Early morning is my favorite time of the day. My house is quiet and still, as I am the only early riser. I like to take advantage of this time and collect my thoughts on the day ahead. In the summer, I enjoy my coffee on the porch while taking in the beauty that God has created. Some may call this routine a type of meditation. I call it coffee and conversations with God, or prayer. I can’t think of a better way to start a fresh day. This silent conversation helps set the tone for my day ahead, and allows me to gather the strength I need to face challenging situations.

“The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Philippians 4:5b-6 (ESV)

Like most people, I was raised to say my nightly prayers. I memorized the “Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep” prayer with ease, and said it without hesitation before bed. Later, I taught my own children the same prayer, with modern modifications. They too learned with ease, and said the same rhyme before they fell fast asleep. Those sweet little voices speaking to God were sure to be angelic sounds heard in heaven.

Oscar Wilde once said, “With age, comes wisdom.” I believe this is true in my understanding of prayer. The younger me was satisfied with folded hands, closed eyes, and brief confession in hopes my sins would be forgiven. I am no longer the naive little girl who talked, but sometimes didn’t take the time to listen. God desires to be in communication with us! Prayer gives us the ability to speak our hearts, confess our sins, and ask for guidance. It is such a blessing that He is there for us any time we desire.

Recently, a friend sent me a random note asking how I was doing. She said I had been on her mind. Tears welled in my eyes. My friend didn’t know I was currently struggling and had been sending prayers for guidance. Maybe this wasn’t the answer I expected, but it is what God thought I needed to manage the situation. That was a powerful blessing to listen to. God's arms are always embracing, yet He knew I would need earthly comfort. I was sure to thank Him over coffee the next morning.

1 Samuel 1:10-20 (ESV)

She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”

Explanation:

Hannah has a deep desire. She desperately longs to become a mom. She wants to bear children and finds herself unable to do so. She watches others get this blessing she so desperately desires. I can relate to her struggle. Watching all of these other women get the one thing you desperately desire, and feeling as though you have been forgotten.

But I love Hannah’s response. She turns to the Lord. She is vulnerable, she weeps, she prays. She knows that only God could grant this great desire of her heart. In fact, she is so passionate in the way she is praying that Eli, the high priest, thinks she is drunk. After Hannah explains her situation to him, he sends her away with a blessing, asking God to grant her request. God answers Hannah’s desperate cry and prayer.

Hannah didn’t give up. She kept praying for God to move. Although she felt despair, she continued to seek God. He hears our prayers, and at just the right time, He responds. Keep pouring out your soul to God. He is listening, He hears your desperate cry. Bring Him your deepest desires, your desperate pleas, and allow Him to work and move in your heart and life like only He can.

Application:

1. What is something you desire that you feel will never happen? (i.e., a child, spouse, salvation of a family member or prayer)

2. Have you spent time praying over that situation?

3. How could prayer help you as you wait for this great desire?

Prayer Starter:

God, we know that You have a plan and a purpose in our waiting. Today, we are coming to you again, praying over our current situation. We continue to ask You to move, but we are also choosing to trust You in the process. Help us to seek You through this circumstance and to listen for Your guiding. God, we want You to move, help us to be patient until You do. We submit all of this to You today. Amen.

Devo Plus:

Read Psalm 40 for encouragement if you are walking through a season of waiting. May you believe today that God hears your cry and is working on your behalf, for your good.

Joshua 10:5-8; 12-14 (ESV)

Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.

And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.”

At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,

and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”

And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,

until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

Explanation:

This story of Israel’s conquest of Canaan, as described here in the book of Joshua, tells of two important things the Israelites were supposed to remember as they occupied their “promised land.” First, the battle’s “supernatural” victory was a consistent reminder of WHO won the victories in the battle for the promised land. God sending hailstones to create confusion, and the sun and the moon also playing their roles to win the victory, show a clear sign to the Israelites that God was using creation itself to fight for them. It was not their swords, but God’s hand, that brought them victory.

And second, they had a say in how these things happened. Joshua was said to “speak” to God, and God heeded Joshua’s request. God heard him and responded. The nation of Israel was to call on God and rely on Him to come through for them for their provision, protection, and promise of blessing.

Application:

1. What is one thing that stands out to you as you read this passage?

2. Have you ever had a time when God specifically answered your prayer?

3. Have you ever had a time when God didn’t answer your prayer? Did He provide for you in a different way?

4. Are you in a situation now where you would benefit by taking it to God and asking Him to intervene?

Prayer Starter:

Father, so often in our lives we look to You last when we get into situations that are overwhelming. But in reality, You are the one we were always meant to come to and rely on first. Help us to come to You in prayer, connect with You, and bring our needs and expectations to lay down at Your feet. God, You are the one who always comes through for us, and I pray we would be a people who rely on and trust You with all that we are.

