Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 14, 2026

Real Prayer To A Real God

“What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to Him?”    (Deuteronomy 4:7  NIV)

Whenever we pray to Him. Those were the words of Moses addressing the nation of Israel. For those of us who were taught to pray from childhood, prayer is something we can easily take for granted. As I meditated on that verse, I was struck by the realization of how privileged we are over the worshipers of false gods, we who can pray with confidence, knowing that our God hears our prayers and cares deeply about our concerns. What other god does that?

None.

The church I attended in another state had a family who immigrated to the U.S. from Guyana. These folks were formerly Hindu. In response to the teachings of missionaries in their home country, they converted to Christianity. Their conversion was genuine and vital. They became respected leaders in our church because of their holy lives and calm wisdom.

The father of this family once said to me, “You who have grown up in the Christian church don’t realize the power of God because He’s been there all the time for you. But the Hindu people we grew up with knew of His power and feared it.” They had experienced the lack of power of their deity in contrast with what they had seen from the God of the Christians.

To me, having grown up in the church, that was a surprising revelation, but I believe he was right. In the words of Moses, they did not have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to Him.

Should we who have the privilege of prayer then waste it? Tim Keller said, “The greatness of prayer is nothing but an extension of the greatness and glory of God in our lives.” It must break the heart of God when we get busy with life and neglect to spend time in prayer with Him.

We should seek maturity in our prayers. Hopefully, we have grown beyond the simple prayers we learned to say by rote from our childhood. Hopefully, we have learned to pour out our hearts to our Father with praise and thanksgiving, knowing that He will fulfill His promises.

As a footnote, I had to wonder why those Hindu people, so precious to God, who knew of His power and feared it, did not turn toward Him. Probably one of the biggest reasons was pressure from relatives and friends, who would reject them if they converted. My heart goes out to them. I pray that the Lord will give them the courage to follow Him and bring their families with them.

“Heavenly Father, we bow in awe before You and thank You for the privilege of conversing with You personally. Please forgive us for the times we have neglected to pray, and give us a hunger to spend time with You.”

 For His Glory

Cherie Harbridge Williams (www.cherieharbridgewilliams.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 13, 2026

Reckless Love

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37 (NLT)

If you have not heard this song, I highly recommend you listen to “Reckless Love,” by Cory Asbury. This song shouts how God will literally go to the ends of the earth for us, how He loved us before we were born, and how His love is not based on emotions.

Here’s a little sample:

There’s no shadow You won’t light up

Mountain, You won’t climb up

Coming after me

There’s no wall You won’t kick down

Lie You won’t tear down

Coming after me

 

WOW! That is powerful! We are literally worth everything to Him.

Isn’t this what everyone wants? Do you know it is estimated that there are over 100 million love songs?! (The Harvard Crimson)  So many people are searching for love and what it means to be fully loved. Yet God offers His unrequited love to us and so many of us barely even consider that real love according to our definition of what love really is.

Why is that?

Because we have reduced love to a feeling.

But love is not a feeling. Love is a commitment. Love is a choice. Love is….

“…patient and  kind, …not jealous, or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way, it is not irritable and keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.” (I Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT).

Do you know anyone who embodies all of the above characteristics? No, because it’s impossible. This is the very definition of Who God is. God is Love.

If you struggle with what real love is, you are not alone. Even King Solomon struggled with what love is.

AFTER God had appeared to Solomon TWICE, AFTER Solomon had built the Lord’s temple, AFTER he had built his own beautiful palace, AFTER God gave Solomon victory after victory in battles and a peaceful kingdom, AFTER God gave Solomon all the wisdom and wealth a person could attain, AFTER God promised a member of his family would always reign in Israel, Solomon was not content and wanted to feel love.

1 Kings 11 begins with, “Now King Solomon LOVED many foreign women…The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods. YET Solomon insisted on LOVING them anyway.” (1 Kings 11:1-2NLT, emphasis mine).

Solomon was fooled by the feeling, the notion, the euphoria of what love is. If Solomon could be fooled, we can be too.

