Category: Devotionals

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:57

Nobody likes to lose. Someone once said, “It’s not the winning that’s important, it’s how you play the game.” While it would be nice if everyone played simply for the joy of playing, we live in a culture where winning is important. In fact, there are multi-million-dollar industries that are built upon winning. I don’t know of any major or minor league sports team that plays their game simply because they like the game. They play to win! Their seasons all culminate in games where spectators pay lots of money to watch and see which team will be the best of the best – the ultimate champion.

While life is not a game, there is a ongoing competition composed of two teams. There are no spectators; everyone is a player. If you’re not on one team, you are on the other. In fact, as strange as it may seem, everyone starts out on the same team. All of humanity begins as members of the team “Sinners,” whose captain is Satan. This team plays dirty. All Satan wants his team to do is win by destroying anyone and anything that is good and pure and holy. Once I realized what being on this team was all about, I exercised my right to leave this team and join the second team.

The second team, the “Redeemed,” is led by its captain, the Lord Jesus Christ. When I asked Him to forgive me for being part of the other team, He did, and immediately He accepted me on His team! I became once of the “Redeemed.” This team chooses to play by “the Book.” Unlike the “Sinners,” those who are part of the “Redeemed” follow the guidelines that have been established throughout eternity, and they always lead to victory. The “Redeemed” play to win because the stakes are very high. If this team were to have a “losing season,” the cost would be devastating because it would impact the souls of every man, woman, and child.

The good news is that our Captain, the Lord Jesus Christ, has never lost, and He never will lose. He can never be defeated! Even when Satan thought his team had won at Calvary, they were mistaken. Our Captain rose from the grave three days later, and He was proclaimed the victor over sin and death.  I guess you could say that our team won the playoffs that day! One day soon, there will be a final confrontation between these two teams. It will be the ultimate contest between Jesus and Satan, and it will take happen at a place called Armageddon.

Guess who wins?

I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins and won the victory.

O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory, beneath the cleansing flood.

(from “Victory in Jesus” by E. M. Bartlett)

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”- 2 Corinthians 2:14

*********

I’m on the winning side. Are you?

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” – Psalm 33:12

Today is America’s birthday.  On July 4, 1776, a group of men put their signatures on a piece of paper that would seal their fate. Signing this declaration of colonial independence from tyrannical England was an act of treason, and anyone who signed that document knew they would be considered a traitor against the British monarchy. As they put pen to paper, these men knew they would either become the founders of a new nation, or they would be executed as enemies of the state. It was at the moment that the War for Independence began.

Inexperienced in wielding muskets against a hostile enemy, a hodgepodge of farmers, merchants, and young boys stood up against the greatest military force on the globe. Led by General George Washington, it seemed like a hopeless attempt at breaking free of the strangulating hold of the British monarchy, yet these patriots never gave up. The odds were stacked heavily against them, yet the war for independence was won by these courageous men whose vision and valor enabled thirteen separate colonies to come together to become the greatest nation on earth, the United States of America.

I have traveled to more than 45 countries, and I have enjoyed learning about different cultures, meeting new people, and visiting unique points of interest all around the globe. However, no matter where I’ve gone or what I’ve seen, my heart belongs to America. Despite the turmoil within its borders, the international challenges it has faced, and the uncertainty of the times, I still believe it is the greatest country in the world.

I will always stand in respect for our flag, and I will always unashamedly sing our national anthem when it is played. I will continue to pray for this nation and the men and women who so selflessly protect and defend it. I will always ask God’s blessings upon the US Army, the US Navy, the US Marine Corps, the US Air Force, the US Coast Guard, and their Commander-in-Chief, the President of the United States. Because I believe in the Biblical principles upon which this country was founded, I will always support the United States Constitution and the spirit in which it was written by the founding fathers. I love this country. I am proud to be an American, and today, I proudly celebrate the birth of the greatest nation on earth.

Happy birthday, America!

My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride,
from every mountainside let freedom ring!

Our fathers’ God to Thee, Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright, with freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.