Devo Plus:

Read 1 Peter 5:7. Think about what it means to bring your cares to God, with the promise that He will always come through for you.

Hebrews 4: 14-16 (ESV)

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Explanation:

The writer of Hebrews is telling us that Jesus is our high priest. He died so we can be in relationship with a holy God in heaven. We can have confidence in Jesus, because He is the One who will go before us and intercede on our behalf in front of God. When we pray to God, we can be assured that He hears our prayers. How awesome is it that we can actually talk with the Creator of all things, because of Jesus’s sacrificial act of taking our sins on Himself, even though He was “without sin.” Imagine a courtroom where we are on trial for our sins before a just Judge (God,) and are proven guilty for all have sinned (Romans 3:23). But Jesus, our advocate or lawyer, stands on our side and takes our place for our guilty charge because of His death on the cross.

Prayer is our way to connect to the Father and have Him move in our lives. We should go before Him with humility and admiration for WHO HE IS. Confess our sins and struggles and turn from our negative actions. But have confidence that we can speak without fear because of God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness for His children. He is a good Father who loves us and wants the best for His creation. Matthew 7:11 says, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” God is for us! Talk to God with a thankful heart and ask for His Holy Spirit to move in your life. Then go throughout your day knowing and trusting He will help you.

Application:

1. What is something you are holding on to that is stopping you from going to God? Now that you have thought about it, take it immediately to God, and know He wants to be in the fear or worry.

2. Once you have given your request to God, go back time and time again (every minute of the day) when the thought of that anxiety or fear returns. Prayer is a constant communication with Him.

3. Know that our Father in heaven wants to hear both big and small prayers. Start talking to God in the morning and throughout the day, thanking Him, giving Him worries, and asking for His strength when you don’t have it. God wants to hear from His children.

4. Pray for the news we see and hear on tv. Pray for our county, nation, president, governors, and people in authority making important decisions. Our prayers about those things matter. Go to God first when our fears arise.

Prayer Starter:

Heavenly Father, thank You for going before me and fighting for me when I don’t have strength. Help me today to give You my small and big requests. Let it be a constant conversation with You. Remind me of how good You are and all that You have done for me. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, and for Him making a way to experience Your Holy Spirit in my life. You are amazing, and I want to know You more. Amen.

Devo Plus:

Take some time in prayer today not only to talk to God, but also to wait and listen to Him.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. (Psalm 62:5 ESV)

Hebrews 10:24 (ESV)

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

Explanation:

At its core, the book of Hebrews is all about encouraging Christians to persevere amid persecution. In the preceding verses (vv. 22-23), we are encouraged to remain strong in our faith when circumstances are difficult. In this verse, we are instructed to “stir up” or “inspire” one another to keep loving well and doing good works. Life is not easy, and at times, it’s a community effort to stay faithful. We need each other for help, motivation, and accountability when we feel distant from God and weak in our commitment to the call on our lives.

Notice in this verse, we are not given examples of how to stir each other up. Rather, we are told to consider, or give careful thought to, the ways each of us can encourage our brothers and sisters. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, gives us plenty of examples of how to shine the light of extravagant love to those around us.

Application:

1. Why is it important for the church body to stay connected in difficult seasons of life?

2. In this current season of social distancing, are you struggling to remain strong in your faith without the fellowship we normally enjoy? If so, do you have a close circle of believers you can turn to for encouragement?

3. What are some ways you can shine the light of extravagant love to someone?

Prayer Starter:

If you need spiritual strength, ask God to show you scriptures that speak to your situation, then pray those words over your life. Also, ask God to show you someone whom you can bless with extravagant love.

Devo Plus:

Read Acts 2:42-47 to see how the believers in the early church did community, and encouraged each other to stay strong in their faith.

Matthew 12:34-37 (ESV)

You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Explanation:

Was this scripture a punch to the gut for any of you? First of all, if you don’t know, “brood of vipers” is not a term of endearment. It is a term referring to the hiss or poison of the serpent…in this case, satan. Second, we will have to own up to and be judged for every single thing we have said. All of it! Just as we read earlier this week, God is reminding us how incredibly powerful what we say is. He puts a lot of weight into it. In the same way we take care of our possessions, not being flippant about the things we have but taking care of them, the same should be true of the words we say. We can’t be flippant in our speech, and not put thought behind the words we are allowing to come out of our mouths.

