The Power of Prayer

When I read this verse of Scripture, I am reminded of just how important prayer is in our lives and how blessed we are to have a God who hears us when we call upon Him.

But to truly understand the meaning behind this verse, I think it is important to look at the circumstances in which it was written.

James, who is traditionally understood to be the brother of Jesus and a leader in the early Christian church, wrote his letter to believers who were scattered among the nations and facing various trials and difficulties. His letter offered practical instruction on how to live out their faith, not just in what they believed but in how they treated others and responded to the challenges of life.

In the fifth chapter, James speaks about patience in suffering, prayer during difficult times, and calling upon the Lord when someone is sick. He encourages believers to pray for one another and to support one another in their faith. Then he gives us this beautiful reminder in verse 16: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

James wanted believers to understand that they were not meant to walk through life alone. They were to be a community of people who encouraged one another, confessed their wrongs, offered forgiveness, and lifted one another up in prayer.

I believe that message is just as important for us today.

Sometimes, we may feel that we have to carry our burdens alone. We may be embarrassed to admit our struggles or feel that we should be strong enough to handle everything ourselves. There may even be times when we hesitate to ask someone to pray for us because we don't want to burden them with what we are going through.

But God never intended for us to live as though we have to do everything on our own. He gave us the gift of prayer, and He gave us one another.

There is something special about knowing that someone cares enough to take our needs before the Lord in prayer. There is comfort in knowing that when we are struggling to find the words ourselves, someone else is faithfully asking God to give us strength, wisdom, healing, and peace.

And just as we need others to pray for us, we have the privilege of praying for them. We may not always know what someone is going through behind closed doors, but we can offer encouragement, extend grace, and lift their needs up to the Lord.

The part of this verse that says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective,” is especially meaningful to me. It reminds me that prayer is not simply a routine or a collection of words we speak. It is an opportunity to bring our hearts before the One who knows us completely and loves us unconditionally.

Being righteous does not mean being perfect. We all make mistakes, fall short, and have areas in our lives where we need God's correction and guidance. It means seeking to live according to His will, turning to Him when we fall short, and trusting Him with the things we cannot control.

James goes on to use Elijah as an example of the power of prayer. Elijah was a human being just like us, yet God worked through his prayers in extraordinary ways. I love that reminder because it shows us that prayer is not reserved for a select few. We do not have to be someone extraordinary to pray to an extraordinary God.

We may not always understand God's timing, and our prayers may not be answered in the way we hoped. But that does not mean our prayers are meaningless. We can continue to trust Him, even when we cannot see what He is doing.

As I think about this verse, I am reminded that one of the greatest ways we can love others is through prayer. We can pray for their struggles, their healing, their decisions, their families, and their walk with the Lord. We can also be willing to humble ourselves, admit when we are wrong, and allow others to encourage us in our own faith.

We may never know how much our prayers mean to someone else, but we can always know that bringing someone before the Lord is an act of love.

I am thankful that we serve a God who invites us to come to Him, not only with our own needs but also with the needs of those around us. What a blessing it is to know that we can turn to Him at any time, for any reason, and trust that He hears us.

May we never underestimate the power of prayer, and may we never underestimate the difference it can make when we faithfully pray for one another.

God hears our prayers, God knows our hearts, and God is always worthy of our trust.

Our Worship Must Come From the Heart

(Aiden Wilson Tozer was an American Christian pastor, author, preacher, and magazine 
editor associated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. He became one of the most infl-uential devotional writers of the 20th century.)

Our Worship Must Come From the Heart

When I read this quote by A. W. Tozer, it made me stop and think about how important it is that our hearts line up with the words we speak to God.

It is easy to bow our heads in prayer, lift our hands in worship, and speak about the goodness of God. But are we allowing that same love we receive from Him to flow through us and into the way we treat others?

God knows our hearts. He sees beyond our words, our outward appearances, and what others may see in us. He knows what we hold inside, including the bitterness, resentment, anger, and unforgiveness that we sometimes struggle to let go of.

We cannot ask God to fill our hearts with His love while deliberately choosing to hold on to hate. Our walk with Him should make a difference in the way we see people, the way we speak to them, and the way we respond when we have been hurt.

Jesus made it clear that loving God and loving others go hand in hand. In Matthew 22:37–39, He tells us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Notice that He did not tell us to love only those who agree with us, treat us well, or make it easy to love them. Loving others can be difficult, especially when we have been hurt or disappointed. But as Christians, we are called to let God's love guide our hearts even in those difficult moments.

That does not mean we will never struggle with anger or hurt. We are human, and some wounds take time to heal. Forgiveness does not mean pretending that what happened was acceptable, and loving someone does not mean we must allow them to continue hurting us. We can establish healthy boundaries while still asking God to help us release bitterness and keep our hearts from becoming hardened.

