Journey Magazine Sample

A WOMAN’S GUIDE TO INTIMACY WITH GOD ™

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SEPTEMBER 2018

SEPTEMBER 2018

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Journey devotional magazine equips women to develop a daily walk with God and to serve Him in their homes, churches, and communities.

VOLUME 25, NUMBER 9, SEPTEMBER 2018

Production & Ministry Team Eric Geiger

Kelly King

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, LIFEWAY RESOURCES

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Faith Whatley

GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST

DIRECTOR, ADULT MINISTRY

Emily Chadwell MANAGER, ADULT MINISTRY MAGAZINES AND DEVOTIONALS

Contents

Dawn Wyse

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GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES PROVIDED BY

Suzanne Wade

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Journey: A Woman’s Guide to Intimacy with God (ISSN 1073-4473; Item 005075231) is a Christian women’s devotional magazine published monthly by LifeWay Press®, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President, LifeWay Christian Resources. Copyright ©2018

by LifeWay Press®.

EDITOR’S NOTES

D EVOTION A LS

5 14 23 34 41

Week One Week Two Week Three Week Four Week Five

J EN ’ S JOU R N EY 12 “Turn and Greet Your Neighbor”

by Jennifer McCaman 21 Pride Is a Frequent Visitor

by Scarlet Hiltibidal

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M Y JOU R N EY

22 Even in Death, God Wins

by Dennika Pryor

WA LKIN G THE TA LK

30 When We Are Weak

by Emily Chadwell 32

NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

Editor’s N O T E S

L

ast year I spent a long weekend with my sister-in-law.

She picked me up after an event and we made our way back toward Boston. Along our route we passed an antique store. A certain yard sheep captured her attention. We stopped to investigate its condition, and, more importantly, its price.

She said she had been searching for a sheep just like it for a long time, but the price was way out of her budget.

We left, discouraged the yard sheep would not have a new home.

In the months that followed, I began the search for a sheep with a more

reasonable price tag. After attending a local festival with friends, we discovered a store displaying yard sheep! The price was right and the purchase was made.

Delighted with my find, my friend quipped, “You found the lost sheep you were searching for. Sounds like the Bible, don’t you think?” Yes! I may have searched to find the perfect yard sheep, but the Lord searches for every lost soul and passionately pursues those who need a Good Shepherd. “Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!” (Luke 15:6).

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

To read more from Kelly, visit her blog at www.lifeway.com/womensministry/.

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“I am the vine; you are the branches.

The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.�

JOHN 15:5

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

Loving Our Enemies “B UT I TELL YOU, LOV E YOU R EN EM I ES A N D P R AY F O R TH OS E WHO P ER SEC U T E YOU ” ( M AT T HEW 5: 4 4 ) .

Every year my husband, my kids, and I go on vacation with my extended family. My parents, siblings, and our children travel to some location and spend a week catching up and watching the cousins play. On the surface it sounds lovely; the only catch is that almost every person in my family is an unbeliever. Spending a week surrounded by unbelievers is quite the challenge for not only me but also for my believing husband.

During our vacation week, it’s hard when worldviews collide; it’s hard when my husband and I try so hard to be kind and patient with others who just don’t see the world as we do. When you add to this the spiritual battle in the invisible realm, my husband and I often leave vacation feeling beaten up with none of my family the wiser as to how challenging it has been for us.

There are also those moments when the conflict in worldviews becomes too much, and in the privacy of our room my husband and I get mad. We get angry for being treated as inferior for loving Jesus or as stupid for giving to our church.

It’s really difficult at times. Sadly, we sometimes take our frustration out on each other because we’re trying to be such nice Christians to everyone else.

Sometimes I can’t even sleep at night because I’m running over conversations with my family in my head.

The culprit of much criticism is often my dad. Sometimes I feel a lot of anger toward him because of the way he treats me and my family. However, one vacation morning I woke up and found my dad sitting quietly at the kitchen table, eating his breakfast all by himself, and suddenly my heart was flooded with compassion for him. It was as though God was showing me the fragile, old man that is my father and filling my heart with love for him.

With my dad sitting there, unaware that I was watching him, I felt as though God helped me see him LUKE as he really is — a 6:27-28 broken, lost person in need of the grace of God. My anger was replaced by compassion and sadness.

In such moments, I’m thankful God reveals His loving heart for the lost, displaying His compassion and mercy; it helps renew a sense of love in my heart during tough situations and makes even more clear Jesus’ words to pray for those who persecute us.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith God, please help me to love my enemies and pray for those who hurt me.

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Fit Faith “YO U SEE THAT FA IT H WAS AC T I V E TOG ET HER W I TH H I S WO R KS , A N D BY WOR KS, FA I T H WAS M A D E CO MP L E TE ” (JA M ES 2: 22) .

A woman in my Sunday School class recently began teaching a fitness class at our local YMCA called Body Combat.

In my quest to be healthy, I joined her one Wednesday morning. The name should have been my first clue — it was brutal, but in a good way.

Being right-hand dominant wasn’t news to me. However, until that class, I never realized how dominant my entire right side was. We did punches, jabs, and kicks on the right, then switched to our left.

When we switched to the left side, my brain struggled to JAMES make sense of what 2:14-26 was taking place. I laughed out loud! My friend began calling extra instructions, trying to clarify what my body was supposed to be doing. She offered encouraging smiles between deep breaths, but the struggle was clear: my left side was my weak side. I had no idea how much the right side of my body dominated everything.

My workout was uncomfortable as I focused hard on each step. My lopsidedness was not evident until I needed to use my left side. Then it became glaringly obvious, which led me to wonder, Can we also get lopsided in our faith?

James 2:26 says, “Faith without works is dead.” We can be devoted to studying Scripture and worshiping God all day; that is honorable. However, faith is an action word. Our faith has feet when we put it into action with works guided by God. Likewise, always “doing” for the Lord without spending time with Him in study and prayer is also inadequate. Exercising our faith through works is key.

There are many ways to work out our spiritual muscles — prayer, Scripture, worship, thanksgiving, serving, and so forth. It’s important that we don’t get stuck using the same few muscles. I recently learned that the exercise class I attended teaches new movements every three months so that we don’t get cemented into a routine and neglect certain muscle groups in our body.

Take some time today to reflect with God on your spiritual “body.” Are there areas that need to be exercised a little more? Are you cemented into a religious routine that’s keeping you from experiencing God in a real and intimate way?

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, help me to see where You are working so that I can join You by exercising both faith and works.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Remaining Hidden “S E T YOUR MIN DS ON T HI N G S A BOV E, N OT ON E A R TH LY TH I N G S .

F O R YOU DIED, A N D YOU R L I F E I S HI D D EN W I TH C H R I ST I N G O D” (COLOSSI A N S 3 : 2-3 ) .

I recently experienced a little of what it means to be “hidden.”

Just after launching a brand new book and making sure all my online promotion was in place, my updated and redesigned website went down — unexplainably — for three days. Three whole days of no one being able to find me through an Internet search of my name or new book title. Three whole days of my links in my online articles going to a “page not found.” Three whole days of being virtually invisible.

I guess you could say that for three days I was completely hidden from the electronic world.

After numerous calls to technical support to ask them to get back to me so they could fix the problem, and numerous messages to my website manager to stay on top of the problem so I could be “back in business,” I finally found myself on my knees and at my wits’ end. God, this is completely out of my control, but it didn’t take You by surprise at all. Please show me what You want me to see in all of this. And please help me to rest in You no matter what is going on around me. I am Yours and so is everything I commit to You, even if I’m completely hidden right now.

As I prayed those words, I started thinking about the concept of being “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).

To be hidden with Christ is to identify with Him so completely that I don’t care about my image or reputation anymore.

It means that I am covered, protected, and rendered invisible, so others see Him and not me.

And then it dawned on me. Perhaps that’s what we all should be in the midst of any kind of drama that comes our way: invisible, so others see Christ and not us. Imagine — as people were talking about you, as someone was going out of his or her way to make you miserable, or as you were dealing PSALM with the frustration 32:7 of something you couldn’t control — if you were to just stay “hidden with Christ in God.” Because your life is hidden in Him, He is protecting you and guarding your name, which is really His name. By hiding yourself in Him, you can stay hidden until He works it all out.

Oh, to be so hidden in Him that I am at perfect peace no matter what comes!

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, may it be more important to me to be hidden in You than to be noticed by the whole world.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Turning Frustrations Into Opportunities “BE ANGRY A N D DO N OT SI N ; ON YOU R BED, R E F L E C T I N YO U R HEART A N D BE STILL . OF F ER SAC R I F I C ES I N R I G H TE O U S N E SS A N D TRUST I N T HE LOR D ” ( P SA L M 4 :4 - 5) .

My mother-in-law and I couldn’t help but laugh as we chatted about a common struggle we both experience in marriage: our husbands’ dirty clothes always seem to be on the floor. Both of us share the task of picking them up and tossing them in the hamper. We shook our heads and found the mystery of it all humorous. Why, oh why, can’t they just use the hamper?

The truth is, though, little frustrations like this and thousands more like it can become a wedge in our marriage if we let them. How we deal with those EPHESIANS frequent and petty 4:20-32 annoyances will not only save our marriage, but also our sanity.

I find this to be true as well as I parent my little ones. I need more patience than I possess when dealing with my kids’ repetitive, noisy habits or episodes of repeated disobedience. With just the right amount of sleep deprivation and stress, these seemingly small irritations can get the best of me, causing me to sin.