But God tells us in this passage how we can change that, how we can change our words from evil to good. It all starts with our heart. What we put in will eventually come out. So, when we put in evil, evil comes out of our mouths. But when we put in good, good is what comes out. We have to be purposed in what we are allowing to speak into our lives, because at some point, it will come back out through the words we say to others. If I am filling my life with kindness, grace, God’s truth, God’s Word, and love, then from my heart those things will flow. But if I am filling my life with slander, gossip, comparison, and pride, at some point that is what will flow out of my mouth. Be careful what you put in, because everything in your life will flow from it.

I don’t know about you, but I do not want to be a called a brood of vipers. I want what flows out of my mouth to be good and not evil. When I face God someday, I want to be told that I used my words wisely and spoke life to others. Today, my friends, we can change all of that. Let’s put in good things, so that good is what flows out of our mouths, pointing others to God and His amazing love.

Application:

1. What are you putting into your life? Are you putting good things into your heart or evil/bad things?

2. Have you ever recognized the difference it makes when you allow your life to be filled with things of God and not this world? What difference did you see?

3. Where do you need to replace good things for bad in your life?

4. How do you think this will change what flows from your mouth?

Prayer Starter:

God, I think sometimes we forget that what we put into our lives will eventually come out. We recognize we often are not filling our lives with good, godly things. Will You help us this week to change that? We want the words we speak to others to come from the outpouring of good in our hearts. We want to get rid of the bad and replace it with truth, with goodness, with kindness, with You. Will You please continue to help us use our words for good and not for evil? At the end of our days, we want to stand before You in confidence that we used our words to lift others up, instead of tear them down. We want to honor You with the words we speak and how we treat others. We love You, Lord, and are so thankful for all You do to help us in these areas. In Your mighty name we pray. Amen.

Devo Plus:

I challenge you this week to evaluate everything you are putting into your heart. Think about the TV shows and movies you watch, the friends you go to for advice, the things you read, the music you listen to…then spend time in prayer. Ask God to reveal to you what you are allowing into your life that is not good, and causing evil to spill back out. Once you recognize those things, take the steps to remove those from your life and replace them with God.

Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)

Kind words are like honey—

sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Explanation:

For Israel, honey was not only a luxury, it was also used as medicine. The two-fold use made it all the more suitable to be an emblem, both of the honesty of our verbiage and of the pleasantness of our words. Words from God, through us, offer wholesome truth and refreshing. Many a sore throat has been soothed by a hot cup of tea with some honey in it. It is sweet to the tongue and soothing to the throat. What a beautiful description of using our words to demonstrate extravagant love!

Application:

1. We can make a huge difference in someone’s life just by saying “Thank you.” Getting out of the habit of thanking people is easy to fall into. But it is easy to correct. Beginning to say “thank you” adds value to someone’s life. It encourages them by helping them see how something they did, mattered. Who can you take the time to thank today? Tomorrow? The next day? What about making a list of people you can verbally thank?

2. If we could see into every heart, we would see how many people struggle with feeling insignificant. Everyone has a different story in their heart of how included they feel. What if you started going out of your way to include others? What if you spoke first? What if you invited? What if you mailed? What if you hosted? What if you noticed?

3. Words of encouragement need to go beyond, “Oh, I love your outfit.” People are longing for affirmation beyond a surface level. Giving someone a compliment is very encouraging, but needs to be sincere and highlight something about their character. It takes some thought, so give it some thought. What does that neighbor need to hear from you? What does your mom need to know? What does your team member not know about how you feel? What hasn’t your spouse heard in a long time? Who in your life needs to be nurtured and refreshed by your encouraging words?

4. “Thinking good things” about people is not enough. How can it move from thought to action this week?

Prayer Starter:

Jesus, help me prioritize my time this week to include extravagant encouragement with my words. Help me say no to things that are fogging up my mind and distracting me from pouring into the lives around me. Give me fresh vision for the mission of thanking people who matter in my life, and giving sincere compliments to those around me.

Devo Plus:

Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.

(Proverbs 18:4)

For me, I grew up receiving extravagant encouragement from my mom. Unlike me (because there are times, I don’t always feel like it), my mom breathed life into me on her good days, her sick days, her busy days, and even her sad days. She was such an encouragement to me my entire life.

If you want to stand out, one trait will put you ahead of everybody else: Be an encourager. When you are known for being an encourager, you’ll be a light that can’t be ignored, because encouragement is so difficult to find today. The Bible says, “Encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV).

God has given you the power to either lift someone up or to tear them down. I have known the negative side as well. I grew up with bullies on the playground. People who hurt me terribly with their words. I had an uncle who constantly told me negative comments about how I look until I still can hear those hateful words. Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (NIV).

God calls us to communicate the exact opposite. God wants us to be a light with our words. He didn’t just create those people in your life—He died for them! That’s how much they matter. When we affirm the people we know—even the ones we disagree with or don’t get along with or who just absolutely drive us crazy—we are telling them, “You matter to God, therefore you matter to me.”