I believe this is where we must be willing to look honestly at ourselves. Are we asking God to help us love as He loves? Are we willing to forgive as He has forgiven us? Are we allowing Him to work on the parts of our hearts that we would sometimes rather leave untouched?

1 John 4:20 reminds us that we cannot claim to love God, whom we have not seen, while hating our brother or sister whom we have seen.

Those are powerful words to consider.

Our worship is about more than what happens when we gather in church or spend time in prayer. It is also reflected in how we live when we leave those moments behind. It is reflected in our attitudes, our conversations, our compassion, and our willingness to extend grace to others.

If we truly desire to draw closer to God, we must be willing to let Him change us from the inside out.

This brings to mind Psalm 139:23–24, where David prayed:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (KJV)

I love this prayer because it begins with our own hearts. It is easy to recognize the faults of others, to see where they have fallen short, or to remember the ways they have hurt us. But are we just as willing to ask God to examine us?

Are there things we are holding on to that He wants us to release? Is there resentment that needs to be surrendered, forgiveness that needs to be extended, or an attitude that needs to change?

When we sincerely ask God to search our hearts, we must also be willing to listen and allow Him to do His work in us. We cannot change our hearts through our own strength alone, but we can surrender them to the One who can.

I know I need His help in this, just as we all do. My prayer is that God will continue to search my heart, show me anything that does not reflect Him, and teach me to love others with the same grace and mercy He has shown me.

May our prayers be sincere, our worship be genuine, and our hearts be filled with a love that others can see through the way we live.

Because in the end, it is not enough to simply speak about God's love. We are called to live it.

Lord, search my heart. Show me anything that does not reflect You, help me release what I need to surrender, and teach me to love as You love. Let my life be a reflection of You, not just my words. In Jesus Name, Amen.

He Knows What We Can Bear

(taken from the Bible App)

He Knows What We Can Bear

When I see this verse, I often think about how God knows how much we can bear.

How often have I been in the middle of something and thought, I can't bear this. I don't know how I'm going to get through this. God, please just take it away.

And more often than not, He doesn't.

Not because He doesn't hear me. Not because He doesn't care. But because He knows something I don't know—what's on the other side of it.

This verse reminds us that God is faithful. He knows our limits, even when we don't. He knows when something feels overwhelming to us, and He promises that we will never face temptation that is beyond what we can bear.

But there is another part of this verse that I think we sometimes overlook.

It tells us that when we are tempted, God will also provide a way out so that we can endure it.

More often than not, our way out of temptation may be as simple as saying NO.

No.

I don't need to go there.

I don't need to say that.

I don't need to respond that way.

I don't need to give in.

But sometimes saying no isn't enough. Sometimes the way out is to turn around and run in the opposite direction.

Joseph is a great example of this. When Potiphar's wife tried to tempt him, Joseph didn't stick around to see how strong his willpower was. He ran. He literally left his garment behind and got himself out of there.

Sometimes wisdom looks like running.

I think we can be guilty of believing that being strong means standing there and proving that we can resist temptation. But maybe sometimes the strongest thing we can do is recognize the temptation for what it is and get as far away from it as possible.

God promises to provide a way out. But we still have to choose to take it.

And that applies to more than just the obvious temptations. Sometimes the thing we need to escape is our own thinking—the thoughts that tell us we're alone, that we can't handle this, that God has forgotten us, or that whatever we're facing will never end.

Those thoughts can be tempting too.

When I'm in the middle of something difficult, I may not be able to see the way out. I may not understand why God hasn't simply removed the situation. I may even wonder how much longer I can keep going.

But God sees what I can't see.

He knows what is on the other side.

He knows what He is doing even when I don't understand it.

And maybe that's part of what faith really looks like—not always knowing how God is going to get us through something, but trusting that He will.

Sometimes He removes the temptation.

Sometimes He gives us the strength to endure it.

Sometimes He tells us to say no.

And sometimes He tells us to run.

Whatever the way out looks like, we can trust that God is faithful enough to provide it.

We just have to be willing to take it.

“God is faithful.”

Those may be some of the most comforting words in this entire verse.

Because when I don't know what to do, He does.

When I can't see the way out, He can.

And when I think I can't bear it, He already knows what I'm capable of bearing—and He is right there with me through it.

Where Is Your Faith?

(taken from an illustration from a sermon my Pastor taught)

Where Is Your Faith? 

When I saw this illustration that our Pastor shared, I knew I wanted to share it here.

It immediately made me stop and think about where my faith is placed.

The illustration says that our faith should be in three main areas:

The blood of Jesus.
The name of Jesus.
The Word of God.

The more I thought about those three things, the more I realized how beautifully they work together.

Faith in the blood of Jesus reminds me of what Jesus did for me.

Romans 3:23-25 tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but that we are justified through Christ Jesus and His sacrifice.

There is nothing I could ever do to earn salvation. I cannot be good enough, work hard enough, or make myself worthy enough. My hope is in what Jesus did for me on the cross.