Moses found himself in situations like these with the Israelites in the wilderness. Finally, their incessant complaining got to him. God told him to speak to the rock and He would provide water from it. In Moses’ anger

and frustration toward the people, he hit the rock instead. God still gave the water, but Moses would not be allowed into the promised land because of his disobedience. We don’t want to follow this example of disobedience, so how can we handle daily agitations in a way that honors God? Whether I’m picking up dirty laundry from the floor or trying to love my children in their sin, I tell myself that this is just a brief moment in the span of my life for which God can give me grace. My marriage is for the long haul, which means I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll be forgiving my husband 70 times 7 until we die, just as he’ll be forgiving me. I expect frustrations to occur, but I also know they’re shortlived. I can have grace for that, as a friend of mine says.

I also remind myself to step back and see the bigger picture. God is wanting to use all of these small moments to change me into a more Christlike woman. Am I willing? As I lean into the Holy Spirit’s help, I can put aside bitter thoughts and instead give a gracious, loving, and patient response.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, may Your grace enable me to trade frustrations for holiness.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

He Knows Tomorrow “COMMIT YOU R WAY TO T HE LOR D ; T R U ST I N H I M, AND HE W I L L AC T ” ( P SA L M 37 : 5) .

My job had become more than I could handle. A year earlier I had returned to work after giving birth to my second child and suffering a shocking heart attack — all in the same week. My employer had graciously obliged my request to work part-time, even though my job was more than a full-time load. Cutting back on my work was my best attempt at regaining some sense of normalcy. I knew it was a stretch, though, and I soon found myself experiencing more stress than was physically or emotionally healthy for me.

I had always dreamed of staying at home with my babies, but that was not our immediate plan when our daughter was born. We wanted to pay off some debt and achieve a more comfortable place financially. We definitely did not plan for me to have a heart attack. But God was unveiling a much different journey for us. It appeared my heart’s desire was being granted through the most unlikely of circumstances.

The Lord made it very clear to my husband and me, after weeks of prayer and agonizing over the situation, that my staying home was the next right step for us. I planned to tell my boss that I was going to resign.

When I walked into work that day, my nerves were through the roof with doubt. How will we do this financially?

Am I making a career-ending move?

What if I find out this was a bad

decision and I can never regain what is lost?

No sooner did I get the words out of my mouth than my boss assured me this was a great decision for our family.

Furthermore, he had actually just returned from meeting with a potential candidate for the top-level position that I was originally positioned to assume.

While it stung deeply to be reminded of what I was giving up, peace reigned in that moment.

God had graciously given me a tangible confirmation that He knew what lay ahead for me.

DEUTERONOMY On more than one 31:8 occasion since then, I have needed that moment to look back on.

God did in fact lead me away from that job for this season, and He will be faithful to lead me again today.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Heavenly Father, thank You that You go before me. Thank You that You promise never to leave or abandon me. I can face an uncertain future by trusting in Your faithfulness and waiting for You to act.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Above and Beyond “. .. NOW TO HIM W HO I S A BL E TO D O A BOV E A N D B E YO N D A L L T H AT WE ASK OR THI N K ACCOR D I N G TO T HE P OW E R TH AT WO R KS I N U S” ( EP HESI A N S 3 : 20) .

I looked up where my husband was working on our garage roof.

Briefly we spoke, and I voiced my discouragement about our new church.

I didn’t understand the predicament we faced. We had been excited when our small congregation had first merged with another local body of believers.

Now, however, our hopes had failed to materialize. We found ourselves deeply disappointed, struggling with how to proceed.

Later that day I took a walk, and the Lord impressed Ephesians 3:20 on my mind. But it PSALM didn’t make sense.

37:4 How could the Lord “do above and beyond” what we requested for our church situation? While my husband and I longed to use our spiritual gifts, we were hardly asked to serve at all.

Our presence in the congregation felt unwanted by the pastor, yet I clung to God’s promise.

Time passed and difficult days ensued. We resisted the thought of becoming church members, knowing a commitment at that time was unwise.

Yet everyone — including us — was encouraged to join. The press for membership forced us to reevaluate God’s will for our family.

We sought counsel from a supporting church’s pastors, who encouraged my husband to address matters with our pastor. He did so, but afterward the problem magnified. We felt more awkward at church with every passing Sunday. Through it all, we recognized God answering our prayers for clarity.

My husband and I sensed the Holy Spirit guiding us to another church family, where our spiritual gifts were welcomed. Instead of feeling stifled, we experienced freedom: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17).

Today my husband and I enjoy serving our congregation in the ways God has shaped us. It’s amazing to recall our previous experience and compare it to the present. God removed us from a place of frustration, disappointment, and hurt, and led us into a place of abundance. He fulfilled His Ephesians 3:20 promise.

Perhaps you can’t even imagine how God could right the wrongs of your situation or accomplish more than you desire. But God knows, and He’s at work.

Just remember: He delights in doing above and beyond.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, You are faithful and generous.

Do more than I can think to even ask.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Friends in Different Seasons “T H ERE IS AN OCCASI ON F OR EV ERYT HI N G , A N D A TI M E F O R EVERY ACTIVITY UND ER HEAV EN … A T I M E TO P L A N T A N D A TI ME TO UP R OOT ” ( ECC L ESI AST ES 3 :1 - 2 ) .

Married. Single. Parent. Fur-parent.

College student. College graduate. In the workforce. Retired. Still working at 65. Missionary. These are just a few juxtaposed lifestyles. Some are mutually exclusive; some are not. Some are based on marital status and some are based on occupation. As we go through life we move between friend groups — some walk directly alongside us for many years and some are in our lives for just a short while.

I had a solid group of girlfriends in high school; they were the girls in my Sunday School class. When we graduated from high school, all but one moved away. I felt like I was at square one with finding friends. Even though I didn’t go to college away from home, I felt like I did because I struggled that much to rebuild my community.

I attended a college Bible study, but it would be another two years before I actually had community with a solid group of people, men and women alike.

In just the last few months we have received news that at least two of these people will be leaving within the next six months. I am beyond happy for them as they embark on this new season of life but it makes me wonder how difficult it will be to stay friends with them.

I have had several friends get married in the last three years, and being friends with a married woman when you

yourself are single is an adjustment.

Since two become one, like it says in Scripture, you’re in a new kind of friendship with someone who rightfully can prioritize her spouse over you and over any other close friend she has.

My present friend group comprises mostly young professionals, which means they’re in a different season than I am. I’m in a graduate program, and the others are all in the workforce.

That separates us in this season of life, which sometimes makes identifying with one another’s struggles difficult. But God GALATIANS bridges these gaps.

6:9-10 As I spend time in fellowship with my friends I realize that while we are all in different seasons of life, in God’s sovereign plan we are all His children, which ultimately surpasses our marital status and our occupation.

And while we might in our own minds think that different life seasons make identifying with one another difficult, it really might not be as hard as we think.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, help me to identify with friends in different seasons and be intentional with them.

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JEN' S JOURN EY ( D I A RY OF A PASTOR 'S W IF E )

“Turn and Greet Your Neighbor”

BY JENNIFER MCCAMAN

T

hey lure us in with an upbeat, energizing “call to worship” song. Just as we’re warming up to continue singing, the worship leader stops and forces us to do the most awkward part of Sunday morning: “Turn and greet your neighbor.”

I’ve been going to church my whole life, yet I’m usually caught off guard by the greet-your-neighbor time. I always come in with the handshake when my neighbor goes in for the hug. Or I forget someone’s name I’ve already met 15 times, say the wrong name, sneeze at the very minute I’m supposed to be shaking hands, or wave at someone who wasn’t actually waving at me. I’ve knocked over coffee — my own and other people’s. I’ve been told to “speak up” when introducing myself at the moment the worship leader concludes the greeting so that I end up shouting my name across a quiet room.

All these things have happened to me.

I cannot emphasize enough how awkward this time typically is for me, the pastor’s wife. But I also cannot emphasize enough how this forced greeting time is necessary and wonderful in the body of Christ and a vital part of your Sunday morning worship experience.

I’m talking to you, fellow introvert.

Here are six reasons why you do not want to miss the next installment

of “Turn and Greet Your Neighbor” this Sunday morning.

1. Real relationships are forged one awkward encounter at a time. There is probably not a single meaningful relationship in your adult life that didn’t start somewhere on the surface. Someone had to get the small talk going. A quick, awkward introduction on Sunday could lead you to find a deep and meaningful friendship.

2. You’re not as awkward as you think. The blessing and curse of being an introvert is that we have great self-awareness. This leads us to overanalyze our social awkwardness and exaggerate our flaws. It really is worse in your own mind.

3. Your awkwardness is a blessing.

If the previous point doesn’t apply to you, and you really are that awkward, be encouraged. The people around you don’t need another plastic smile and artificial greeting. They need to see you making a genuine effort to be friendly.

Your clumsiness or small-talk deficiencies may actually set someone else at ease and make him or her think, I’m exactly like that too.

4. People are profoundly lonely. All around you every Sunday are hurting, lonely, broken people. A pat on the back, awkward side hug, or handshake

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THINKSTOCK

has prepared in advance for me. Even if it’s small talk, even if it’s me looking ridiculous. Then I plan my downtime after church. This way I can pour myself out in the morning and then rest in the Lord that afternoon.