(from “My Country, Tis of Thee” by Samuel F. Smith)

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17

**********

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – Declaration of Independence

“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” – Ephesians 3:12

I remember as a youngster that approaching my dad was not always easy for me. Not because he was unapproachable or distant, but he was my dad! To me, he was invincible. He was the ultimate decision-maker. He was my dad, and I was in awe of his “Dad Power”! I knew he loved me, and I knew he would always make decisions based upon what was best for me, but still I sometimes hesitated before going to him. The problem was that I often wanted things that weren’t necessarily the best for me. Still, I would usually ask many things of him, hoping for his favor in whatever it was I sought.

As I got older, approaching my dad was not easier, but the reasons for that changed. I didn’t want to disappoint him. I wanted him to be proud of me, so I didn’t bring trivial things to him. I wanted to do them on my own. I wanted to show him that I was a capable young woman, and I wanted his approval. Sometimes acting on my own, without his wisdom and guidance, brought me heartache and avoidable troubles, and then I would sheepishly go to him for his advice.

No matter what the reasons that I came to my dad, he always welcomed me with open arms, and after we had talked about whatever I came for, permission or forgiveness, he always hugged me and told me he loved me. This was my dad. In my own mind, I sometimes believed he was difficult to approach, but he never really was. The reality is that my father was always waiting for me to come to him. He never forced me to do so, instead in his wisdom, he simply waited for me.

That’s how it is with my heavenly Father. When I accepted Jesus as my Saviour, His Father in heaven became my Father in heaven. John 1:12 states, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” There have been times when I struggled to go to Him because of some sin in my life. At other times, I wanted my way, so I resisted seeking His advice, yet there were many occasions when I ran to Him as fast as I could, especially when I was afraid or overwhelmed. No matter the reason, my heavenly Father was always waiting for me with open arms, welcoming me in His embrace. In fact, He wants me to come to Him with anything that is on my heart. He longs to take care of His children. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

There is no need for me to be hesitant in approaching Him even if He is the Creator of the universe and the almighty God because I am His child. His scepter is always held out for me to approach Him without fear or trembling (Esther 4:11) because while He is my God, He is also my beloved Father. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…” (1 John 3:1)

And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness Divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

(from “And Can It Be?” by Charles Wesley)

“He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.” – Psalm 89:26

**********

It’s good to know that I am held firmly in the hand of my Father!

“Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.” – James 3:3

Today I watched my granddaughter, Ryanna, as she rode her horse, Riddle. This multicolored animal is quite an impressive creature with startling blue eyes and thick muscular legs that only give a hint of the power they possess. When he stands by Ryanna, he seems so huge to me. It’s quite an impressive feat to see her control such a majestic animal. Riddle dwarfs Ryanna, yet with just a gentle tug on the reins or nudge in the side, he goes wherever she wants him to go.

I wish I was more like Riddle when it comes to my relationship with God. It frequently takes a lot more than a small nudge or tug to get me to do what He wants. Many times, I desire my own way, and I ignore the gently prodding of the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 tells me, “Quench not the Spirit.” Instead, I am to yield myself to the Spirit of God, and allow Him to lead me along life’s paths. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

When God holds the reins of my life, I can “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established” (Proverbs 4:26), all the while trusting God to direct my steps to walk on His paths of righteousness. Psalm 23:3 reminds me that God “… leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” When I fight against the Holy Spirit and insist upon my own way, I stand a good chance of encountering trouble. Proverbs 4:27 warns, “Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil,” but on my own, with no one to guide me, it becomes too easy to veer off in the wrong direction, stumble, or even fall prey to the temptations of the world and its sin.

In order to walk according to the ways of the Lord, I must “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” I learn His ways through His Word and the illumination of it by His Spirit. When a horse trusts its rider, it will follow instructions even if it is something it has never done before. When Ryanna leads Riddle on an unfamiliar trail, he trusts her to lead him safely along. I must do the same with God. When I am in situations that are foreign to me and I am unsure of what to do, I must allow the Holy Spirit to lead me. I know He will not lead me astray, and I can trust Him completely.