His blood paid a price I could never pay.

Faith in the name of Jesus reminds me of who I am trusting.

Acts 3:16 tells us that it is faith in the name of Jesus that brings healing and restoration. There is power in His name—not because the name itself is simply a word, but because of who Jesus is.

When I pray, I want my faith to be in Jesus.

When I am afraid, I want my faith to be in Jesus.

When I don't understand what God is doing, I want my faith to remain in Jesus.

And then there is faith in the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 tells us, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

God's Word gives us something solid to stand on when everything around us feels uncertain.

Our feelings change.

Circumstances change.

People change.

Life changes.

But God's Word does not change.

There have been many seasons in my life when I didn't understand what God was doing. I couldn't see what was ahead, and sometimes I didn't even know what I was supposed to do next.

But those are the moments when I have learned that faith isn't about having all the answers.

Faith is trusting the One who does.

When I look at these three areas, I see a beautiful picture:

The blood of Jesus reminds me of what He has done.
The name of Jesus reminds me of who He is.
The Word of God reminds me of what He has said.

And those are three things I never want to forget.

My faith isn't in my circumstances.
My faith isn't in my own strength.
My faith isn't in what I can see.

My faith is in Jesus—His blood, His name, and His Word.

And when I find myself struggling to trust, perhaps the question I need to ask isn't, “Do I have enough faith?”

Maybe the better question is:

“Where have I placed my faith?”

Because when our faith is placed in the right One, we can face whatever comes knowing that God is faithful.  Always. ❤️

---

The Treasures That Fill Our Home

The Treasures That Fill Our Home

When I read these verses, I don't think about a physical house. I think about a home.

Wisdom and knowledge build a strong house. What I take that to mean is that through wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, everyone in a home has a part in making that home stronger. Everyone has a special place to fill.

A house can be beautiful. It can be filled with beautiful furniture, decorations, pictures, and things that we have collected over the years. But none of those things are what truly make a house a home.

The greatest treasures in our home are the people who fill it.

In our home, the rare and beautiful treasures that fill our rooms are our loved ones. Each person is unique and holds value that only they can hold. Each person is rare and beautiful—and I'm not talking about outward beauty.

I'm talking about the beauty that comes from within.

The kindness.
The love.
The laughter.
The wisdom.
The strength.
The compassion.
The faith.
The memories.
The experiences that have shaped each of us into who we are.

These are the things that fill a home with treasures that money could never buy.

Every person brings something different into a family. We each have different personalities, different gifts, different strengths, and even different weaknesses. And yet, God can use all of those differences to build something beautiful.

I think about our own home and how grateful I am for the people God has placed within it. The people I love are not simply occupants of our house. They are the reason it is home.

They are the treasures in the rooms.

And just as Proverbs says, a strong house doesn't happen by accident. It is built. It is established. It takes wisdom, understanding, patience, forgiveness, grace, communication, and most importantly, God.

Because homes aren't perfect.

Families aren't perfect.

People aren't perfect.

But a home built on God doesn't have to be perfect to be strong.

There will be difficult seasons. There will be disagreements. There will be misunderstandings and moments when we don't get it right. But when we allow God to be the foundation of our home, He teaches us how to love each other through those things.

He teaches us to listen when we'd rather speak, to extend grace when we'd rather hold onto hurt, to forgive when it isn't easy, and to value the person in front of us more than whatever disagreement we may be facing.

And perhaps that is part of what makes the treasures in our rooms so rare and beautiful.

They aren't valuable because they are perfect.

They are valuable because they are ours—and because God entrusted them to us.

When I look around our home, I don't want to see only what we've accumulated. I want to see what God has built.

I want the walls of our home to hold memories of laughter, conversations, celebrations, tears, prayers, hard seasons, answered prayers, and ordinary days that we didn't realize were actually some of the most precious days of our lives.

I want our home to be a place where the people inside it know they are loved, valued, safe, and accepted.

Because one day, the furniture will be old. The decorations will change. Things will break, be replaced, or eventually be gone.

But the people God has given us?

They are the treasures.

And if I have learned anything, it is that the most beautiful things in life aren't things at all.

They are people.

They are relationships.

They are memories.

They are the love we give and receive.

They are the people who walk beside us through every season.

And when God is the One building the house, He doesn't just fill its rooms with possessions.

He fills them with rare and beautiful treasures.

I pray that our home will always be a place where those treasures are recognized, cherished, protected, and loved.

Because to me, that is what makes a house a home.

Taking Every Thought Captive

Taking Every Thought Captive

Paul wrote these words as he was defending his ministry and his authority as an apostle.

In this verse, Paul tells us two ways he wages war on behalf of the gospel. First, he demolishes arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against “the knowledge of God.” Second, he takes every thought captive and makes it obedient to Christ.