Be intentional about the next “Turn and Greet Your Neighbor” time at church. Those little awkward encounters with others grow the church, bless people, and connect you in big and small ways to your church home.

may be the only physical human contact they have all week. Your smile and attempts at connection mean more than you realize.

5. Isolation has no place in the body of Christ. Believe me, I understand the temptation to come to church, sit in the back alone, and rush to the parking lot at the end of the benediction.

But that’s not church. You can do that at home watching a sermon online. I’m not saying you have to be Betty Bubbly, but even the smallest encounters with others break both you and them out of isolation.

6. You’ve got plenty of time to prepare. I am a card-carrying introvert.

That means I have to emotionally, physically, and spiritually prepare for Sunday morning crowds. I have to get a good night’s sleep and pray in the car on the drive to church. I ask God to give me one or two truly meaningful opportunities of connection that He

Jennifer McCaman and her husband, David, recently welcomed their third child, Emory Elizabeth, into the world, and are quickly learning the term zone defense in parenting.

Jen loves to write, teach in women’s ministry, and sneak chocolate from her purse when her kids aren’t looking.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

Set Free “S O IF THE SON SETS YOU F R EE, YOU R EA L LY W I L L B E F R E E ” (J OHN 8 : 3 6 ) .

In the spring of 2017, my sons and I shared a post online with a large community of prayer warriors who had carried our family through five years of what I came to call the “refiner’s fire.”

The post was shared from the hospital room where my husband had just “graduated to glory” for healing from a massive stroke that had left him totally dependent and put me in the challenging calling of full-time caregiver.

Our bittersweet post gave my husband’s name, along with his birth and death dates, and then said, “Whom the Son sets 1 CORINTHIANS free is free indeed.”

2:6-9 Even as we grieved the loss of this man who had taught so many so much about perseverance, courage, and faith, we rejoiced that he was now able to experience life in heaven beyond the limits of the disability that had robbed him of so much.

In the months following, God’s unexpected mercy and redemption gave me the blessing of another loving relationship. I married a goat farmer! At the time, we had recently come through a difficult winter season with the birth of many baby goats. When they are first born, they are placed in the barn so the mother can recover and the new babies

will be protected from the weather.

After a few days, they are tagged for identification, which involves an ear piercing. The tagging process is painful, and they cry out. But the outcome is freedom. After the tagging, we release the babies and their concerned mama goat from the confinement of the barn.

They are free to run and play and join the larger goat-gathering in the open space of the field. (This reminds me of the verse from the Book of Psalms: “He brought me out to a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me” [18:19]). The brief pain of their tagging is fleeting compared to the joy of their playful escape to the outdoors to join their companions.

My late husband now knows that freedom after his own painful confinement. Someday all of us who know and trust Christ will no longer live within the limits of this world. We will know, instead, the vastness of the blessing, presence, and love of the Son who sets us free.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, most people truly can’t imagine life in Your eternal presence. But thank You for the promise and anticipation of it. Help me to bring encouragement to others by sharing this blessed hope.

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

I Will Praise Him “ I W IL L GIVE YOU THA N KS W I T H A L L M Y HEA R T; I W I L L S I N G YO U R PRAISE BEFORE T HE HEAV EN LY BEI N G S” ( P SA L M 1 38: 1 ) .

I have friends who give credit to God for everything in their lives.

“God is good,” “It was God’s will,” and “Praise God” are phrases that roll off their tongues and show up in their text messages. While I also believe these truths, I have a difficult time integrating them into my conversations. Even when I have a thankful heart, it doesn’t come naturally for me to say so to others. I always thought that was just my personality. Then I began to study Psalm 138, and as I considered David’s attitude, I was convicted that God deserves my public praise, not just my private prayer.

In 1 Samuel 17, a young David decided to fight the giant Goliath. When Saul doubted David’s ability to defeat the giant, David responded confidently, recounting all the animals he had slain. However, he remained humble, attributing his victories to God: “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (v. 37). Psalm 138 follows this same combination of confidence and humility. David praised God for His constant love and truth and for the fulfillment of His promises, all the while recognizing that his own strength came from God. God has promised to redeem the world and to send a King. That King is

Jesus. Like David, we can be bold in our knowledge that God is faithful and keeps His promises. God’s goodness is not just for the world in general, but also for us personally. Psalm 138:6-8 displays God’s personal interest in the life of David. God shows that same interest in our lives. We can be bold, knowing God is protecting us and has a purpose for us. We are also humble, knowing it is God who gives us the strength to fulfill His purposes.

Jesus said that a person “speaks from the overflow of the heart” (Luke 6:45).

PHILIPPIANS When I claim to have 2:5-11 a thankful heart but am afraid to praise God publicly, I’m putting my fear of others and my concern for my image above my fear of God and my concern for His glory. A true understanding of what God has done will lead to a humble boasting in Him.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith God, thank You for Your faithfulness to redeem believers through Your Son, Jesus. Please give me a willing heart to boast in You.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

Sweetness in the Sadness “T H E LORD IS NEAR T HE BR OKEN HEA R T ED ; H E SAV E S TH OS E CRUSHED I N SP I R I T ” ( P SA L M 3 4 : 1 8) .

I had forgotten how much grief hurt.

It had been nine years since I had lost a loved one, and the piercing sadness of it all took me by surprise this time. I left my mascara in the bathroom drawer for days, knowing that at any moment a wave of sorrow might come over me.

Grief has a way of changing our perspective. Things that seemed simple before become an exercise in courage when you have lost a loved one: making dinner, phone calls, our beds.

Everyday events can trigger memories of our loved ones when we least expect it.

ISAIAH Grief hurts, and I 66:13 was swiftly reminded of this when my sweet grandmother passed away recently.

Although I had forgotten how much grief could hurt, I had not forgotten how sweet it can be. No, it isn’t sweet that I could no longer hear her voice or get lost in her hugs. I miss her terribly; there is no sweetness in that. But our days of mourning can be some of the most precious days simply because God is very near. As we walk through our grief, He is tender in ways that we might not otherwise see.

In the days that followed my grandmother’s passing, I began to notice

the ways in which God was holding my family close. From her dear friends and former pastor, who just happened to be in town during her last moments on earth, to the bluebirds that flew in and out of her bluebird house as we were planning her memorial service, to my Christmas cactuses, reminding me of my grandmother blooming in perfection in the presence of Christ … God was so near to us in our mourning.

Even more tangible is His Word spoken in Scripture; the pages of the Bible overflow with comfort and peace — so much so that the original language behind God’s desire to comfort us paints a beautiful picture of Him wrapping an arm around us and drawing us close to His side, even sighing with us as we sigh through our sadness (Ps. 145:18).

If you are walking through a season of grief, you are not alone. Be tender with yourself. Seek God’s voice in His Word and look for Him in the details.

He longs to bring sweetness to your sadness.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith In my grief, remind me that You are near, Lord. Help me to turn to You for comfort.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

A Heart to Disciple “ GO, THER EF OR E, A N D M A KE D I SC I P L E S ” ( M AT T HEW 28 : 19 ) .

I recently read that the number of Muslim converts to Christianity falling away from the faith after only a year is surprisingly high. At the heart of this disturbing fact is a lack of attention to the needs of the new converts.

New Christians need someone to help them navigate their place in the world, adjust their expectations and perceptions, and learn how to orient themselves to Christ first. They need ongoing support and teaching.

Culturally, Westerners are independent — we don’t rely on the family unit for everything. However, cultures like the Muslim community do not place such a high value on independence. They function primarily within the family system, so when someone converts to a new religion, that individual is often cut off entirely. He loses all of his support for the sake of the gospel. Who steps in to help him find a new family?

The Western church puts a lot of emphasis on the Great Commission, spending millions each year on all kinds of missions trips, sending thousands of people to the far corners of the world to share the gospel. But it can seem that sometimes the church focuses so much on “go” that we miss the mark when it comes to the core of the Great Commission — to make disciples.

A disciple is a student. In biblical times, a disciple committed his life to his

teacher. The 12 disciples whom Jesus chose left their families to live with and follow Him for the full three years of His ministry before being sent out on their own to make disciples. The apostle Paul took on young Timothy as his disciple.

Timothy followed Paul on some of his missionary journeys, helping establish churches all over the Gentile world until just before Paul’s death, when the apostle determined Timothy was established enough in his own faith and able to take charge of his own mission.

The charge of the Great Commission MATTHEW isn’t merely to go 4:18-22 and drop truth bombs on people and then head home; it’s to take these new converts on and teach them what following Jesus really means, to invest in their spiritual well-being. We are meant to be in mentor-disciple relationships with people in the community of Christ.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Jesus, show me the person in my path who needs the support of a Christian sister. Teach me how to give of myself and truly disciple Your people.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

Jumping In “BE WHOLEHEA RT ED LY D EVOT ED TO T HE LO R D O U R G O D TO WAL K IN HIS STATU T ES A N D TO KEEP HI S CO M M A N DS , AS I T I S TODAY” ( 1 KI N G S 8 : 61) .

My toes touched the water and instantly retracted. It was cold — colder than I wanted it to be. My children were laughing and splashing and I wanted to join in on their fun. But it was going to require some discomfort. I couldn’t sit on the edge and enjoy the fullness of their water game. I’d have to be fully immersed if I wanted to participate.

So in I went. Cold prickled my body for a few moments, but then I acclimated to the new environment and had a lovely time splashing and laughing with my kids.

