-changing technological world, there is nothing, absolutely nothing new under the sun. People from the beginning to the end of time will always attempt to avoid any unexpected life changes. Our best defense for the unexpected is to put our hope in the unchanging God of the universe.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, I know you are in control of everything in my life. I pray that you strengthen my faith to trust you when life happens in a way I didn’t expect. In Jesus’ name, amen.