Demolishing arguments and pretensions seems easy enough, doesn’t it? After all, who doesn’t like to battle over what they believe to be true? Almost no one backs down when they wholeheartedly believe in something strongly enough.

The last part is more tricky, though, isn’t it?

That’s the part that is much harder to do.

Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Doing that means we have to think and live the way Christ would have us think and live. I don’t know about you, but I mess up on this a lot.

My thoughts are all over the place on any given day. Reeling them in and bringing them into obedience to Christ is not a natural thing for me to do—and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

I’m always thinking about what has been, what I’m dealing with currently, and what’s to come in the future.

None of us can see the future. We can look back at the past and know what we do and don’t want in our lives. We can look at what is happening right now and think about ways to make things better, hoping and praying for a better outcome when all is said and done.

But what if we thought about all of it through the lens of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?

That is something I sometimes struggle with—especially when I want to control the outcome myself.

I'm sure you understand that because you may struggle with the same thing.

I can pray about something and then, not long afterward, find myself trying to figure out how I can fix it. I can give something to God and then start taking it back with my thoughts, my worries, my plans, and my attempts to control the outcome.

Maybe that's exactly where taking our thoughts captive becomes so important.

We have to recognize the thought, hold it up against what we know about God, and then decide whether we are going to let that thought control us—or surrender it to Him.

No one ever said living our lives in obedience to Christ would be easy. It most certainly isn't.

My flesh is always fighting with my spirit in a tug-of-war, with one wanting to win out over the other. I'm thankful that, more often than not, I give way to my spirit. But sometimes it takes me realizing that I've allowed my flesh to get in the way before I finally surrender that thought, that worry, that fear, or that desire for control back to God.

And I'm just glad that Christ wins out in the end.

Maybe that's what I need to remind myself of more often:

I don't have to win every battle in my mind. I just have to surrender every thought to the One who has already won the greatest battle.

Walking with Him is what truly matters.

Giving my thoughts to Him makes all the difference—not only for me, but for my family and the way I live my life.

Will things always go the way I think they should? No. We are living in a fallen world, and difficult things will happen. Disappointments will come. Plans will change. Some things will hurt.

But I know Who is with me.

I know Who holds my past, my present, and my future.

I know Who sees what I cannot see.

And I know that when I surrender my thoughts to Him, I don't have to carry the weight of figuring everything out on my own.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

That's more than just a verse to read.

It's a way to live.

And for me, it's a daily reminder that when my mind starts running ahead, behind, or in a hundred different directions, I can stop, take that thought captive, and bring it back to Christ.

Because my thoughts may not always be under control—but they can always be surrendered to the One who is.

Esteeming Others

(image is from Dollywood's social media page)

Esteeming Others

God has brought this verse to my attention several times this year and it has been making me stop and think about my own heart.

I think most of us would say we don't want to be selfish or prideful. I certainly don't. But if I'm being honest, I can still find myself making life about me without even realizing it.

How am I being treated?
Do they appreciate me?
Do they understand me?
What about what I need?
What about what I want?

And sometimes those questions aren't wrong. We all have needs, boundaries, and things that matter. But this verse reminds me that following Christ means I can't make myself the center of everything.

Paul tells us, “Let each esteem others better than himself.”

That doesn't mean I have to believe that I'm less valuable than everyone else. It doesn't mean I have to ignore my own needs or allow people to mistreat me. I don't believe God calls us to live that way.

To me, it means choosing to look beyond myself.

Choosing to notice someone else's needs.

Choosing to listen instead of always needing to be heard.

Choosing to celebrate someone else's accomplishments without feeling like they take anything away from my own.

Choosing to serve when I could be served.

Choosing to love when it would be easier to walk away.

And maybe most importantly, choosing to remember that my worth doesn't depend on being better than someone else.

I don't have to compete for my value.

I don't have to prove that I'm important.

I don't have to be the smartest person in the room, have the last word, or receive recognition for everything I do.

Because my identity is found in Christ.

And when I truly understand that, it becomes easier to lift someone else up.

Looking to Jesus

What makes this verse even more powerful to me is what Paul says next.

He doesn't simply tell us to be humble. He points us to Jesus.

Philippians 2:5 says:

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus had every reason to be exalted, yet He willingly humbled Himself and became a servant.

The King became a servant.

The One who deserved glory chose sacrifice.

And He did it for us.

That puts my own little moments of pride into perspective.

If Jesus could humble Himself for the sake of others, how can I refuse to humble myself when God gives me the opportunity to love, serve, encourage, or put someone else first?

I know I won't get this right every time. I am still learning. God is still working on my heart, and I am grateful that He doesn't expect me to arrive at perfection before He can use me.

Sometimes humility looks like saying, “I was wrong.”

Sometimes it looks like letting something go.

Sometimes it means celebrating someone else's victory.

Sometimes it means listening instead of defending myself.

Sometimes it means putting someone else's needs ahead of my own.