For years I sat JOSHUA on the sidelines of 24:15 faith. I wanted the blessings of a Christian life without doing the work.

I watched as other women enjoyed vibrant, abundant, faithful lives while I sat timidly on the side. I kept my toes on the edge of the water of faith, afraid to submerge myself in the Christian life ... until one day I realized the only way to succeed in having an abundant life was to live as Jesus instructed: fully committed to the Lord, keeping His commands, and walking in His ways.

As I began growing in the spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible study, worship, and fellowship, I saw God’s Word come to life. Joy permeated my

circumstances, and I found a richness of life that was previously missing. It wasn’t that my life before wasn’t good, but as I fully devoted my life to the Lord, I began to live the abundant life Jesus promised.

The commitment to be all in for Christ wasn’t without its discomfort.

Much like the temporary prickle of the cold water, my life underwent changes as I surrendered myself to God. I had to rearrange my schedule to prioritize the things God was calling me to. Alarms woke me up earlier so I could study His Word. I found friendships becoming distant as our lives went in different directions and our values divided.

Being fully committed to the Lord caused some discomfort, but it was totally worth the temporary pain. For in the end, I found a richness and fullness of faith I had long wanted.

Are you sitting on the sidelines of faith, waiting for the invitation to jump in? Today’s your day! If you’re already all in, I challenge you to encourage the women in your life to be fully devoted as well. God has great blessings in store when we surrender everything to Him.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, help me to surrender anything that keeps me from living fully devoted to You.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

The Lovingkindness of God “IN T HE SAME WAY, L ET YOU R L I G HT SHI N E BE F O R E OTH E R S , S O T H AT THEY MAY SEE YOU R G OOD WOR KS A N D G I V E G LO RY TO YOUR FATHER I N HEAV EN ” ( M AT T HE W 5: 1 6 ) .

As I walked down the aisles of the grocery store, I noticed her several times. She looked somehow broken and unsettled. As she got closer to me, I couldn’t ignore her and made direct eye contact. “You look like you really need a hug,” I said to her. She responded by coming toward me, and we embraced like we knew each other. I could see tears in her eyes, so I asked her what was wrong. Honestly, I was expecting to hear that there was a death in her family or maybe her child was in distress.

Instead, she started telling me that her doctor had put her on this unbelievably strict diet. She had been roaming the aisles trying to find foods that didn’t have offending ingredients.

But when she said what ingredients she was watching out for, suddenly I perked up. Gluten was a major offender she was avoiding, and I am also gluten-free.

Her eyes widened as I began offering her advice, product names, food swap ideas, and websites to shop from. Every question she asked me, I knew how to answer. A weight appeared to lift off of her shoulders as her countenance shifted from burdened to relieved.

She hugged me again and thanked me repeatedly. I looked her in the eyes and said, “God is real and He cares.” She nodded her head.

Oftentimes we search for God’s purpose in our lives, thinking it’s always

“answering a call” or committing to a specific service. But God is also glorified when we take time for the stranger, when we pause enough in our busy lives to notice the hurting souls around us.

Is there always time to share the gospel in every encounter? No, not always. But we have to trust in the magnificent, quiet workings of God. We have to know that our kindness glorifies God and is part of the process He uses to draw people to salvation. John 4:37 says, “One sows TITUS and another reaps.”

3:4-11 Sowing the gentleness and the kindness of Christ into the world is part of His work.

Everyday kindness requires our willingness to let God interrupt our day. Our lives should be oriented to His agenda, not ours. When we stay in tune to the Holy Spirit through the Word and prayer, we will see and notice when He wants us to act.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, slow me down so You can use me in spontaneous ways for Your glory.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Running to Jesus “ IF ONLY I HA D W I N G S L I KE A D OV E !

I WOULD FLY AWAY A N D F I N D R EST ” ( PSA L M 55: 6 ) .

Early one summer morning when I was 8 years old, my little brother and I ran away from home. Knowing we’d be headed out into the wide, dangerous world, Charlie and I had planned our escape for about a week. We would take a couple days’ worth of canned tuna and saltine crackers, enough to survive on until we landed some odd jobs in exchange for food and shelter. As our young imaginations ran wild, Charlie and I set a date for our vanishing act.

On the eve of our escape, I was almost too excited to sleep.

The plan was to rise 1 PETER before the sun came 5:6-11 up and get as far from home as possible before our parents even realized we were gone. So I closed my eyes and drifted off to dreamland. But when Charlie woke me, I immediately knew something was wrong. Sunlight beamed into my bedroom — we’d overslept!

Scrambling out of bed, we stuffed some clothes in a backpack, grabbed the canned goods, and slipped out the back door. Charlie and I walked only about three blocks before our mom drove up in the family station wagon, rolled down the window, and ordered us to get in the car. And so our fanciful adventure came to an abrupt end.

Over the years, I’ve occasionally been tempted to run away again. When tensions rise at home, loved ones let me down, or I’m feeling overwhelmed by life’s pressures or my sinful nature, I long to escape my problems rather than face them head-on.

In the Book of Psalms, David experienced a similar desire to flee the heartache and trials he faced. “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest. How far away I would flee; I would stay in the wilderness” (Ps. 55:6-7). David was relentlessly pursued

by King Saul, who sought to kill him without cause. It makes sense that David wanted to run away to a place of rest as fear, despair, and exhaustion set in.

God understands when we feel overwhelmed. But rather than running away with our burdens in tow, let’s remember that Jesus offers to carry them for us. He doesn’t want to saddle us with another load but to replace our burdens with His rest. Regardless of what we’re facing today, there’s no need to run away and hide under the weight of our problems. Simply run to Jesus, who is able to carry them with ease.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, thank You for carrying even the heaviest of my burdens.

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Pride Is a Frequent Visitor

BY SCARLET HILTIBIDAL

“B E C AUSE OF THE L O RD ’S FA I T HF U L LOV E W E D O N OT P E R I S H , F O R H IS MERCIES N EV ER EN D. T HEY A R E N EW E V E RY MO R N I N G ; G R EAT IS YOUR FA I T HF U L N ESS!” ( L A M EN TATI O N S 3: 2 2 - 2 3) .

W

hen we first brought Joy home, I remember texting the “Big Fam” (the group text with Brandon’s side of the family) about how God had given me eternal perspective and peace even though Dewy and Joy had both been screaming and pooping all day. There were a few months in there when both were in diapers at the same time. I vaguely remember it being awful, and I have repressed most of the details while holding onto the miraculous moments of mercy God gifted me with during that time. So there really were amazing moments of eternal perspective. But just a few hours after I sent that text, I handed the kids to Brandon, locked myself in the bathroom, and threw my deodorant against the wall.

It wasn’t the deodorant’s fault. Not my best moment.

Back and forth.

Old and new.

I struggle with fear and sin, and then I don’t! I string a few days together when my thoughts lean upward and my hands are being used to love others rather than wringing themselves into a frenzy. And when that happens, almost every time and almost right away I try to take credit. It might not be something I say out loud, but it’s my heart.

As soon as the Lord uses me, I think to myself, Well, now look-e-here! I’m getting so many points right now!

And then I throw my deodorant against the wall and I’m like, Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Where did that come from? I was doing SO WELL and that was new deodorant.

I cycle through my weakness and see my sin and it consistently brings me back to the feet of Jesus. I mean, it’s all the time. I rest in God’s love, but I congratulate myself for resting and then I stop resting. The Spirit helps me see it. And He brings me back. Because He’s refining me.

When I first became a Christian, I could spend weeks, and months, and probably years even, believing dangerous lies about myself — believing I could do something in my own strength.

Believing I was entitled to the blessings I wanted. Believing I had Jesus, but probably didn’t need Him. You’re probably the same way, even if you don’t realize it.

We won’t always get life right, you guys. We are weak and needy every day and we need to remember that every day. And we need to depend on God every day. That means we need the gospel every day, because the gospel says that we have both every-momentweakness and every-moment-mercies.

Excerpted with permission from Afraid of All The Things

by Scarlet Hiltibidal. Copyright 2018, B&H Publishing Group.

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MY JOURN EY (A J OU R NE Y AU T HOR T EL L S HER STO RY )

Even in Death, God Wins

BY DENNIKA PRYOR

M

y sister and I were raised by our mom. Our relationship with our dad would be best described as strained and practically nonexistent.

As a Vietnam veteran, my dad experienced a tremendous need for Christ’s healing when he returned from war.

He left our family when my sister and I were very young. It wasn’t uncommon for him to visit sporadically and then fade out of the picture. The more this pattern repeated itself, the more I came to accept it.

Despite my dad’s absence, his sister Barb always made an effort to remain in contact with us. She loved us well.

So my heart sank when I received a text about her: cancer. My sister and I began discussing a trip to see her so she could finally meet our husbands and kids.

Three weeks later, everything changed. Aunt Barb was on life support. We were told that our dad was flying there that day. We had not laid eyes on him in 15 years — not necessarily out of spite, but out of habit. We still hadn’t developed a strong relationship with him, which resulted in a lot of hurt over time. I suppose we all assumed it was better not to reopen old wounds. But in moments where life hangs in the balance, only what matters most matters at all. Regardless of what had taken place with our dad, my

sister and I had to be on a plane that day for Aunt Barb.

What do you say to a man whom you call Dad yet barely know and haven’t seen in 15 years? When we finally came face to face, I said nothing. Neither did he. The large tears in his eyes said enough. Our hug spoke volumes.

