The Mirror of the Word: A Daily Devotional Podcast from C.E. White

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Do not learn the way of the nations, and do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens, although the nations are terrified by them.”

—Jeremiah 10:2

Our world has its ways of handling things, but we shouldn’t look to it to learn how to respond when difficult times come.

Our culture has become increasingly fearful, and the voices in the world seem to thrive on shouting that fear out louder and stronger. So much of what we see sensationalizes all the things we could be afraid of to keep us hooked on knowing all the dreadful details, afraid to look away lest we miss something.

We shouldn’t fear the things the world fears or respond the way culture influences us to—with distress, doomsaying, anger, hatred, fearmongering, or selfish stockpiling.

So how do we respond?

We love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).

We know that the Lord will sustain us even when there is much to be anxious about; he is our comfort (Psalm 94:18–19).

We thank him for all the ways he has come through for us in the past so we don’t forget his everlasting faithfulness (Psalm 136).

We remind ourselves that what we can see with our eyes is not the whole story; he is always there upholding and defending us (Psalm 37:17; 2 Kings 6:16; Exodus 14:14).

We remember that death and sorrow are not our end. He is making all things new (1 Corinthians 15:54–55; Revelations 21:4–5), and all who follow him have an inheritance reserved in heaven which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away (1 Peter 1:4).

We don’t have to be dismayed when things in this world are dark, for Christ has already overcome the world (John 16:33).

The post December 1-Calm in Chaos appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”

—Hebrews 11:13

We all have times of tragedy, difficulty, and struggle in this life. It’s easy in those times to ask, “Why, God? I’m trying to be faithful and serve you.”

It’s not wrong to talk to God about our doubts and disappointments or even to ask him, “Why?” He’s big enough for our questions, and we see David, Job, and others ask him the same thing.

But this verse gives us the ultimate answer: this world isn’t our home. 

When it seems like we’re not receiving the promises, we can know that we will receive them in that “better country”—the heavenly one where God is now preparing a place for us (Hebrews 11:16) beyond all imagination (1 Corinthians 2:9).

We might be strangers and exiles in this life, but Ephesians 2:19–22 reminds us that we are “no longer strangers and foreigners, but [we] are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom [we] also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

We don’t have to despair when this life is not meeting our expectations.

This isn’t our home, but we have one—a glorious, forever home that will realize and exceed all our expectations.

The post November 30-A Better Country appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Even if the fig tree does not blossom, and there is no fruit on the vines, if the yield of the olive fails, and the fields produce no food, even if the flock disappears from the fold, and there are no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.”

—Habakkuk 3:17–18

There is power in praising the Lord when everything seems to be falling apart around us. It shows that our hope is truly in him and not in the blessings we have in this life. This was the charge Satan levied against Job—that if Job’s earthly blessings were taken away, he would turn away from serving God (Job 1:9–11). 

While suffering, Job cried and questioned, grieved and wished he’d never been born, but he never turned from God, though he lost all his possessions and all his family except a bitter wife.

This is our responsibility—that our faith in the Lord would not be based on what we gain or lose in this life. We can be in plenty or in need and still be content (Philippians 4:11–13) because Jesus is the treasure in a field worth trading everything else to gain (Matthew 13:44).

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).

So when this world lets us down, we don’t have to despair. We can still praise, knowing that the Lord and his promises are still true. We can take joy in him and the salvation he’s given us.

Rejoicing in the midst of trouble is a sign to those around us that our faith is not in this world, but in the Lord alone.

The post November 29-Praise in the Ruins appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” 

—Ephesians 6:12

We often forget we have an enemy. When bad things happen, we look at God and ask him why rather than remembering the devil is always scheming against us. 

Even if we don’t blame God, we frequently look at other people as the culprits and let our anger and unforgiveness come between us and the love we’re supposed to have for them. 

The devil gloats when we blame God and other people for his attacks. He rejoices in causing division, hurt, and bitterness. He especially enjoys it when we misrepresent Christ in our anger or turn away from our faith because of something he’s caused.

Of course, not every bad thing that happens in our lives is the devil; some of them are consequences of our own sin or discipline from the Lord as he trains godly character into us. 

But when the attacks come and the tragedies strike, rather than accusing God or lashing out at others—even if they may be the perpetrators we can see—we must be mindful that we have an enemy we can’t see. He’s an active predator who prowls around seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). 

This is not cause for fear. No matter how the enemy comes against us—whether through temptation or some other kind of attack—the Spirit within us is stronger than the enemy in this world (1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 John 4:4).

The post November 28-Battling Darkness appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and called from its remotest parts, and said to you, ‘You are my servant, I have chosen you and have not rejected you. Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with my righteous right hand.’”

—Isaiah 41:9–10

It’s easy to be dismayed when we realize we can’t control our circumstances, when everything seems to be going wrong, and when we can’t see how things can be made right.

Just before this verse, Isaiah speaks of the other nations who are looking to each other for help, building their own gods, and turning to their own strength in the face of trouble.

God tells us not to do that. He will strengthen, help, and uphold, but it is not in our power to strengthen, help, or uphold ourselves. To pretend otherwise is just as futile as crafting that golden idol or carving that wooden statue with our own hands then bowing down to it and hoping it will protect us.

Nothing made by our own hands is worthy of our hope, trust, or worship. The visible things we build can all fall in a moment (Matthew 6:19). Systems, structures, insurance, retirement plans, and weapons are never foolproof.

Only our all–powerful God can uphold us because he is the firm foundation. His righteous right hand is immovable, unshakable, and as long as we remain in him (John 15:10), he will not let us go. He will strengthen us, he is holding us, and there is no need to fear.