Today, I watched Riddle amble over to Ryanna when he saw her by the pasture fence. This was another demonstration of trust. A horse will readily approach its rider when trust has been established. As a child of God, I desire to be in His presence because I know He cares for me and only wants the best for me. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) I know when I seek God, I will find Him! “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” (Isaiah 55:6)

Additionally, when Riddle is agitated, it is Ryanna’s soothing voice that relaxes the horse. The voice of the one in whom the horse trusts settles the animal. That is the same for me. When I am fearful or anxious, I long to hear God’s peaceful voice, calming my soul. Sometimes He speaks to me through His Word; sometimes it’s through a song; sometimes it’s just His still small voice that quiets my heart. When God speaks, I must be sure to listen for this is when I will experience His divine comfort, joy, and peace. “I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.” (Psalm 85:8)

As a child of God, I must allow Him to lead me through life. “Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:10) With His hands firmly on the reins of my life, I am assured that my steps will be ordered by Him and kept on the paths of righteousness. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” (Psalm 37:23)

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I’m tired, I’m weak, I’m lone
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

(from “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” by Thomas Dorsey)

“Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.” – Psalm 32:9

**********

It’s good to be held in the palm of God’s hand.

“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10

I have been pondering my recent choices in life and the path upon which I am currently walking. Even though I am soon to be an “official” senior citizen, my life is far from over. I know this is true because if my work for the Lord was over, He would take me home. Yet, here I am, therefore, there is still more for me to do. I have many interests, and I try to use each of them to serve Him.

For instance, I have the wonderful privilege of homeschooling my granddaughters. Not only do I get to teach them the basic educational subjects like math and science, but I also get to weave godly principles into their schooling. It is an awesome responsibility, but one that I cherish. Another area in which I am involved is writing. In both my blog and my novels, I strive to present the gospel and other Biblical concepts in each book and devotional, hoping to point my readers to Christ and the hope that is found in Him.

Now, I have embarked on a new venture. I have been involved in a journey that has helped me become healthier both physically and spiritually, and I want to help others in the same way. Therefore, I have chosen to become a health and wellness coach. It is my hope that in helping clients attain healthier lifestyles, I can also share ways to help them grow spiritually.

In all of these “hats” that I now wear, it is my desire to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells me, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” I know that if I strive to honor God in all that I do, He will bless the work. I don’t have to worry about the success of what I do or the time frame in which results are seen, but rather I must focus on the “why” of what I am doing, and trust God to help me reach my goals.

My “whys” are what drive me to do what I do. I teach because I believe it is my responsibility as a grandmother to teach the things of God to my grandchildren. (2 Timothy 1:5) I write because Jesus said we were to share the gospel with others. (Mark 16:15) I coach because the Bible states our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we honor it by keeping it healthy. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

In spite of all my efforts, it is important for me to remember that it is God who gives the increase. “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:7) No matter how much work I put into something, it is God who blesses that work, and it is He whom I will praise for the results of my efforts.

I am still excited about serving God in this season of my life. It is my prayer that all I do will be holy and acceptable in His sight, for that is my reasonable service until He takes me home. (Romans 12:1)

Give of your best to the Master; give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service; consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given; God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him, give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

(from “Give of Your Best to the Master” by Howard B. Grose)

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14

**********

Serving God is not limited by age! All He needs is a willing heart!

“And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?” – Exodus 6:30

It is so easy to let fear dictate my actions. I have a fear of spiders, so I resist deep cleaning my closets, weeding the flower beds, or retrieving a sock from under the bed. As irrational as the fear may be, it still manages to impact my life. Fortunately, I have two granddaughters who have no qualms about bugs, so they usually help me out when needed!

However, there is another fear I have with which the girls cannot help me. This fear concerns communication. I don’t have any trouble chatting with family or friends, but if I am in a position where I am promoting something, it really unnerves me, and I shrink back from sharing my thoughts. This fear is great enough to keep me from following through on my intentions and often leaves me very frustrated and disappointed. Two examples come to mind.