We longed for things to be different than they had been. Walls crumbled in that moment. Grace and forgiveness flowed.

My aunt breathed her last that day while new life was being breathed into our relationship with our dad. Had it not been for the sudden change in her condition, I do not believe there would have been reason for my path to once again intersect with my dad’s. Yet in God’s sovereign grace, He took my aunt’s suffering and used it to set into motion three lifetimes worth of healing.

Even in death, God wins. He always wins.

Dennika Pryor is a wife, stay-athome mom, writer, and CPA. After surviving a postpartum heart attack, she is pursuing her passion for writing and is currently developing her blog. She lives with her husband and two children in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Seeking God in Sadness “T RUST IN THE LORD W I T H A L L YOU R HEA R T, A N D D O N OT R E LY O N YO UR OWN UN D ER STA N D I N G ; I N A L L YOU R WAYS K N OW H I M , AND HE WILL MA KE YOU R PAT HS ST R A I G HT ” ( P R OV E R B S 3: 5- 6 ) .

I woke up one morning feeling emotionally off. I wasn’t quite sure what was wrong; all I knew was I felt sad. As I slowly awakened in the darkness of my bedroom, my husband softly snoring next to me, awareness of recent events returned to my mind.

A family friend had just passed away the week before, the same week my father-in-law had passed away five years earlier. I was also worried about a sports issue we were having with our daughter. Together, these problems had left me feeling a little overwhelmed. One thing I knew right away was that I had a big day of teaching ahead of me, which meant I needed to resolve this negative emotion quickly so I could focus.

I started to pray, but then I paused.

Suddenly, Proverbs 3:5-6 popped into my mind. I memorized these verses years ago, so I was able to recite them without skipping a beat. Relief flooded my soul. The key words? “Do not rely on your own understanding” (v. 5).

Those words reminded me that I don’t have to carry my worries on my own. I can trust in Someone else’s understanding, Someone who sees the bigger picture and can guide me on the right path. I was able to rejoice in the Lord enough to get through that day of teaching, but underneath, I knew I needed to take a closer look at my feelings of sadness.

A few days later, I took some time out from my busy schedule of laundry, kitchen cleaning, and caring for little ones to write in my journal. While my husband took care of things around the house, I poured out all my frustrations and worries by pen. As I did so, I realized that since I hadn’t been able to attend the funeral of the family friend due to contracting the flu from my daughter, I had no closure. Taking some time to think about and grieve for her lifted my spirits and gave me the chance to pray for that family.

In a way, that PSALM journaling time was 28:6-7 doing what Proverbs 3:6 says to do: “In all your ways know him,” or as the ESV translates it, “In all your ways acknowledge him.” Pouring my heart out to God, acknowledging Him in my sadness, is exactly what I needed to find closure and press forward with joy into my daily life.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, help me to continue to think about You in all my ways so that You will guide me in the way I should go.

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

The Blessing of Teaching “W E W I LL NOT HIDE T HEM F R OM T HEI R C HI L D RE N , B U T W I L L TE L L A F UT U RE GENERATI ON T HE P R A I SEWOR T HY AC TS O F TH E LO R D” ( P SA L M 78 : 4 ) .

My 4-year-old son loves superheroes, ninjas, and really any type of action figure. He often asks me questions about God in light of what he knows about his favorite characters. Questions such as, “Is God stronger than the Hulk?” or “Is Jesus faster than the Flash?” are heard around our home regularly. I love telling my little guy about the power of God and informing him that, yes, God is stronger than the Hulk and anyone else for that matter.

My 6-year-old, on the other hand, asks questions that tend to be more about DEUTERONOMY what’s to come. For 4:9-10 her, the idea of leaving her earthly home and heading to heaven is nerveracking. “Will I like heaven?” she asks.

I try to explain to the best of my ability how wonderful it will be. In the end, she often just needs to be reminded that heaven will have even better things than playgrounds and ice cream.

Another topic of conversation that frequently comes to her mind is death, mostly because she is afraid of dying.

In those moments, I am able to share with her the stories I’ve heard from other believers about the comfort they received from God on their deathbed. I tell her how, instead of being afraid to

die, several were crying because they were so happy to be going home to Jesus. In sharing these stories, my own heart is comforted to know that God is able to comfort my sweet daughter in her times of need.

No matter what my children’s questions are, I always find myself thinking hard about the things of God in order to answer them, and I too become excited. In trying to teach my children, I am forced to focus on God and what I’ve learned about Him. So often in the Bible, God tells us to teach our children about Him, and I used to think it was merely for the benefit of my children — so they might grow in their love of the Lord. However, as Psalm 78:4 declares, we are telling of “the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, his might, and the wondrous works he has performed.” As believers, in telling others about the Lord, we have the opportunity to praise the Lord for what He has already done. We are given a chance to recall His wondrous works, and it is a gift not only for others but also for ourselves, as the praise of the Lord comes to our own lips.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, help me be quick to praise Your name and share with others Your wondrous works.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

No Longer a Victim “NO, IN A LL THESE T HI N G S W E A R E M OR E T H A N CO N Q U E R O R S THROUGH H I M W HO LOV ED U S” ( R OMA N S 8: 37 ) .

Do you know what it’s like to be around people who constantly feel they are victims? It can be exhausting, can’t it? The drama is escalated because there’s always a perpetrator, always a conspiracy, and always a martyr mentality. Where is the victory?

Yet when you and I find life through faith in Christ Jesus, we are no longer victims. We are, instead, victors. And instead of complaining about our circumstances, we can conquer them.

Romans 8 reminds us several times that we are victors, not victims. For instance: • You are not condemned. Verse 1 tells us there is “no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.”

• You have God on your side. Verse 31 says, “if God is for us, who is against us?”

• You are more than a conqueror (v. 37).

• Nothing can separate you from God’s love (vv. 38-39).

Those assurances make you and me victors over (not victims of) sin. Those assurances mean we have the power of God in our corner; we are not powerless.

Those truths tell us we are protected and loved, not at the whim of fate or someone else’s wrath. Ephesians 1:14 says that in Christ we are guaranteed an inheritance. That again makes us heiresses, not victims.

The next time you start to think, That’s just my luck, think instead, I am so blessed. Instead of saying, “I’m having a bad day,” remember instead, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24). Don’t say, “This only happens to me.” Say, “I’m Yours, Lord, for whatever You have in mind.” Instead of saying, “I’ll never be able to do that,” remember you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil. 4:13). Instead of saying, “I’m such a failure,” say instead, “I am a new creation in Christ” ROMANS (see 2 Cor. 5:17).

8:1-2,31 As I wrote those sayings, it occurred to me that we can get out of victim mode and start living victoriously when we remember who we are in God’s eyes and what He says about us in His Word.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, thank You that I am no longer a helpless victim of life’s circumstances.

Because of all You’ve done for me, I am now a victor through Christ Jesus, and every day of my life is a reason to praise You.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

What Really Matters “NOW THESE THREE R EM A I N : FA I T H, HOP E, A ND LOV E — B U T TH E GREATEST OF T HESE I S LOV E” ( 1 COR I N T H I A N S 1 3: 1 3) .

She was just eight days shy of her 92nd birthday when the Lord took her home. Her passing wouldn’t make headlines, but it was significant for those of us who knew her. Ne-Ne (short for Juanita) was like a grandmother to me. From the time my mother announced she was expecting another baby, Ne-Ne welcomed me into her heart, and when I was just 6 weeks old, she welcomed me into her arms every morning as my parents made their way to work. She loved me as if I were one of her own.

Although Ne-Ne EPHESIANS always made me feel 5:15-16 special, the essence of my story wasn’t unique to me. Through the years, she took care of many children who each hold their own memories of her.

The details of those stories vary, but the love she gave to each child formed the foundation of every memory.

Recently, at her Celebration of Life service, many of those stories were shared. Some remembered the fried okra or old-fashioned hamburgers she would fix us for lunch. Others recalled swinging on her front porch or playing in her yard. I remembered how she would put all the other kids down for a nap and then rock me to sleep in her lap.

As I think about Ne-Ne’s legacy, I can’t help but notice the contrast between her and the world. Our culture praises the wealthy, famous, and beautiful. None of those things comes to mind when I think of Ne-Ne. She lived a quiet life that mainly centered on others. There were no glamorous vacations or fancy cars in the driveway. Her clothes weren’t necessarily trendy, and she wasn’t wellknown on social media. But what she did have was love, a love like Jesus.

Just like Jesus, Ne-Ne spent her years laying down her life for others. Day in and day out, she demonstrated her love in the form of tending to little ones instead of pursuing her own dreams or desires. She did it joyfully, never complaining or expecting anything in return. Similar to Jesus in the Upper Room with His disciples, she picked up her towel and washed the feet of babies and kids. Her entire life was spent serving, and only now in His presence is she receiving her reward.

Ne-Ne’s legacy challenges me to push aside the world’s values and more wholeheartedly pursue what really matters most — loving God and loving others.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, thank You for Ne-Ne’s life and example. Enable me to love well.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

God’s Approval “T H E LORD IS MY LI G HT A N D M Y SA LVAT I ON — W H O M S H O U L D I F EAR? THE LORD I S T HE ST R ON G HOL D OF MY L I F E — W H O M SHOU L D I D R EA D?” ( P SA L M 27: 1 ) .