Here are three ways to affirm others:

Listen to them.

The Bible says, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 NLT). I have found one of the best gifts you can give someone is an attentive ear. When you listen, you are really saying, “You matter. I value you and what you have to say.”

Use positive words.

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (NLT). When you use positive words of encouragement, you build them up.

Pray for them.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:11, “You are helping us by praying for us” (NLT).

When you pray for the people in your life, you’re building a bridge of ministry. Let them know you are praying for them, and ask how you can pray for them.

So in reality, you have two options: you can either build up…or tear down. Which do you choose?

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (ESV)

Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Explanation:

If you have ever held any leadership role, you know the unique demands it can hold. The demands are usually a blend of great blessing and burden. Burden does not necessarily refer to trials, although that can be a very real part of it, but just a continual concern for the needs of those you are leading. That’s why passages like the one we read today are so pivotal in reminding us how intrinsically valuable encouragement is for every leader. Listen to the words that Moses speaks to Joshua. They speak very personally to the place where Joshua was at and the direction he was headed. I can assure you that they were the exact words Joshua needed to hear, and more so, the words that the rest of Israel needed to hear Moses say about Joshua. Throughout his entire time in leadership, Joshua could look back on this time and remember these powerful words that were spoken to him. You also see in Joshua’s leadership of Israel into the promised land, he too would use nearly the same words of encouragement to keep the Israelites uplifted.

Encouraging words can produce such life in someone’s heart, even years after they are spoken. Encourage those leaders in your life. It may be the exact thing they need to hear, to know they are loved.

Application:

1. When was the last time you encouraged your leaders?

2. Describe a time when you were in a leadership role. How did it feel to be encouraged? Discouraged?

3. Who is a leader you can contact right now to give an encouraging word to?

Prayer Starter:

Clearly Lord, the greatest words we can hear are from You. These are the words of life, and we must trust in them and find encouragement from them, first and foremost. However, Lord, thank You for the times that You have provided someone else with the words to encourage me. Let me be one who also encourages others with my words and actions. Guide me today in finding a leader who I can provide an encouraging word.

Devo Plus:

Make a list of every leader in your life. Each day, select a leader from that list to encourage until all the names are marked off.

James 3:1-12 (ESV)

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Explanation:

I remember as a kid saying the phrase “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” As I’ve matured and grown, I have realized that phrase really is a lie. The words I say about others matter. The words others choose to say to me matter. Our words have great power, whether we recognize it or not.

This passage of scripture is a great reminder for all of us to constantly tame our tongue. What comes out of our mouth is a reflection of our heart. The tongue, though it is a smaller part of the body, has incredible power. We use our mouth to praise and lift high the name of Jesus, yet with the same tongue, we say mean and hurtful things about His creation. We gossip about others, tearing them down to build ourselves up. And I think had social media been around during this time, it would be included. The things we post are coming from our mouth, if we truly think about it. The things we say have incredible potential not only to harm others, but to harm and ruin our testimony. If I worship God one moment, and in the next curse someone else, it takes away from my opportunity to witness to someone. If what I’m saying tears others down, I am really not being a reflection of Jesus to the world.

God is warning us to always remember how incredibly powerful our words are. As humans, we put a lot of stock into what others say. It is time to take a look at our lives and choose to use our tongue, our voice, to lift up God and to encourage others. Our tongue is a powerful tool that can be used for good or evil. May we choose to use it for the good of others and to lift high the name of Jesus.

Application:

1. If you take a moment to think about all of the conversations you have on a daily basis, are you using your words to lift others up, or is your tongue a fire that is destroying the lives of others?

2. How does this passage convict you about the words you are speaking?

3. What needs to change in your life so you can use your words to lift others up and not tear them down? (IE: stop gossiping, speak kindly of others when they aren’t around, speak kindness to others, be encouraging on Facebook and social media)

Prayer Starter:

God, will You help us today? We recognize that our tongues are a powerful tool. We do not want to set a fire with the things we say, but to be encouraging, to be a shining light. We know the only way we can overcome this is with You and Your power. Help us today to speak words of truth, of life, of encouragement. We know our words have power…we long to stop gossiping, putting others down, or posting discouraging words on social media. Instead, help us to be encouraging and to lift others up with the words we say and the things we post. God, we truly want to live an extravagant life that points others to You. Help us use our words today to do that. It is in Your powerful name we pray. Amen.

Devo Plus:

As you interact with others this week, take a moment to pause before you speak. Ask yourself if the words you are about to say will bring death or life to someone else. Let’s be purposed this week to speak life to others.