First, I am not a salesperson. Right now, I am trying to start a business for myself being a health coach. This is really difficult for me. I get tongue-tied, flustered, unsure of myself, and that’s not a good characteristic when you’re trying to sell yourself or a product. Case in point, I am also an author of Christian novels, but marketing the books is not something I enjoy doing, so I don’t. Therefore, I find myself usually only selling my books to family and close friends.

The second issue I have regarding communication is that I get really nervous sharing the gospel with strangers. Witnessing to others about the Lord is something God has commanded us to do. In Mark 16:15, Jesus says, “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” I can easily write about God in my novels and blogs, but in situations like knocking on doors during visitation or passing out tracts, I get very anxious. I wonder, “What will I say?” “How will I start the conversation?” While I know this fear is very irrational, it is difficult to overcome, and to do so, I have to step outside of comfort zone. That is so very hard for me to do, and often I find myself shying away from situations where I would be required to reach out and share my thoughts.

I imagine Moses must have felt similar feelings when God called him to free the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Eventually, he surrendered to God’s calling, and became Israel’s greatest prophet. Moses chose to follow God’s command, but what if he hadn’t chosen to obey? What if Moses had refused to listen to God out of fear?

When God calls me to do something… whether it’s to pick up the phone and call someone, or teach a Sunday school class, or share a tract with the grocery store clerk, I have a choice to make. That choice is to obey God or not. I must remember that if God calls me to do something for Him, He will equip  and empower me to do it through His Holy Spirit. Does this make it easy? No, not at all, but Jesus never said following Him would be easy. John 15:20 records Jesus’ words. He said, “…If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…” In fact, He often reminded His followers that the path they chose would be very difficult, but He would always be with them to help them. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord states, “…My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” During these times that I find so hard to endure, it is the strength of the Lord that will carry me through because when I am weak and afraid, He is strong and promises to deliver me!

So, the next time I am prompted by the Holy Spirit to speak out for God, I am going to do my very best to step out in faith and share the gospel, trusting Him to speak through me. It may not be easy to step out of my comfort zone, but it will be worth it. I know if I am faithful to plant the seed, God will be faithful to do His part.

Sometimes life seems like words and music that can’t quite become a song.
So we cry inside, and we try it again, and wonder what could be wrong.
But, when we turn to the Lord at the end of ourselves
Like we’ve done a time or two before
We find His truth is the same as it has always been
We never will need more.

He’s all we need for our every need, we never need be alone
Still He’ll let us go if we choose to, to live life on our own
Then the only good that will ever be said of the pains we find ourselves in
There are places to gain, the wisdom to say
I’ll never leave Him again.

It’s not in trying But in trusting, it’s not in running But in resting
Not in wondering But in praying that we find the strength of the Lord

(from “The Strength of the Lord” by Larnelle Harris)

“Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” – Isaiah 44:8

**********

Thinking about my fears will not alleviate them, but stepping out in faith will!

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1

It’s very easy to have faith in things you see. I have faith in my ability to pay my bills when my bank account is full. I have faith that I will get to work on time when I am in my car, it’s full of gas, and the traffic is clear. I have faith that my dinner will be great when I follow a recipe without any problems. Despite saying that I have faith in these things, I really don’t. What I have is the assurance that things will happen as I desire because I have control over them. I am trusting in me for the outcome, and that doesn’t really require any faith at all.

Faith is defined as the “firm belief in something for which there is no proof.” The most obvious thing that requires faith is the belief that God is. When I look around at the trees, the sky, a newborn baby, I have the faith that He does exist. His creative works provide the evidence that He is. When I sit quietly, reading His Word, and it speaks to my spirit, I know that God is. When I pray and answers are given, I know that God is. When I sing songs of praise, and my heart rejoices from deep within me, I know that God is. That is faith.

I cannot see God; I cannot hear God’s audible voice, and I cannot touch God, yet I do see Him and hear Him through His Word, and I feel His touch in the presence of His Holy Spirit in my life. This is faith.