By the time I was 30 years old, I had what most would consider a wellestablished career for my age. However, I was full of insecurity and fear. I often looked around me and thought, Why do my bosses trust me with such big decisions? My average internal dialogue was a slippery slope of negative selftalk and self-doubt. I had developed the strongest of critical voices within myself and only trusted my decisions if they were affirmed by a colleague.

At a turning point in my career, I found myself sitting in an interview with the top four senior level executives of a publicly traded company. These men had a combined experience of over 100 years. My heart raced. My years of experience could be counted on one hand. How did I belong in this room with them?

I fielded the questions they shot at me in rapid-fire mode. I was fairly certain that I had demonstrated my abilities well. Nevertheless, I can still remember making it home after the interview and standing alone in my kitchen. As I replayed the answers I had given, hoping they were enough, I said to the Lord, Did You see who was in that room? His only reply, What about Me? I was in that room.

Conviction hit me. There I was speaking nonchalantly to the Creator of the universe about how in awe I was

to find myself in the presence of this group of accomplished men. Their glory and power were nothing in comparison to His. As Psalm 113:5 declares, “Who is like the Lord our God—the one enthroned on high... ?”

Without even realizing it, I was longing for the approval of others to validate my worth. Meanwhile, I failed to acknowledge the supreme worth of being approved by the One who had orchestrated this entire opportunity in the first place. You see, I had not been looking for this job.

This company had EPHESIANS called me to see if I’d 2:4-7 fill the position. It was not a coincidence that I had received this phone call when the future of my current company was very uncertain.

My perspective immediately shifted.

Even if I did not receive the approval of these men, God had already established my worth in the pages of His Word. That was more than enough.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, because of Christ’s death and resurrection, I am completely accepted and approved by You. Forgive me when I value others’ approval above Yours.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Life’s Complications “THE REVELATI ON OF YOU R WOR DS BR I N G S L I G H T A N D GIVES UNDER STA N D I N G TO T HE I N EX PE R I E N C E D” ( P SA L M 119 : 13 0) .

I knelt in prayer and briefly wished an angel would speak to me, providing the direction I longed for. Then I realized: I don’t need an angel to appear with a message. I have the Bible, in which God provides guidance to navigate through life. Let me back up a little …

My prayer for an angel to speak to me formed after I read Matthew’s account of Joseph, who contemplated how to handle his engagement to a young pregnant woman.

Though Mary was a virgin impregnated by the Holy Spirit, it certainly looked like she had been PSALM intimate with a man.

119:105 Who had ever heard of pregnancy by the Holy Spirit?

According to Deuteronomy 22:2324, the Law commanded stoning in certain cases when a betrothed women engaged in sexual relations prior to marriage. That alone was scary. At the very least, it was shameful Mary was expecting a child before she and Joseph joined as husband and wife. Sometimes life gets complicated.

I wonder if Joseph tossed and turned.

Or did he just lie there awake — worried, troubled, and at a loss for what to do?

Evidently, Joseph eventually fell asleep because God spoke to him in a dream

through an angel, who explained what his next steps were to be. He woke up and obeyed.

Sounds simple, right? Far from it.

Joseph faced challenges in the days ahead, but he also experienced joy. His obedience to God contributed to the safe delivery of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of casting Mary aside, Joseph took her as his wife, protecting her in her vulnerable state.

Together, Mary and Joseph experienced Immanuel, God with us. And Jesus is with us still. This truth comforts me in the midst of life’s complications.

God reminded me of Matthew 1:23 and the meaning of Immanuel as I prayed, proving His Word “brings light and gives understanding” (Ps. 119:130).

Our search for guidance can be satisfied in the Bible’s pages. God speaks to us, and the Holy Spirit reveals truth along with personal applications.

Are you yearning for direction today?

The Lord Himself is with us, and He speaks to us through His Word.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, thank You for the Bible. Please help me always to seek Your counsel in its pages — especially when I encounter tough situations.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

You Have My Ear “S E E! I STA N D AT T HE D OOR A N D KN OC K. I F A N YO N E H E A R S MY VO IC E A N D OP EN S T HE D OOR , I W I L L COM E I N TO H I M A N D E AT WITH HIM, A N D HE W I T H M E” ( R EV EL ATI O N 3: 2 0 ) .

When I turned 60 years old, my husband bought me a horse. Owning a horse was a dream of mine, but our military lifestyle hadn’t allowed it for a long time, so I settled for decorating my house in an equestrian style. Then one day my husband gave me this amazing gift, and all of a sudden, a lady placed a lead rope into my hand with a 1,200-pound horse on the other end of it. It was then I realized I didn’t know anything about horses, so I went into a training period.

I knew this animal needed a leader, and I knew I had to decide if I was going to lead or be led! I chose to lead.

With the help of an experienced horse trainer and friend, I learned that to get my horse’s attention, I needed to “get her ear.”

If you are in a round pen with a horse, the horse is usually interested in everything except you. To get the horse’s attention, you let her run around the edge of the round pen all she wants.

Eventually, the running becomes tiring and she begins to notice you waiting there.

The first sign a horse gives to let you know she acknowledges you is to turn the ear closest to you toward you.

A horse’s ears move independently, so when one of them locks onto your voice, it is the first step toward a change of heart for her. At that moment, the

horse wants to know if she can trust you. Will you lead? Is she safe with you?

When my horse locked onto my voice for the first time, I was amazed.

This animal ran in circles, looking at everything except me, then all of a sudden she heard my soft voice and turned her ear to me. I had her ear. Now I could show her I was trustworthy and she was safe with me.

That experience was such a clear picture of my walk with the Lord. So often I run away from the stillness and the peace He offers. I PSALM get distracted by the 32:9 latest things culture throws my way. Then I hear a message about Jesus’ faithfulness, and the image of my horse’s ear turning to me comes to mind. Yes, Lord, I say to Him. I am listening. You have my ear.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, thank You for Your quiet, daily call to my heart. You have my ear today; speak to me.

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WA LK ING THE TAL K

When We Are Weak

BY EMILY CHADWELL

he women’s Bible study I attend at my church is doing a study in the Book of Exodus. And one of the things that has stuck out to me so far is how much I can relate to Moses’ reaction when God tells him to go back to Egypt and demand the release of the Hebrews: “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent — either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant — because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish” (Exod. 4:10).

He makes a pretty good case! Wouldn’t you think the Creator of the universe would send His very best orator to speak to the most powerful ruler in Egypt on His behalf and not a shepherd with what was most likely a stuttering problem? But God responded to Moses, “Who placed a mouth on humans?

Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say” (vv. 11-12), or as the ESV translates verse 12, “Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth.”

I can’t even imagine the panic Moses must have felt. God was calling him to do the very thing — speak in public — that he felt the least qualified to do. In fact, he had

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a particular deficiency in that area.

Which is why Moses begged, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else” (v. 13, ESV).

Can anyone else relate to Moses?

Has God called you to do the very thing you fear the most, whether it’s singing on your church’s worship team, leading a Bible study, or serving in a particular way you feel less than qualified for?

At one point in my life, I thought I would rather die than speak in public.

You’ve probably heard that people fear public speaking more than death, and that was true for me! But God made it clear that there were going to be times when He was calling me to die to self and obey Him. And as I stepped out in obedience, God really did enable me.

And, boy, did I die to my own pride and vanity in those instances! But in my weakness, God made Himself known.

Sometimes I think God chooses the weakest people in a certain area and calls them to be leaders in exactly that area just so He can display His power and glory all the more. (Have you ever

noticed that in God’s economy it’s not the people clamoring for position that usually get it? It’s the people who don’t want it!)

A good example of God calling the weak is the 12 disciples Jesus chose to follow Him. Acts 4:13 says, “Now when [the religious council] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus” (ESV, emphasis added). There was no other explanation for these uneducated fishermen to speak with such wisdom and authority other than they had been with Jesus. He got all the glory.

God isn’t calling us to be perfect before we serve; He’s calling us to be obedient. He’s calling us to lay down our pride and follow Him to those places where we feel the most inadequate. And as we do, He will make Himself known.

Emily and her husband, Seth, are expecting their first baby — a little girl — in October. Their golden retriever, Hampton, can’t wait to be a big brother.

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NEW L I FE IN CH RIST

o the demands of your day-to-day life often leave you feeling exhausted and longing for relief?

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

If you choose to begin a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus, you can find a peace that surpasses all understanding (see Phil. 4:7) as you seek His perfect will for your life.

The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

Because of sin, we’re separated from God and spiritually dead. Because God loves us, He provided a way for us to have a personal relationship with Him. John 3:16 says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God sent His Son Jesus, who lived a perfect life, to die on the cross as payment for our sin.

To begin a personal relationship with God, agree with Him about your sin and your need for forgiveness. If you’re ready to make this choice, as an affirmation of your belief, you might wish to pray a prayer like this one: Dear God, I understand that I’m a sinner, but I believe Jesus died for my sins, and I now accept His gift of eternal life. Thank You for forgiving my sins. Thank You for my new life.

From this day on, I choose to follow You and Your will for my life.

If you choose to begin a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus, please share this with the person or church that gave you this magazine. To learn more, visit sbc.net/knowjesus.

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WHAT IF THE COLLISION OF MARRIAGE AND MONEY NO LONGER TORE COUPLES APART BUT BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER?

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

That Which Costs Me Nothing “A WOMAN A P P ROAC HED [J ESU S] W I T H A N A L A B ASTE R JA R O F VE RY EX P ENSIVE P ER F U M E. SHE P OU R ED I T O N H I S H E A D AS H E WAS RECLINI N G AT T HE TA BL E” ( M AT T H E W 2 6 : 7 ) .

