Woooooo.... this one is a doozy. It boils down to one question: Do I trust GOD? If I am to grow my GOD CONFIDENCE, how can I do that if I do not TRUST HIM? No matter what I SEE, no matter what I FEEL, no matter what happened or didn't happen-- will I say: AND I TRUST YOU!

“Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders— he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.” Psalm 55:22-23 MSG

That, my friend, is an awesome offer! But that's all it is until we USE it. God is saying, "GO AHEAD, pile your troubles, problems, issues, pains, headaches-- on my shoulders." But that does us no good  until we actually DO IT!

Have had several unplanned HIATUSES... so this is just a quick word addressing that and reiterating my goal as I share my personal devotions through #justfiveminutes. Thank you for your time!

Today is a different kind of devotional. Instead of focusing on one verse, I will read Psalms 103:6-8 in the Message Version. It's what I needed. And maybe it's what you need today. Main point: He loves you and HE WILL MAKE EVERYTHING RIGHT. 

Today I will be as transparent as ever because after I read 1 Samuel 17:48, I knew that I was not David-like. “As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.” And the seven words that shook me were DAVID QUICKLY RAN OUT TO MEET HIM! David quickly ran towards danger, towards evil, towards opposition, towards the problem, the issue-- He didn't hesitate. Why? Because HE KNEW GOD and KNEW GOD'S WORD. 

I wasted seven years of my life not talking to my brother. Thankfully, in the middle of the pandemic during the summer of 2020, my brother and I reconciled. This devotion is taken from a journal entry about three months after that and it's after I ran across Philippians 4:2 NLT that reads.... "Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement.” I encourage you, if it is in your power, your control-- SETTLE YOUR DISAGREEMENTS QUICKLY!

Although the previous two devotionals may have seem hopeless or bleak, here's the SOLUTION: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13 NLT. Once we acknowledge that we can't figure it out on our own and we can't on own accord be good, we can open our hearts to GOD who GIVES US THE DESIRE AND THE POWER TO DO WHAT PLEASES HIM! God is sooooo good!

Love it when GOD just lines everything up. This verse pairs perfectly with yesterdays devotional. Romans 7:18 NLT: “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.” Not only am I not built to figure it out on my own, I also can't do GOOD or be GOOD on my own. Let me tell you this: If any verse of scripture describes my struggle to a T it's this one... "I WANT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, BUT I CAN'T!

This devotional was originally written as a journal entry on August 22, 2021, during a time where I was just struggling. And I came to acknowledge that I was struggling because yet again, I was trying to DO IT ALONE knowing that GOD DOES NOT INTEND FOR ME TO RELY ON MYSELF. Proverbs 3:5 MSG puts it plain and simple: "Do not try to figure out everything on your own."

Philippians 4:5 NLT “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.” In varying translations, the word considerate also translates to reasonableness, graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, patience and gentle spirit. I mean it all boils down to BE KIND!