And sometimes it simply means asking God to help me see people the way He sees them.

A Different Way to Live

The world often teaches us to look out for number one.

Build yourself up.

Make sure you're recognized.

Get ahead.

Protect your position.

Make sure everyone knows what you've accomplished.

But Jesus shows us another way.

Serve.
Love.
Give.
Encourage.
Forgive.
Lift others up.
Put others first.

That doesn't make us weak.

It makes us more like Him.

And I think that's what Philippians 2:3 is really asking of me—not to think less of myself, but to stop making myself the center of the story.

Because when my eyes are fixed on Jesus, I have less need to prove myself.

I can celebrate someone else's blessings.

I can cheer someone else on.

I can extend grace.

I can serve without needing recognition.

I can love without keeping score.

And I can remember that there is plenty of room in God's kingdom for someone else to shine without making my own light any dimmer.

Lord, give me the heart of Jesus.

Help me lay down selfish ambition and pride. Help me see others through Your eyes. Help me to listen more, serve more, encourage more, and love more.

And when I'm tempted to make everything about me, remind me that it was never about me in the first place.

It has always been about You.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

That is the heart I want.

Not a heart that asks, “What can I get?”

But a heart that asks,

“How can I love?”

“How can I serve?”

“How can I bless someone today?”

Because that is the kind of heart that looks a little more like Jesus.

An Undivided Heart

An Undivided Heart

I have read this verse many times, but recently the words “give me an undivided heart” have really stayed with me.

There is something powerful about knowing the circumstances surrounding this prayer.

Psalm 86 is a prayer of David. We aren't told exactly what situation prompted him to write it, but we know he was in distress. He describes himself as poor and needy and speaks of arrogant and ruthless people coming against him. He was asking God for help, protection, mercy, strength, and comfort.

And yet, in the middle of all of that, David says:

“Teach me your way, LORD.”

Not just change my circumstances.

Not just make this easier.

Not just tell me when this is going to end.

Teach me Your way.

That really makes me stop and think.

Because if I'm being honest, there have been plenty of times in my life when my prayer has been more about asking God to change what is happening around me than asking Him to change what is happening inside of me.

I want answers.

I want clarity.

I want to know what is coming next.

I want to know how everything is going to work out.

And sometimes I want God to show me the destination when He is simply asking me to trust Him with the next step.

But David's prayer goes even deeper.

“Give me an undivided heart.”

The NKJV says, “Unite my heart to fear Your name.” The idea is a heart that is made whole or single-minded in its devotion to God.

An undivided heart.

What would that look like in my life?

It would mean trusting God when I understand what He is doing and when I don't.

It would mean believing He is faithful when I can see His hand and when I can't.

It would mean not allowing fear, worry, disappointment, circumstances, or my own desire to control things to pull my heart away from Him.

Because isn't that what happens so easily?

We can love God and still worry.

We can trust God and still try to control everything.

We can believe God is faithful and still wonder, “But what if this doesn't turn out the way I hope?”

We can have one part of our heart saying, “God, I trust You,” while another part is quietly saying, “But I need to figure this out myself.”

Maybe that's why David's prayer resonates with me so much.

He wasn't praying this from a place where everything was perfect.

He was praying it in the middle of trouble.

And perhaps that is when an undivided heart matters most.

It is easy to praise God when everything is going the way we hoped.

It is much harder—and perhaps much more meaningful—to say:

“Lord, I don't understand this, but teach me Your way.”

“Lord, I don't know what comes next, but help me rely on Your faithfulness.”

“Lord, my heart is being pulled in a hundred different directions, so unite my heart and keep it focused on You.”

I think about how many times God has already proven Himself faithful in my own life.

Looking back, I can see things I couldn't see while I was living through them.

I can see prayers that weren't answered the way I thought they would be, but were answered in ways I didn't yet understand.

I can see places where I thought God was absent, only to realize later that He was protecting me, redirecting me, growing me, or preparing something I couldn't see.

And I can look at where I am today and know that God's faithfulness was never dependent upon my ability to understand His plan.

He was faithful then.

He is faithful now.

And He will be faithful in whatever comes next.

That's why I think this verse is more than simply a beautiful Scripture.

It is a prayer I want to pray over my own life:

Lord, teach me Your way.

Not my way.

Not the way that feels easiest.

Not the way that gives me the answers I want right now.

Your way.

Teach me to rely on Your faithfulness rather than my own understanding.

And when my heart becomes divided between faith and fear, control and surrender, what I want and what You are doing...

unite my heart.

Bring me back to You.

Remind me who You are.

Remind me of everything You have already brought me through.

Remind me that I don't have to know what tomorrow holds when I know Who holds tomorrow.

And may I be able to say, just as David did, that I will praise You “with my whole heart.”

Because at the end of the day, that's what I want.

Not simply a life where everything goes according to my plan.

But a heart that belongs completely to God.