Love is a God who gave His most precious gift, His Son, to us. Why? So that we would never have to be apart from Him. That is love.

Love is a God who will chase us, find us, and never leave us, no matter what has happened or what choices we have made. That is love.

Love is a God who promises that He can ‘redeem the years the locusts have eaten,’ whether because of our choices or someone else’s choices. That is love.

Love is a God who promises, even in this fallen world, that if we honor Him with our lives, we will receive crowns in Heaven. That is love.

Love is a God who never shames or condemns us, even when we willingly decide to walk against His best for us. His arms extend to us as He dusts us off, helps us stand again, and walks with us. That is love.

Love is designing us, knowing us, and loving us before we were born. Then never wavering from that. That is love.

Love is knowing the very worst thing we have ever done and continuing to love us in spite of it. That is love.

Let’s not fool ourselves into thinking we need a feeling or a moment in this life when we have been showered with the ultimate love of the perfect Being.

Our earthly relationships are just a bonus. We are already loved with a “Reckless Love.”

Embrace it and let His love be enough. Believe it, receive it, and bask in it.

“Father, help us live like we are loved by the King of Kings, oh, because WE ARE!

For His Glory

 

Terrie Tollerson (www.TerrieTollerson.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Love

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 12, 2026

Look Up, Let Go

“Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Psalm 55:22

Distraction. It’s all around us. Maybe you’re a news junkie getting caught up in the political vitriol, or you doomscroll your socials through the day to see what other people are up to (i.e., to judge yourself as “more than” or “less than”). Perhaps each morning you hesitantly get on the scale in order to determine if today will be “good” or “bad.” Our family members are sick. Friends suffer unfathomable loss. Gas and food prices keep going up. Wars rage on. Do you feel your heart rate elevate?

Even if, as a believer, your sole focus is on your church life and spiritual family (avoiding panicking talking heads), this realm does not escape the drama that is our broken world. After all, although our brothers and sisters in Christ are new creations and fully justified, they (we all) are not fully sanctified, but fighting the good fight against the fallen flesh. So, there’s illness, loss, and disagreements here too. We even watch some in the church use other believers for their own gain under the guise of being “on the mat” in want of others carrying them to Jesus…when, in reality, they’re simply seeking enablement of their sinful behaviors.

Yep. Everywhere we look—from the body of death we believers carry around (Romans 7:24) to the walking dead (that is, the unsaved) around us, to the bodies of dead Christians in Nigeria—we can easily get consumed by it all, overcome by anxiety, fear and anger.

“Good grief,” you’re probably thinking. “Why are you being such a Debbie Downer, Julianne?” Well, this is actually my point. Sweet friend, since Adam handed over dominion of this world to the enemy, Satan’s sole purpose is to crush us—mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually. He aims to keep us from recognizing our need for reconciliation with God. Or, if we’ve already surrendered to Jesus, the Accuser will do his level best to keep us from walking with the Holy Spirit in holy obedience. He hates God, and he hates you…hence, the news, social media, brokenness, and self-condemnation.

But, praise God, Satan has been defeated by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! As believers, we walk with our Savior in victory through this dark world toward Home. The secret, beloved, is to wake up each day and remember this magnificent fact. When we look to Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, we can stand in awe of Him—fixed on His beautiful face, allowing everything else to fade. In His glorious light, our fears wither (1 John 4:15-18). We can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us and won’t let us be shaken (1 Peter 5:6-7; Psalm 55:22). We can hand over our righteous anger because vengeance is His (Romans 12:19).

So, instead of looking down at the screen or around at the chaos, let’s look up to the Lord—a constant, moment-by-moment necessity. And as we set our eyes on Him, let’s open our grasp of all-things-heavy-laden and hand them over to Him (Matthew 11:28-29). He still has the whole world in His hands, and He’s got you. And me. We just need to trust Him with the mess and know, without a doubt, that He is working all things together for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).

“Oh Lord, it’s so easy to get caught up in the things of this world and be distracted from what really matters—Your glory, Your beauty, the awe of Your Providence. Help me turn my eyes to You and hand over what weighs me down on my race toward Home.”