As I combed through the list of available church members to approach for help with the ministry I was leading, I kept coming back to Anna. I wasn’t sure what Anna’s availability was now that she was getting older and still caring for her adult son with Down syndrome. So I cautiously approached her at church to ask if she could help.

After I gave her an easy out by saying she wouldn’t offend me if it was going to be too hard, she humbled me with her answer. “If I said no to everything because it was ‘too hard’ I would never COLOSSIANS be able to serve the 3:23-24 Lord. I’ll just bring my son with me when it’s my turn to help.”

Anna’s response got me thinking.

How often do I evaluate what I say yes to, committing only if it fits perfectly into my schedule? And do I gravitate only to the service I feel confident doing and hesitate to say yes to anything that makes me feel desperate for God’s help? How easy it is to wait for an area of service that my own flesh prefers.

Matthew 26 tells the story of the woman who approached Jesus with an alabaster jar of exquisite perfume.

Perhaps she considered the financial cost of her gift to the Master, or maybe

she never gave it a thought. But either way, she worshipfully gave Jesus her very best. The disciples questioned her gift and thought it was wasteful, saying the perfume should have been sold and the proceeds given to those who were poor. But Jesus said her gift would be directly tied into the proclamation of the gospel for ages to come.

First Chronicles 21 tells us of King David encountering an angel of the Lord, who ordered David to set up an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David obeyed. After David approached Ornan to inquire about purchasing the land for worship, Ornan said he wanted to give it to David free of charge. But David replied that he must pay full price. He told Ornan, “I will not take for the Lord what belongs to you or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing” (v. 24).

Indeed, the Lord desires our service.

Sometimes it is costly. Sometimes it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. But we serve in the shadow of the cross and the light of that brilliant morning when Christ rose from the grave.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, remind me today that my every minute belongs to You. Help me to use my time wisely in service to You.

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

Looking for the Light “THAT L I G HT SHI N ES I N T HE DA R K N E SS , A N D Y ET THE DA R KN ESS D I D N OT OV E R CO M E I T” (J OHN 1: 5 ) .

I watched the night sky light up through my bedroom window as I glanced at the clock, counted, and then cringed as the thunder made itself known. I should have been asleep, but the storms wouldn’t allow it. They continued to roll through our small town, one after another all through the night. I wondered what kind of damage might greet us when the sun rose.

The weather outside echoed the circumstances of my life at the moment.

I was walking through a season that could have easily been characterized as stormy, threatening, and dangerous.

There were no man-made answers for what I was facing, only a prescription from the doctor to prepare my bucket list and live my life well.

At last, I heard the automatic coffeemaker start to brew, its steady drip signaling that it was time to get up and face the day. Breakfast was made and lunches were packed and off we went to the carpool line. On our way, we surveyed the damage of scattered branches, smashed bushes, and even a few fallen trees. Although the sun had risen, the sky was still a dark gray. We parked outside my son’s school and got ready to walk in.

“Look, Mom, the light is beating the dark!” I followed his gaze to one corner of the sky, where a small beam of light was starting to break through

the cloudy gloom. Even with most of the sky still covered in the darkness of lingering storms, it was impossible to miss the brilliant light breaking through.

The truth of God’s promises rushed into my heart.

Sometimes what we are up against can make us feel like we are walking into darkness. In those circumstances, we wonder how in the world we will find the light and if there is any hope left at all. Even when it seems that the darkness might overtake us, God still reigns. He is not asleep. He has not PSALM forgotten. His hope 43:5 will shine through the darkness. The light of His redeeming love will always win; it will always beat the dark.

God’s Word doesn’t promise us that we won’t walk through challenging seasons of life, but it does promise that we follow a resurrected King who has overcome the darkness. If we keep our eyes on Him, we will train ourselves to look for His light that always beats the dark.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, in seasons of darkness, teach me to look for You.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

Seek and Find “IF YO U CONTIN UE I N M Y WOR D, YOU R EA L LY A R E M Y DI S C I P L E S .

YO U WILL KN OW T HE T R U T H, A N D T HE T R U T H W I L L S E T YO U F R EE” (J OHN 8 : 3 1-3 2) .

One of my favorite activities as a child was searching for hidden pictures in the Highlights magazine. Some objects were more difficult to locate than others, and yet part of the thrill of seeking even the less obvious objects was finding them no matter how well they were hidden. Sometimes I ran into a tricky spot where I thought I saw what I was searching for only to discover that it merely resembled the desired object. One thing was for certain though — as long as I kept seeking the truth of something, I eventually found it.

ISAIAH I love how Jesus 55:6-7 didn’t make salvation a puzzle to solve but a gift to receive. The Jews who believed Jesus had faith in what He was saying and what He was doing, but Jesus knew that in order for them to be His true followers, they had to abide in His Word. In this way they would know the truth and would be set free by it. They had to recognize that without Christ they would remain enslaved to sin.

The Lord spoke through the prophet Jeremiah in his day, saying, “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).

It is in seeking Christ that we find

forgiveness, freedom, and the truth that sets us free. Truth-seeking doesn’t stop at salvation though. As disciples of Christ, we keep seeking the truth in God’s Word. We continue in it, and we grow in the knowledge of the truth toward Christian maturity.

Abiding in the Word is an active, daily pursuit that the Spirit empowers us to do. There are many things that distract us from truth-seeking, such as worldly anxieties, trivial amusements, and temptation to sin. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, though, and run the race set before us as His Spirit enables us, we are then able to be set free in the knowledge of Christ. We are not only set free from sin, but we are set free to boldly approach the throne of grace with confidence.

Walk in the freedom of Christ today, abiding in His Word, knowing that He is faithful to continue what He began.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, Your Word is truth. Help me daily to abide in Your Word, seeking You, knowing that is where I will find You. Thank You for setting me free from sin and giving me life in Christ. I trust that Your Spirit is always with me and will strengthen me to continue in the truth of Your Word.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Settling the Score “F O R ALL HAVE SIN N ED A N D FA L L SHOR T OF TH E G LO RY O F G O D ” ( R OM A N S 3 : 23 ) .

My friend’s teenage daughter is a talented young golfer. A gifted and hardworking athlete, Faith frequently ranks among the top varsity players in the state. Last year, Faith was competing in the state tournament and was on track for a top five finish. As she tallied her score card, Faith realized she’d miscounted her shots on one of the holes. Heartbroken, she reported her error to the judges, who had no choice but to disqualify her.

When I heard what happened to my young friend, I was so proud that she acted with integrity, even though it came at a great cost. I also saw a connection between Faith being disqualified from the tournament and the human race being disqualified from heaven. Whether we admit it or not, everyone miscounts the shots in this life. Despite being confident in our abilities or performance, our lives will one day be evaluated and our deeds tallied. The game will be over, and it will be too late to replay a hole or erase a miscalculation. We’ll all face the truth that we’ve sinned against a holy God, and our sins have disqualified us from attaining heaven.

Our only hope is in Jesus Christ, who made a way for us to be pardoned when He died as the sacrifice for our sins.

Colossians 2:14 says, “He erased the certificate of death, with its obligations,

that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.” That means the sinless blood of Jesus blots out the evidence of guilt on our scorecards. Instead of being disqualified from heaven, those of us who have repented of sin and asked Christ for forgiveness will be welcomed into the eternal presence of the Lord.

Maybe you’ve been struggling to hit all the right shots in life.

Even with our best efforts, Romans 3:23 teaches, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In other PHILIPPIANS words, at the end of 3:12-15 our lives, if we don’t have a Savior to pay for our sins and blot our scorecards, we’ll be disqualified with no hope of redemption.

But today you can be forgiven and have your name written in the book of life. From the moment Jesus saves you, the score is settled, and you will never be disqualified from heaven.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Jesus, thank You that I have victory in You!

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

The Blessing of Siblings “S O JOSEP H SEN T HI S BR OT HER S ON T HEI R WAY, A N D AS TH E Y W ER E LEAVIN G, HE SA I D TO T HEM , ‘D ON ’T A RG U E O N TH E WAY ’ ” (G EN ESI S 4 5 : 24 ) .

I listened as the multiple beeps on my phone alerted me to a group text message and incoming responses. I checked my phone to see a multi-text prayer request sent by one of my sons to his brothers and me. It still blesses me to see the bond and friendship these adult men share and how quickly they turn to each other when they need prayer support. That particular message involved the need for wisdom as a cherished family pet faced a sad diagnosis.

My sons responded with assurance of their prayers.

My sons grew GENESIS closer during the 45:1-8 years when I was a single parent following the death of their father.

The three oldest closed ranks around their youngest brother, only 8 years old when my husband died. They each assumed a different “father” role in his life that continued through his growingup years.

I considered the relationship between my sons as I reflected recently on a sermon about Joseph and his reunion with his brothers in Egypt. We marvel at Joseph’s forgiveness and God’s plan to bring incredible good out of painful tragedy. His tenderness toward them and his welcoming of them must

have been a stunning and unexpected response to their brutality in selling him into slavery and deceiving their father Jacob by telling him Joseph, his favorite son, was dead. But having experienced their potential for rivalry and conflict, it isn’t surprising that Joseph gave his brothers the admonition not to argue (see Gen. 45:24).