An undivided heart.

A heart that trusts.

A heart that listens.

A heart that follows.

A heart that remembers.

And above all...

a heart that is fully His.

Lord, teach me Your way.

Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light

Before God spoke, the earth was described as formless and empty, with darkness covering the deep. There was no order, no beauty, and no life as we know it.

And then God spoke:

“Let there be light.”

And there was light.

This is the first recorded command of God in Scripture. God didn't need materials to create it. He didn't need to struggle against another power. He simply spoke, and creation responded.

There is something especially significant about the fact that God created light before the sun, moon, and stars. Those heavenly bodies aren't introduced until the fourth day (Genesis 1:14–19). The light in these first verses, therefore, isn't simply a description of sunlight. It demonstrates God's authority over creation.

Light existed because God commanded it to exist.

Then Genesis 1:4 says:

“God saw that the light was good.”

God distinguished the light from the darkness, establishing the pattern of light and darkness, day and night. Throughout Genesis 1, we repeatedly see God bringing order out of what was previously without form and filling what was empty.

And there is a beautiful theme here.

The Bible begins with darkness.

And God's first recorded creative word is:

“Let there be light.”

That theme of light continues throughout Scripture.

Light becomes associated with God's presence, truth, righteousness, revelation, and salvation. Later, Jesus declares:

“I am the light of the world.” — John 8:12

John's Gospel intentionally echoes Genesis when it begins:

“In the beginning was the Word...” — John 1:1

John goes on to tell us that life was in Him, and that life was the light of all mankind, and that the light shines in the darkness (John 1:4–5).

So Genesis begins with God bringing physical light into a dark creation, while the larger story of Scripture ultimately points us toward Christ bringing spiritual light into a dark world.

And this is where these verses become personal for me.

I've had seasons in my own life when things didn't look anything like I thought they would. Times when I didn't understand what God was doing. Times when I couldn't see what was ahead or how He could possibly bring something good out of circumstances that felt anything but good.

But looking back, I can see something I couldn't always see in the moment:

God was there.

He was working even when I couldn't see Him working.

He was bringing order where I couldn't see any order.

He was making something beautiful out of things I might have considered broken, empty, or even the result of my own poor choices.

I've learned that God doesn't need everything to already be in order before He begins His work.

Look at Genesis.

It was formless.

It was empty.

It was dark.

And God spoke.

“Let there be light.”

And there was light.

That doesn't mean every dark season in our lives disappears immediately when we pray. Scripture certainly doesn't promise that. There will be seasons when we don't understand, when we have to wait, when we hurt, and when we simply have to trust God in the middle of the darkness.

I've had to learn that too.

But these verses remind me of who God is in the darkness.

He is the God who creates where there seems to be nothing.

He brings order where there is chaos.

He brings beauty where there is emptiness.

And He brings light where there is darkness.

Sometimes we want God to show us the whole picture before we can trust Him. We want to know what He's doing, where He's leading, and how everything is going to work out.

But Genesis 1 reminds me that God doesn't need me to understand what He's doing.

He simply needs me to trust who He is.

Because He is still the God who speaks into darkness.

And when God speaks, darkness doesn't get to argue with Him.

“Let there be light.”

And there was light.

That is the God I know.

And that is the God I trust.

Darkness may be present, but darkness does not have the final word when God is present.

Genesis 1:3–4 isn't merely telling us that God created light. It introduces us to a God who speaks into darkness and brings forth something good.

And if He can do that with creation, I believe He can do it in us, too.

Whoever Has Ears to Hear, Let Them Hear

Whoever Has Ears to Hear, Let Them Hear

In Mark 4, Jesus is teaching a large crowd gathered beside the Sea of Galilee. The crowd is so large that Jesus gets into a boat and teaches them from the water while they stand along the shore.

He tells them a parable about a farmer scattering seed. The seed falls on four different kinds of ground:

• Along the path — the seed is quickly taken away.
• On rocky ground — it springs up quickly but has no depth and withers.
• Among thorns — the plants grow, but the thorns choke them.
• On good soil — the seed takes root and produces a harvest.

Then Jesus says:

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

He wasn't merely talking about having functioning ears. Everyone in the crowd could physically hear His words. Jesus was talking about something deeper: Are you really listening? Are you allowing God's Word to take root in you? Are you willing to respond to what He is saying?

Later, when Jesus is alone with His disciples and those around Him, He explains the parable. The seed represents the Word of God, and the different soils represent the different ways people receive that Word.

That makes Mark 4:9 a very personal verse. It causes me to ask myself, Am I really hearing what God is saying to me, or am I simply reading His Word and moving on?

I have read this Scripture many times, but sometimes a verse we've read over and over suddenly makes us stop and think about it a little differently.

Jesus says:

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

The interesting thing about the parable is that the seed itself isn't the problem. The difference is what happens when the seed lands on different kinds of soil.