 

For His Glory

 

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Freedom, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 11, 2026

Firmly Anchored

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”  Romans 15:13 (ESV

In a world that consistently seems to be growing darker, we all long for hope. Not just any hope because the world’s hope is fleeting and fluctuating. The hope we need and desire is an eternal hope found in God alone.

The Hebrew word for hope (tikah)  means cord or rope, which symbolizes strength and reliability. Biblical hope is a lifeline anchored in the reliability of God. His hope is integral throughout scripture and played a key role in the overarching story of the Children of Israel. As they cycled through doubts, rebellion and questioning, we can see their eventual return to hope in God.

Hope is never extinguished with our Sovereign God. We can hold on tight to the One who is forever faithful and true. This inner attitude of confident expectation is active and reveals an enduring, patient trust in God. His character is consistent and flawless.

The book of Psalms conveys the beauty of hope in God as expressed by David – a man after God’s own heart. Filled with authentic emotion, Psalms refers to hope twenty-eight times, more than any other book in the Bible. These prayers and songs are deeply rooted in the experience of longing, trust and faith in God’s promises.

Absolutely love the pivotal truth of Psalm 25; God is our hope all day long from now to everlasting. Love the promise of Psalm 33; His unfailing love produces confident hope in Him. When discouragement seeks to overwhelm us, Psalm 42 compels us to put our hope in God alone. If doubts cloud our thoughts, Psalm 71 reminds us of our trust and hope in God from our childhood. And when we visit Psalm 119, we are inspired to place our hope and trust in God’s Word.

Sweet friends, posturing our hearts in God’s hope positions us for His best. We can lean on Him even in the midst of our hardest days because His presence and goodness are ever surrounding us. We might not feel it. We might question it. We may even deny it. Yet, the Word of God confirms the pivotal truth – Hope is the vital connector between present suffering and future restoration.

As the chapters of our stories unfold, we can see God as our sustainer, provider and hope lifter. He redeems all things. He births glory to His name in all things. He enables us to flourish and bear fruit because our God holds it all together. Nothing is a surprise to Him or catches Him off guard. God knows all, sees all and works through all.

If our hope is wavering, sweet friend, then we can nourish our soul in the book of Psalms and listen to the heartfelt cries of those who moved from hopelessness to hopefulness. Graciously, God will move us from uncertainty to resilient confidence in His Sovereignty – a total surrender to His plans.

“Father, Your Word is a firm anchor we can hold onto in this broken world. We can trust You to fulfill Your Word and promises to us. Strengthen us in hard places and ignite a deep well of hope within us so others will see where our strength comes from.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 8, 2026

Tough Truths

cb devo aug3“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:25 (NIV)

Never been a fan of tart or sour, but I can definitely indulge in some awesome sweetness. My little cup of frozen Sweet Frog goodness is totally hidden by all those yummy toppings. Wonder what happened to my nonfat, sugar free frozen yogurt? Bet it’s covered up with Oreos, heath bar crunches and caramel syrup. See what I mean? I’m addicted to sweetness. Too much sweetness, however, never serves us well. No matter how much we love it and desire it – our health can be totally compromised if we over indulge.

Ever sugar coated words of wisdom? We really knew what we needed to say. We’d earned a place in their heart to say tough truths. We loved them so much……yet the truth seemed hard and harsh. So we choose to ease over what we knew God was telling us to convey. We dismissed His promptings and open doors and overlooked a divine appointment.

Too much sweetness when we really need tough accountability will sabotage our spiritual growth. And the truth about our lives, even when spoken in love, is hard to take. But if no one takes a bold stand and says what we really need to hear then we might end up tasting the bitterness sin births.

Godly accountability strives to draw us to His truth – not popular opinion or their opinion. And that dear one that stands in the gap praying, confronting and speaking truth into our life truly glorifies the Father. Tough? You better believe it. Worth it? A thousand times! Never met one who was saved from the brink of their own disastrous choices who didn’t praise Jesus for the friend who chose to exchange sweetness for godly obedience.