The post November 27-The Hand That Holds appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me.”

—Philippians 1:21–22

Sometimes we grow weary of this world and its cares; the evil, brokenness, and pain feel like too much.

As believers, to die is gain. That’s true. It’s good to long for eternity with our Lord.

But that longing is not to keep us from fully living the life God has ordained for us to live. If our weariness has us retreating and looking inward in fear, anger, bitterness, sadness, or insecurity rather than being about the Father’s business, we’re missing the abundant life he has for us and neglecting our duty to love him and others well.

When we live out our lives here in joy and peace despite all the troubles—when we are afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed—the power of God flows through us by the laying down of our lives and submission to the Holy Spirit. The love of Christ will spread to more and more people, and thanksgiving will overflow (2 Corinthians 4:7–15).

There is no servant of Christ walking this earth without good purpose. The feeblest bodies may pray the most effective prayers, and the emptiest pockets may give the most in love. If we live on in this flesh, faithfully walking with him, it will mean fruitful labor that results in eternal joy, not only for us, but for those to whom we shine the light of the Gospel and demonstrate the hope of eternity. 

To live is Christ.

Let that be our highest goal.

The post November 26-Eternal Perspective appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are harsh. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person endures grief when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”

—1 Peter 2:18–20

This attitude isn’t admired in our culture. We glorify defending ourselves at all costs and revel in stories about corrupt bosses or unfair teachers getting payback. It feels like justice.

But God is the greatest proponent of justice, and he says he will bring it in his own time (Romans 12:17–21).

The Bible advises calm respect and diligent work even toward those who don’t deserve it.

We take our example from Joseph in slavery, being so faithful that he ended up managing his master’s entire house, and from Daniel, a captive forced to serve an evil government in a foreign land and who became a witness to everyone around him.

We find favor with the Lord when we endure injustice with integrity and trust his sovereign plan. When we’ve been served injustice, it feels like we have a right to slack off or be deceitful, but God says no.

It’s always our duty to work diligently and respectfully. And even if obedience to God requires disobeying those unjust leaders as Daniel’s daily prayers did, we do so gently, not for the purpose of rebellion, but because our loyalty must be to God first.

We’re called to maintain gentle respect and integrity in humility even when faced with harsh injustice.

The post November 25-Quiet Faithfulness appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”

—John 15:1–2

Christ is always working to cut away any branch in us that does not bear fruit.

Like a surgeon performing a procedure to heal us, God is not after our comfort but our spiritual health. The cutting hurts, but it will make us increasingly more like him so that we bear more of his fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self–control.

If some hardship comes upon us and we feel like our right arm has been chopped off, we may ask ourselves if that thing was bringing out the fruits of the Spirit in us or if it was bringing about apathy, callousness, anger, or anxiety.

Not all loss is a pruning for the purpose of correction—we can see that most clearly in Job where it was an attack of the enemy—but any time the Lord prunes, there are two purposes: to take off what is not profitable and to bring about what is better.

The first result is often that we feel we’ve been butchered. Where before we might’ve seemed manicured and presentable with lots of green, we may now appear nearly dead—branches cut off on all sides and most of our leaves gone—misshapen and ugly.

Trust that the Lord is doing surgery—not murder—with his knife. The cut branches were a cancer robbing our fruit–producing limbs of what they needed to thrive.

It’s hard to trust him in the pruning, but it’s always for our good and his glory.

The post November 24-Pain with Purpose appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”

—John 15:1–2

Christ is always working to cut away any branch in us that does not bear fruit.

Like a surgeon performing a procedure to heal us, God is not after our comfort but our spiritual health. The cutting hurts, but it will make us increasingly more like him so that we bear more of his fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self–control.

If some hardship comes upon us and we feel like our right arm has been chopped off, we may ask ourselves if that thing was bringing out the fruits of the Spirit in us or if it was bringing about apathy, callousness, anger, or anxiety.

Not all loss is a pruning for the purpose of correction—we can see that most clearly in Job where it was an attack of the enemy—but any time the Lord prunes, there are two purposes: to take off what is not profitable and to bring about what is better.

The first result is often that we feel we’ve been butchered. Where before we might’ve seemed manicured and presentable with lots of green, we may now appear nearly dead—branches cut off on all sides and most of our leaves gone—misshapen and ugly.

Trust that the Lord is doing surgery—not murder—with his knife. The cut branches were a cancer robbing our fruit–producing limbs of what they needed to thrive.

It’s hard to trust him in the pruning, but it’s always for our good and his glory.

The post November 24-Pain with Purpose appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“A bent reed he will not break off and a dimly burning wick he will not extinguish; he will faithfully bring forth justice.”

—Isaiah 42:3

Sometimes, we are bent and injured—just on the point of breaking. Sometimes, the fire of our faith is dim and flickering, and we fear it’s about to go out.

Our Lord does not crush us in our weakness. He does not shame us for being hurt and weak.

We often think of him as a taskmaster up in heaven judging us for not being good enough, shouting down reprimands like a harsh parent or a cruel master.

But he is gentle and loving. He says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is comfortable, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).

He understands that this world is full of hurt, difficulty, evil, and injustice. He was no stranger to these things in his own life, and he assures us that he will not only handle our brokenness and sorrow with care, but justice will also prevail against the evil we face.

When we’re bruised and about to break, he wants to tend us gently as a plant on the verge of dying. He is the water and the light to bring us back to life. When we’re flickering and sputtering, the breath of the Holy Spirit will fan the flames of our souls to give us new energy and hope (Ezekiel 37:9–14).

The post November 23-He Tends the Broken appeared first on C. E. White.