That makes me think about my own heart.

I can read my Bible every day. I can underline verses, write notes in the margins, listen to sermons and Bible teachers, and spend time studying God's Word — and I do all of that. But am I really hearing it?

Am I allowing God's Word to correct me when I need correction?

Am I willing to change when God shows me something that needs to change?

Am I listening when He reminds me to trust Him instead of trying to figure everything out myself?

Am I hearing Him when He tells me to forgive, to be patient, to love someone, to let go of worry, or simply to be still and trust Him?

There is a difference between hearing words and truly listening to them.

I think that is part of what Jesus was getting at when He said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

God's Word is speaking. The question isn't whether He has something to say. The question is whether I am willing to stop, listen, and let His Word take root in me.

I've been reading through the Bible this year with The Bible Recap plan on the Bible App, and one thing I continue to realize is that God's Word isn't meant to simply give me information. It is meant to change me. It is meant to shape how I think, how I live, how I treat people, and how I respond to the circumstances of life.

Sometimes God speaks something that encourages me.

Sometimes He speaks something that challenges me.

Sometimes He speaks something I don't necessarily want to hear.

But if I truly want to follow Him, I need to have ears that are willing to hear all of it—not just the parts that are comfortable.

That is my prayer:

“Lord, help me not just to read Your Word, but to truly hear it. Give me a heart that is good soil. Help me recognize Your voice, receive what You are saying, and then live it out.”

Because having ears to hear isn't simply about listening to God's Word.

It's about being willing to do something with what we hear.

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Lord, I'm listening.

Do Not Be Wise in Your Own Eyes

(I had AI make this for me. It's amazing at how well it can follow instructions.)

Do Not Be Wise in Your Own Eyes

I love reading Proverbs. It's one of my favorite books of the Bible to read.

I heard it said many times when I was younger that if you can't read the entire Bible in a year, then be sure to read the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. I've done my best to do that over the years, although I haven't always succeeded.

But there is something about Proverbs that keeps drawing me back. There is so much wisdom packed into those chapters, and so many of the verses are practical reminders of how we're supposed to live.

This verse is a great reminder:

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and Shun Evil."
Proverbs 3:7

When I read, "Do not be wise in your own eyes," I basically take it to mean don't think your wisdom is better than the Lord's.

And boy, can we get ourselves into trouble when we do that!

It's easy to think we know what is best. We look at a situation, make our plans, follow our feelings or desires, and convince ourselves that we've got it all figured out. But the Lord sees what we can't see. He knows what we don't know. His understanding is far greater than ours.

Being wise in our own eyes is really a matter of pride. It's saying, in one way or another, "I know better."

And I've certainly had my moments of doing that.

Then the verse goes on to say, "Fear the Lord and Shun Evil."

I don't take "fear the Lord" to mean that I need to be shaking in my boots because of what the Lord will do to me.

Fear can take on so many meanings, but when I see "Fear the Lord," my mind goes to reverence, honor and awe.

I need to hold the Lord in the highest regard. I need to recognize who He is and who I am in comparison to Him. I need to give Him my utmost attention because of all that He has done for me. And I need to give Him the praise, honor and respect that He deserves.

In other words, I need to trust His wisdom more than my own.

And then there is that last part: "Shun Evil."

I take that to mean that anything that isn't honoring to the Lord shouldn't have a place in my life. I shouldn't flirt with it, entertain it or make room for it.

I should shun it.

It needs to stay behind me. It needs to have no place in my heart, my mind or my life.

Man, have I had ample opportunity for evil to really take up residence in my life by trying to be wise in my own eyes.

I remember a time when I lived like a hellion even though I knew better. I wanted my way, and there was nothing anyone—not even the Lord—could say or do that was gonna stop me.

I thought I knew what I was doing.

I thought I knew what I wanted.

I thought doing things my way was going to make me happy.

But ya know what?

That only works for a short while.

Eventually, living that way begins to eat you up inside because deep down you know better. You know when you're going against what the Lord has shown you. And no matter how much we try to convince ourselves otherwise, doing things our own way doesn't bring the true peace and fulfillment we're looking for.

I've learned that God's way really is better than my way.

That doesn't mean following Him makes life perfect or that I'll never struggle. It means that I've learned I don't have to figure everything out on my own. I can trust the One who sees the whole picture when I can only see a tiny piece of it.

And maybe that's part of what this verse is reminding me of.

Don't be so wise in your own eyes that you forget who God is.

Don't let pride convince you that your way is better.

Don't let the things of this world take up residence in your heart.

Instead, humble yourself before the Lord. Reverence Him. Trust His wisdom. Follow His ways. And when something isn't pleasing to Him, shun it.

So what this verse teaches me is this:

Don't live for yourself.

Give the Lord the respect, honor and reverence that He deserves.

Trust His wisdom over your own.

And don't allow evil to have any place in your heart or life.