“Father, speaking truth into difficult situations can be overwhelming, yet we know You will empower us with the right words to say at the right time.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 7, 2026

Rest In Him

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29 NIV)

God doesn’t waste anything, and so I began to write. My journey had taken me to a two-year time out. Life had fallen apart and just when I thought it could get no worse, it did. In the midst of this, it was as though God knew the heart of His daughter, had orchestrated her return and was providing every resource to clean her up and reflect His glory once again. What’s a girl to do but to put pen to paper and let others know what He taught her, how He healed her with the hopes to encourage others to draw close to Him when life withdraws its kindness. And so with list in hand, in strategic format, I have written. Sharing with others spiritual lessons taught to me. With each stroke remembering who shared with me her wisdom, the one who confronted my misguided mind or the author long ago with Jesus.

With learnings in hand, I move forward. It doesn’t take long to be inundated with pressure. Pressures that come from all sides in an attempt to extinguish the Spirit at work. Rejection, my constant companion it seems, returns to visit. I scurry to recite the lessons learned, and return to prayer for comfort. At the end of worship, repentance and surrender, one word is heard: rest. The Lord encouraging me to rest in Him. To allow Him to hold my heart, keep it in one piece. In His hands it is sheltered, protected, healthy. I quiet myself as He works all things for His good. Trust that which is and that which isn’t. Only as Solomon found rest from the battle could a temple for the Name of the Lord be built. With the Lord’s presence comes rest; we learn as Moses is unwilling to move without the Lord’s presence to accompany. The world works in a frenzy to heal and restore but the Lord says rest.

Rest knowing that I am His daughter. His beloved. Chosen. Forgiven. Redeemed. He paid the ultimate price to have me. Nothing and no one can take me from His embrace. May this fury and fire that taunts my freedom serve to refine this creation in the now. But as for eternity, may what defines me be His love and the masterpiece He has formed through sanctification.

“Father, for complete healing and wholeness, may I rest in You, safe in the center of the storm.”

For His Glory

Kathryn Hayman
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 6, 2026

Take Every Thought Captive

Many of us have heard this verse quoted over and over, “…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” ( 2 Corinthians 10:5).  We have a vision of a net capturing any wicked thought, throwing it in jail,  and possibly replacing it with a thought that honors God.  This is not a bad way to think about this verse, but there is so much more to it.

Before the “take every thought captive part,” the verse begins with “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.”  This is a warning to us to check our worldview, our philosophies, and our decision making branch in our minds.  We can change individual thoughts, but if we do not break down the framework from where they came from, the same thoughts or same type of thoughts will continue.

This is why we see people make a commitment to something or someone and not go the long distance with their new belief.  We can make a New Year’s Resolution, give our life to Christ, or read Atomic habits and make great strides toward change, but unless our framework changes, these new behaviors will not last.

We have to decide who gets to define the reality in which we choose to live.

This verse gives us a reminder that we are at war.   Learning to take our thoughts captive is a military strategy.  Our systems of thinking are like fortified cities, and how we think is who controls the city.

The strongholds we need to demolish are compared to the military garrisons of the Roman army.  These are our systems of thinking-the framework or worldview in which we live.  Someone said it this way, “A  stronghold is not a demon sitting on your shoulder. It is a lie sitting in your logic.”

We have to demolish-not put down, not shoot at, but completely demolish until there is nothing but ash left-any philosophy or argument that is not based on the Word of God.

Paul was writing to the believers in Corinth that were hearing Greek philosophy, Roman rhetoric, and legalism pushed by many Jewish leaders.  Paul was addressing each of these areas and teaching the church in Corinth that it was a continuous battle to keep their thoughts rooted in the truth of God.

What is a captive?  Taking someone or something captive means actively pursuing them, using a weapon to force them, and putting them in a place where they cannot escape.  Battles were not considered to be won until every “soldier” was taken into captivity.  Then CONQUEST was celebrated.