One day, my faith will become sight. I will see Him in all His glory; I will hear His voice as He bids me to come to Him, and I will feel His arms around me as He welcomes me into His heaven. Until then, I will keep on believing. I choose to have faith because I know God is.

The sky shall unfold preparing His entrance
The stars shall applaud Him with thunders of praise
The sweet light in His eyes, shall enhance those awaiting
And we shall behold Him, then face to face

O we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory
O we shall behold Him, yes we shall behold Him
Face to face, our Savior and Lord.

(from “We Shall Behold Him” by Dottie Rambo)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17

**********

Faith is not knowing that God can, it’s knowing that God will!

“Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” – Luke 6:28

Are you a prayer warrior? I want to be. I like talking to God, and I almost always pray for my family and friends in the mornings during my quiet time with the Lord. When someone I love is hurting, I pray for them, and when there are needs among those I know, I pray for them. But I am sorely lacking in one area of prayer. I cannot recall the last time I prayed for someone I considered an “enemy.”

Right now, I can think of several people in government for whom prayer is desperately needed, but I haven’t really prayed for them. I pray for my President. I pray for the Vice President. I pray for my governor. These are specific individuals for whom the Bible tells me to pray. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 states, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

But there are a lot of people in government that support issues and causes that are unbiblical, and I do not remember a time when I truly prayed for them. It is wrong for me to withhold prayer for these individuals. The Bible tells me that I need to pray for those who “curse me.” When these people denounce the Word of God as a fairy tale, and they seek to criminalize Christianity, I see that as a “curse” upon me and my faith. I should be praying for them, and I should be praying for them by name if I know who they are.

Will I like doing that? Probably not. But I must obey the Lord. In Matthew 5:44, the Scripture again tells me to pray for my enemies. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” It is my responsibility to pray for them!

The only way to change an individual’s mindset is through Jesus Christ. It is the gospel that changes people, not protests, not rantings and ravings, not behaving as the world behaves when it doesn’t get its way. My obligation as a child of God is to pray fervently for those who are my enemies! I must pray for the Lord to open their eyes to their need for a Saviour! I am reminded that if someone did not pray for me when I was their enemy, I may never have come to know Christ as my Saviour. The world is full of those who hate God, and my response needs to be born of His love within me. I must pray for them without ceasing (1Thessalonians 5:17).

Shamefully, I have found myself complaining about the national situation, our state laws, and even the local community, but I do not recall lifting up in prayer those in opposition to my way of thinking. James 4:2 tells me, “…yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” Today as I pray, I will pray for my family, my friends, my governmental leaders, and… my enemies. I will ask God to move mightily in our land. I will pray that His Spirit will break down the walls of hatred and resistance to Him. I will pray the gospel will find a place in the hearts of those who seek to destroy everything that is Biblical, godly, and right in the sight of God.

I will pray for a revival… in the hearts of my enemies, but also in the heart of me.

Forgive, oh Lord, and heal our land
And give us eyes to seek Your face and hearts to understand
That You alone make all things new
And the blessings of the land we love are really gifts from You

Unite our hearts in one accord
And make us hungry for Your peace and burdened for the poor
And grant us hope that we might see
The future for the land we love, our life, our liberty

If My people will humbly pray and seek My face and turn away
From all their wicked ways
Then I will hear them and move My hand
And freely then will I forgive and I will heal their land

(from “Heal Our Land” by Jonathan Butler)

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” – Matthew17:20

**********

If you really believe prayer changes things, pray!

“And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” – Isaiah 46:4

For the last several years, I have noticed my hair shifting from a dark brown hue to a subtle gray color. Combining this physical change with my retirement from a career of nearly 30 years, it is very clear that I am in the official “senior citizen” stage of my life. Things change when you get older. There are benefits, such as senior shopping days, where older shoppers get discounts on their groceries, state park camping reservations are discounted, and even early-bird specials at restaurants offer lowered prices for seniors!