Because I've learned the hard way that being wise in my own eyes can lead me down a path I never intended to go.

But when I humble myself, trust the Lord and follow His ways, I know I'm walking in the direction He wants me to go.

And that's a much better place to be.

May the Words of My Mouth

There are some Bible verses that seem to find us at just the right time.

Psalm 19:14 is one of those verses for me.

I love how this verse is both simple and deep. It is a prayer—but it's also a reminder of the kind of woman I want to be.

A Little Background

Psalm 19 was written by David, and I love the way this psalm unfolds.

In the beginning, David looks at God's creation and recognizes that the heavens declare God's glory. Then he turns his attention to God's Word, describing it as perfect, trustworthy, right, pure and more valuable than gold.

And then, toward the end of the psalm, David turns the focus toward himself.

After looking at who God is and reflecting on God's Word, David essentially says, Now, Lord, look at me.

That's where we find Psalm 19:14.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

I think there is something very intentional about David mentioning both his mouth and his heart.

The Words of My Mouth

Lord, let my words please You.

That's a pretty big prayer when you really stop and think about it.

It's easy to think about our words when we're sitting in church or talking about the Lord. But what about our words when we're frustrated? When we're tired? When someone has hurt us? When we're irritated or disappointed?

Those moments can reveal what's really going on inside us.

I've certainly had moments in my life when I've said something and later wished I could take it back. And as I've gotten older, I've become more aware of just how powerful our words can be.

Words can encourage someone.

They can make someone laugh.

They can bring comfort when someone is hurting.

But words can also wound.

Sometimes we don't even realize how deeply something we've said has affected someone else.

That's why I love that David doesn't simply say, "May the words of my mouth be good."

He says, "May they be pleasing in your sight."

It's not ultimately about whether everyone else approves of what I say.

It's about whether God is pleased with what comes out of my mouth.

And Then There Is My Heart...

This is the part that really makes me stop.

“...and the meditation of my heart...”

What we meditate on is what we think about, dwell on, ponder and allow to occupy our minds.

And God sees those things too.

Other people hear my words, but God sees my heart.

He knows the thoughts I don't say out loud.

He knows the things I worry about.

He knows the things that hurt me.

He knows the things I struggle to let go of.

He knows the thoughts that can creep into my mind when I'm frustrated, disappointed or discouraged.

And that makes this verse much more personal to me.

Because I can sometimes control what comes out of my mouth while still having thoughts in my heart that aren't pleasing to God.

I can say the right thing while thinking something completely different.

God wants more than just the right words. He wants our hearts.

As I've Gotten Older...

I think about this verse differently now than I might have years ago.

Life has a way of teaching us things.

I've experienced joy and disappointment, answered prayers and prayers that seemed to go unanswered. I've experienced loss, changes, relationships, family situations and all the things that come with simply living life.

And through it all, I've learned that I don't want to just look like a Christian.

I want my life to actually reflect Christ.

That means I want my words to reflect Him.

But I also want my thoughts, attitudes, motives and the things nobody else sees to reflect Him too.

That's harder.

Because it's easy to clean up the outside.

It's harder to let God work on the inside.

And honestly, that's where I still need Him every single day.

"My Rock and My Redeemer"

I also love how David ends this verse.

He calls God “my Rock and my Redeemer.”

My Rock.

The One who is steady when life isn't.

The One I can lean on when I don't have all the answers.

The One who doesn't change when everything around me does.

And my Redeemer.

The One who doesn't expect me to have everything figured out or to be perfect.

The One who can take my mistakes, my failures, my weaknesses and my messes and redeem them.

That gives me hope.

Because Psalm 19:14 isn't a prayer that says, "Lord, look at how well I'm doing."

It's really more like:

"Lord, I need You to help me."

Help me with my words.

Help me with my thoughts.

Help me with my attitudes.

Help me with the things in my heart that nobody else sees.

Help me become more like You.

A Prayer I Want to Pray Every Day

The older I get, the more I realize that I want to be intentional about what I allow into my heart and what I allow to come out of my mouth.

I don't always get it right.

But I want to keep growing.

I want to be the kind of person whose words encourage more than they hurt.

Whose thoughts are focused more on God's goodness than on life's disappointments.

Whose heart is quick to forgive.

Whose attitude reflects gratitude.

Whose life points people toward Jesus.

So this verse has become more than just a beautiful Scripture to me.

It's a prayer.

Lord, may the words of my mouth be pleasing to You.

May the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You.

When I'm happy, may my words honor You.

When I'm frustrated, may my words honor You.

When I'm hurt, may my words honor You.

When I'm alone with my thoughts, may my heart honor You.

And when I fail—and I will—may I turn back to You, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Because at the end of the day, that's really what I want.

Not just to say the right things, but to have a heart that is right with Him.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
— Psalm 19:14 NIV

That's my prayer today. And honestly, I think it's a pretty good prayer for every day.