The battles of our minds are not considered won until every thought is actively pursued, forcing each one with our weapon-The Word of God-to a place where they cannot escape and being certain each thought is based on the Truth of God’s Word.

Paul is not asking how we control our thoughtlife.  Paul is asking what reality or worldview we are living in.  He is asking us to think about what we are thinking about.

I’d like to share a few ideas to help us as we take on the battle of our thoughts.

  1. What thoughts do I struggle with most?  What is the framework that these thoughts are rooted in?
  2. What scripture(s) can help me see the Truth?
  3. What is one active thing I can do this week to rebuild any thoughts that need to grow or destroy any thoughts that need to be demolished?

Praying for you as we walk through this together.  Let’s demolish any strongholds in our thinking!

“Father, help us to live out this Truth.  Show us where we have allowed any arguments or philosophies that are not of You to take hold of us.  Thank you.”

 

For His Glory

Terrie Tollerson  www.TerrieTollerson.com
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Freedom, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 5, 2026

What A Waste

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…” ~2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Perhaps it’s the constancy of being called on to pray for brothers and sisters in Christ for a breadth of earthly sufferings: a traumatic injury or illness, a growing cancer, the destruction of homes and lives from storms and fires, the death of a child. Maybe it’s because of the obvious and rapid cultural deterioration all around—mobs advocating for the right to kill babies, the deafening silence on the global slaughter of Christians, the devastating impacts of social media and AI (growing anxiety, the decline of critical thinking, the eradication of true community). Or it could be that I’m getting older and my body is betraying me in new ways each day with more pain and less vitality.

All we have to do is flip open our Bibles to Genesis 3 for that “Oh yeah” moment as to the Big Why of it all. Because of the choice of Adam and Eve in the Garden, humans and all of creation are subject to the curse, the wasting power of sin and death. Our bodies deteriorate over time (despite all those injections). Creation itself kills and dies. Sinful thoughts, words, and actions waste our time, money, energy, emotion—all leading down the path to death (Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23). Even though, in Christ, we are redeemed through the saving grace of Jesus and fully justified through faith, we remain in this fallen world and in a constant battle against our yet-unredeemed flesh (Romans 7:15-20). We await our final redemption when we become fully free from the very presence of sin…and in our glory, we’ll be in a perfected (and very real) body, living in a liberated and glorified Creation.

Sweet friend, please know that our wasting away is never a waste! Suffering, trials, and death will continue until Christ returns. But in it all, we are being made more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). These sufferings create endurance, character, and hope because of the hope we have in Christ through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:3-5). We will groan in the fallenness of this world and of our body as we wait for our ultimate redemption—even Creation itself groans to be restored to its intended glory (2 Corinthians 5:1-5; Romans 8:22-23). But we can trust that whatever we face has passed through the hand of our Good and Sovereign God. His will and purpose are perfect, and it’s all for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). For the time being, every tragedy, trauma, crisis, and death is Providential. All we see today is the sin-made knotted, chaotic mess of the underside of life’s quilt…one day, oh one sweet day, we’ll see it from the perspective of glory, savoring the exquisite beauty in every stitch, knowing full well that not a single thread was wasted.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

 “Lord, with every trial and trauma in life, may I trust Your promises and Your Sovereignty. May I keep my eyes on You and look for Your good in it for me.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Freedom, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 4, 2026

Why Release Is Good

“The God of Israel says:  There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.”  Joshua 7:13b

Discarding things is not usually our fave bend.  We hold on because we might need it.  We resist discarding because someone else may need it. We hold on tight to things that bring us comfort and security.  We desire (covet) what others have and strive to get it. Yet the release of some things can be exactly what God requires.

The Children of Israel landed here when they went up against the people of Ai (Amorites) who chased the Israelites and struck them down.  The hearts of the people melted in fear, and Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the covenant.  Questions flowed from their lips:  “Why did God bring them across the Jordan only to be destroyed?”