Unfortunately, there are also some negative aspects to growing older. Along with the bodily aches and pains, there is sometimes the nagging thought that one’s life is no longer as important as it used to be. The children are grown and often have families of their own; there is no longer a 9-to-5 job that beckons you each weekday, and social engagements begin to dwindle.

Sometimes it can actually get lonely in this season of life, but despite the ups and downs of being a senior citizen, I have the assurance that I’m never really alone. God is always with me! He specifically addresses the elderly in Isaiah 46:4 as He makes the bold statement that even though my body is aging and my hair is graying, He will take care of me. Why? Because God is my Creator, and He is faithful to take care of all that belongs to Him. That includes me! As I often write, God loves each of us with an everlasting love. His love doesn’t end or begin at a specific age. His Word guarantees that He will be with me all the days of my life to help me, to uphold me, and to love me! I have the blessed assurance that I will never be alone or without value as a child of God!

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

(from “Blessed Assurance” by Fanny Crosby)

“Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.” – Psalm 71:9

**********

“No one is too young or too old to be used by God. You are always the perfect age!“- Author unknown

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4

It amazes me how God’s Word fits in with every aspect of my life. I know it is the foundation of my faith, but today as I read Psalm 37, I realized that so much of what I read, that I normally would ponder in a spiritual context, could also be applied to my journey to optimal physical health as well.

Psalm 37:3 states, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”  At first when I read this, I chuckled at the latter part of the verse because my mind was drawn to my new eating plan, but then I reread it with a bit more seriousness. If I trust the Lord and do my part… the part that is good and right in His sight, I will be nourished well. Spiritually, I can see the connection easily. If I trust God, He will keep me spiritually healthy through the wisdom and guidance of His Word. Physically, if I follow my health plan well, I also can trust God to help me. I will be fed via a nutritionally sound food plan and live a good healthy life in “the land.” That is such an encouragement for me to stay on my health journey!

Verse 4 records, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” In this season of my life, I am striving for a healthy lifestyle, both spiritually and physically. Keeping the Lord the top priority in my life is not always easy for me. I can get caught up in the things of everyday life, forgetting about my spiritual well-being and my need to be close to God. However, when I make time to be with Him through my devotions and prayer first thing in the morning, I am blessed beyond measure! Starting my day off with the Lord is truly delightful, and I take hope that God will grant me the desires of my heart that are good and right and aligned with His will for my life! In faith, I believe that God will grant me the desire to have a healthy body and stay faithful to my health journey.

The next verse tells me to “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” When I determine to honor God with my life’s needs, trusting Him in the outcome, I know that He will be faithful to bring it to pass. On the spiritual side of it, I know that when I start my day with God, He will always order my steps (Psalm 37:23), bringing His plan for my life to fruition. Physically, if I trust Him to help me, the Bible constantly reaffirms that He will. I must remember that it is His Spirit’s temple I am trying to “rebuild,” and I know that if I commit this work to Him, He has promised to make it happen! I cannot fail with Jesus helping me every step of the way!

This last verse is perhaps the most difficult for me whether physical or spiritual. Verse 7 instructs me to “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way…” Waiting for God to respond to a prayer or act on my behalf is sometimes very hard for me to do, yet the Bible repeatedly calls for me to do just that. In my physical journey, I am not to compare my successes to another person’s victories and then worry about it if I have not done as “good a job” as that other person. Instead, I am to be content (to rest) and wait patiently for God to move. I am not to take matters into my own hands, but instead, I am to continue doing what I know is good and right in the sight of the Lord and trust Him for the outcome. I must always remember that God has His reasons for the timing in which He acts. His ways are much higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9), His knowledge more vast, and His abilities more capable than mine. All I need to do is wait on Him.

My responsibility as a child of God is to trust in Him, delight in His ways, commit my life to Him, and then wait patiently to see the hand of God move mightily. When I purpose to do that in my life, I will see and experience the great things that my Father has planned for me!

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.

Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life

(from “Wonderful Words of Life” by Philip P. Bliss)

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” – 2 Timothy 3:16

**********

If you seek optimal heath, the Word of God must be applied to all three aspects of your being: body, spirit, and soul!