I thought of God’s generous answer to my childhood dream. My own childhood was painful and chaotic, but I wanted to experience the blessing of creating a secure and loving home with God as the foundation. I wanted my children to love each other. And although they have endured the deaths of their sister and their dad, they certainly do love each other! Not perfectly, but with a fierce commitment and great grace.

Jesus established the church as a body of spiritual siblings — brothers and sisters of faith. We truly do behave as siblings — failing, forgiving, supporting, loving, and creating family among the community of believers.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith God, everything in life is always about Your great purposes. Thank You for Your sibling plan that gives me family and relationship and accountability.

Help me to be a better sister in Christ.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Fighting the Funk “W IT H YOUR MINDS R EA DY F OR AC T I ON , BE S O B E R - M I N DE D A N D SE T YOUR HOP E COM P L ET ELY ON T HE G R AC E TO B E B R O U G H T TO YO U AT THE REVEL AT I ON OF J ESU S C HR I ST” ( 1 P E TE R 1 : 1 3) .

I think it happened right after Christmas last year — the beginning of my funk. I wrote a letter to someone whom I’ve been estranged from, asking, once again, if we could reconcile the relationship. No reply. No reply was followed by disappointment.

Disappointment was followed by doubt.

Doubt was followed by a downward spiral of emotions. I felt like the enemy was sitting on my mind. I didn’t really want to read my Bible and have my daily quiet time. I didn’t look forward to going to church. I moped around and ended up in quite a funk for two months!

By God’s grace, I began to fight my way back to spiritual health. And it was a fight. But there were some specific things that helped me: First, I remembered that we are under the umbrella of the Father. When we wander from Him, we step out from under that umbrella. The further we get from it, the harder it is to get back! Thankfully, we have a loving and generous Father who can’t wait to bring us back into His arms.

Second, I surrounded myself with Christian friends, who encouraged me and held me accountable. I began to meet regularly with a few ladies who I knew would pray for me.

Third, I began a Bible study again. I chose to do Priscilla Shirer’s Discerning the Voice of God.

Fourth, I remembered all the promises God had given me that came with my salvation. I began to read Scriptures that pertained to doubt, discouragement, and so forth. They brought me so much comfort.

Fifth, I listened to sermons. I didn’t forsake the assembling at my own church. It was a priority to listen to my own pastor’s sermons because I knew he’d spent the week seeking God on what He wanted us to hear.

And I didn’t want to miss that! But in addition to my pastor’s sermons I ROMANS looked for others to 8:24-30 listen to online in my spare time.

Finally, I began to do my own quiet time again each morning. I made a point to seek Him first.

What a difference these strategies made. Before long, I was back on track in my relationship with the Lord, praising Him for His grace to fight the funk.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, help me to set my eyes on things above. Help me to rely on Your strength to help me stay out of the funk and on track in my relationship with You.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

The Course of Time “AF T E R SOME TIME, HA N N A H CON C EI V ED A N D G AV E B I R TH TO A SO N. S HE N A MED HIM SA M U EL , BEC AU SE SHE SA I D, ‘ I R E Q U E STE D HIM FROM T HE LOR D ’” ( 1 SA M U EL 1 : 2 0 ) .

Hannah is one of the most relatable women in Scripture. While I haven’t felt the pain of infertility, I certainly understand Hannah’s desperation in prayer. I often feel as if my prayers are a playlist on repeat before the Lord.

I petition over and over for the same dreams to be fulfilled.

My life has been marked with waiting.

Lots and lots of waiting. It seems every vision or dream God places in my heart is only meant to tease me, because He always waits before He brings them to pass.

I imagine Hannah PSALM must have felt like 103:5-6 she was being teased with the dreams in her heart too. She came before God in desperate prayer for a son, then went home and waited on God to grant her request. The NIV says it this way: “In the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son” (1 Sam. 1:20). I love the beginning of that verse — “in the course of time.”

Everything God does takes time. So often my impatient heart wants the final result without working through the process to get there. And I’ve wasted years despising the waiting. However, as God has reshaped my heart, He has taught me the value in waiting.

• Waiting on God to fulfill the dreams He has instilled in me allows me the opportunity to come to Him in expectant prayer.

• Waiting on God requires a dependency on Him for all the things I cannot fulfill on my own.

• Waiting on God often draws me closer to His Spirit, as I anticipate Him working in a situation, and allows me to give thanks with a grateful heart when I see the completion of this work.

Seasons of waiting are challenging, but they have always refined me and have been sweet with the fragrance of His presence.

We all encounter our share of waiting.

We wait for graduations, weddings, children, promotions, grandchildren, and so forth. But the course of time for each season is intentional.

Hannah wouldn’t have grown in her dependence on God had she had a child much sooner. But “in the course of time,” God grew Hannah’s faith and established His good and perfect will in her life. I can be confident God will use my waiting to grow me as well.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Father, thank You for times of waiting that shape me, grow me, and mold me into the woman You desire me to be.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

Winter Wonderland “THE HEAV EN S D EC L A R E T HE G LORY O F G O D, AND THE EX PANS E P R OC L A I M S T HE WOR K O F H I S H A N DS ” ( P SA L M 19 : 1) .

Last year I discovered the beauty of winter. Not the beauty of falling snow and sparkling ice, but the beauty of the gray time between the snow, when the trees are bare and everything is quiet.

Although I’ve always looked forward to the budding green of spring, last year I was actually sorry to see winter go.

In the past, the dreariness of winter seemed to drag on too long, interrupted only occasionally by the brightness of snow. It felt like something to be endured in order to enjoy the other seasons. But this year God revealed a winter wonderland as I struggled with early morning prayer.

I am not a morning person. My husband knows that in the mornings I prefer silence as I slowly wake up.

So when my son started kindergarten, I didn’t have any illusions that our morning commute would be a time for bonding and conversation. My only goal was to get him to school on time.

But that turned out to be harder than I thought. He was anxious about school. What I had expected to be a difficult first week turned into months.

I found myself forced to talk, trying to encourage, beg, or bribe him to get out of the car when I dropped him off.

I asked for prayers at my women’s small group. As we talked about it, I realized I needed to be praying with my son in the mornings on our way to

school. But it wasn’t easy. My groggy mind, accustomed to early-morning silence, struggled to find the words for prayer. By then it was winter. The trees were bare, and the sun just rising on our morning drive. One morning I scanned the horizon. “Thank You, God, for this beautiful morning,” I managed to say out loud, followed by a very long pause.

“Mom, can I say amen now?” my son asked.

“Not yet,” I said.

Then, as I searched for something else to say, God opened my eyes to the beauty of His PSALM winter creation. I 95:3-6 saw the barren trees silhouetted against the sky, revealing more detail than I could have imagined in their summertime collection of leaves. I saw the intricacy of every branch, the place where each leaf would eventually connect to the tree, and this verse came to mind: “For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods” (Ps. 95:3).

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Thank You, God, for Your goodness in all seasons. Please open my eyes to the beauty of Your creation.

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Teaching Through Testing “T HIS WAS TO TEAC H T HE F U T U R E G EN ERATI O N S O F TH E IS RAE LITES HOW TO F I G HT I N BAT T L E, ESP ECI A L LY TH OS E W H O HAD NOT F OU G HT BEF OR E” (J U D G E S 3: 2 ) .

My son is often wielding a sword or lightsaber around the house, ready to fight the “bad guys.” He swings, jabs, and thrusts his weapons around with mouthed sound effects for dramatic appeal. However, even though he loves to punch, kick, and play with pretend weaponry, my son is not a real fighter.

He is not trained, nor has he ever been in a real battle — thank goodness! I am not sure if my son will ever be called to fight in a physical battle, but I do know that one day when he gives his life to the Lord — as I am praying he will EPHESIANS — he will have some 6:10-20 battles to fight.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers and authorities of spiritual darkness. All who follow Christ are in a spiritual battle where the enemy seeks to discourage and disarm us. The power of God is with us, though, and we have armor to wear so we can withstand the schemes of the devil. Also, oftentimes God uses the battles we face to teach us how to fight.

God tested the next generation of Israelites who came after Joshua to see if they would follow His commands or practice the ways of the pagans in the

land. He left the nations there to see if the Israelites would conquer them or settle among them. They had never experienced the battles Joshua and the previous generation had to fight to enter the promised land. They didn’t know what it took to be set apart as Yahweh’s people. Unfortunately, the next generation did settle among the pagans and adopt their ways, and God sent a judge to save them until they embraced pagan ways once again, and the cycle of sin and God’s deliverance continued.

Christ came as the final Judge to save us from the cycle of sin. He fought the greatest battle we could never fight, and that was the battle over sin and death. The war is won, but there will be battles that we will fight until Christ returns. Thankfully, God has equipped us with spiritual armor, and all we must do is take it up, standing firm in the faith. And He will be there to help us every step of the way.

Deeper Walk

Steps of Faith Lord, in the battles that I face, help me to stand firm, taking up the full armor of God, ready to resist the devil. Thank You for fighting the greatest battle that I could never fight. Yours is the victory!

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r u o y l l i f t r e e y t l h l He wuti h with laug mo our lips wiyth a & y ut ofjo sho - J ob 8

:21

Joy is the constant companion of the woman who trusts in the Lord. And while you can find it in friends, family, and circumstances, unfailing, persistent joy will only ever overflow from your relationship with Jesus.

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Bible Study Book 005809760 $12.99 Leader Kit 005809761 $69.99

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