The real problem wasn’t God allowing them to be defeated, rather sin was in the camp.  One of the Israelites  (Achan) coveted and held onto “devoted things” (plunder) from one of their defeated enemies. He saw, desired and took a beautiful robe from Babylonia, 200 shekels of silver and a wedge of gold. What was commanded to be destroyed (the forbidden plunder), Achan took and hid in the ground inside his tent.  Achan’s desiring and coveting was in direct disobedience to God’s command (Exodus 20:17).  He was trusting, clinging and holding on to what didn’t serve him or his fellow Israelites well.

Wonder what things we cling to that don’t serve us well?  Are we afraid to release them because our dependence, comfort and security are wrapped up in them rather than God?  Are we refusing to admit that some things have elevated their status above our worship of God? What might our idols resemble:  work, ministry, food, exercise, unforgiveness, jealousy – basically anything that consumes our focus?  And what about those things we see, desire and covet which God has clearly forbidden?

While we aren’t facing a literal army against us – we do face spiritual battles on a daily basis.  And if we find ourselves not winning those battles then we need to consider whether we are trusting and holding on to something else other than God.   Relying on self versus trusting God elevates self above our Creator.  Sometimes, we turn to visible tangible people rather than seeking God first.  And yes, we too land in the pit of attempting to hide our sin; however, the holiness of our God can’t dismiss sin in the hearts of His people. Achan’s coveting ultimately destroyed himself and his family. Unconfessed sin in our lives will do the same.

Our God is a jealous God, the right kind of jealousy that desires what is best for His daughters. Just as God desired for the Israelites to win, He wants us to be victorious.  The critical key – get rid of anything that rises above our love, obedience and devotion to God. Release what our eyes see and desire so we can walk in obedience and align our devotion to Him alone.

“Father, there are so many things we cling to other than you.  Help us to consider what things we need to release, confess and avoid so we can be prepared for battle and be victorious against our enemy.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | May 1, 2026

Perfectly Aligned

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

“Wow, my back feels so much better,” those were the words echoing from my lips.  My monthly visit to the chiropractor was just what I needed.  Too many jumps while exercising and long segments of time sitting at my desk created havoc with my spine.  When my back is out of alignment it affects my whole body.  I feel sluggish, tired and hate sciatic pain, so a monthly trip to see my chiropractor gets everything back in its proper place and helps me avoid being sidelined. 

While alleviating my back pain is crucial, I would have to admit keeping my life in proper alignment with God is far more critical. And how does misalignment happen?  Quite easily.  Simply start making seemingly insignificant decisions relying on self.  Excuse away previous spiritual convictions because everyone else is loosening their grip.  Choosing to fill our time preoccupied with distractions and busyness versus carving in margin for self-evaluation. Trading God’s truth for what suits our agenda.

I think we can all agree – misalignment can easily slip in when we’re doing life day to day.  But it doesn’t have to happen.  We can purposefully choose to be intentional in seeking God’s will. We can choose to stand firm on spiritual convictions regardless of what everyone else is doing.  We can create space for talking to and listening to God.  We can welcome His examination of our heart and confess sin quickly.  We can cherish His truths.  By meditating and memorizing His words, we will be more inclined to apply them in our lives which equates true wisdom.   

Looking for a little motivation – how about Ruth?  A young woman who could have easily aligned herself with seeking another husband and returning to her homeland.  Instead she stayed with her mother-in-law who was not exactly in a happy place.  By aligning herself with Naomi’s God, Ruth was blessed with a kinsman redeemer in Boaz and became a part of the lineage of Christ.

Looking for a reminder about the dangers of misalignment – how about Jonah?  He knew exactly what God wanted him to do, yet he chose to run in the opposite direction.  Landing in the belly of a big fish for three days convinced Jonah that God’s plan was best; however, it was still a rocky ride for Jonah. He was more consumed with how people would perceive him as a prophet versus the people receiving the mercy and redemption of God.

So thankful for the patience and loving kindness of our God who understands our tendency to wander away from His purposes.  Blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us in understanding God’s will.  Grateful for God’s mercy and grace in the moments when He gets us back on track.

“Father, help us to surrender our desire to pursue and create our own plan.  Renew our desire to stay in alignment with Your will.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin

TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

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