Your Daily Crossroad
04
May '21
Praise, Even Through The Tears
04
May '21
For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. (Psalm 71:5-6)
There is always hope with God.
Things may not play out the way you planned or imagined, but Jesus is our hope and He is always there.
Praise Him in a new way. Allow praise to come out of you through all of the tears. Praise, even through the tears, will keep you going in any season.
Praise will fight off the hopelessness like the last warrior defending the stronghold, and in time you will stop feeling like all hope is lost.
Start seeing other areas of your life that are joy-filled and blessings from God.
If you’re struggling to hold on to hope, I implore you today to PRAISE. You ALWAYS have hope in Christ. The end result may look different than what you pictured, but you won’t be alone when you get there.
Hallelujah! This devotion blessed me so much. PRAISE HIM! Even with tear filled eyes, PRAISE HIM through it! I pray someone is just as encouraged and uplifted by this devotion today.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
29
Apr '21
Praising Through Guilt
29
Apr '21
Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Psalm 30:4-5)
I remember in my teen years getting into trouble once for missing curfew on a Friday night.
I didn’t miss it by a few minutes, but by a couple of hours.
In fact, my parents were supposed to be away for the weekend and my dad had to drive back home to check on me because I was not where I was supposed to be. There is more to the story, but that’s for another time. The part that I remember most is that Saturday.
My dad had left again to be with my mom at their weekend away as planned. I’d been briefly chastised, but woke up Saturday to an empty house and a deep sense of dread.
I knew I had messed up big time, and that my sentencing would come down Sunday night when they returned.
I spent the rest of that weekend alone in our home cleaning every nook and cranny I could. It was guilt cleaning. I felt so bad for what I had done, and was so worried about the consequences, I let my guilt drive my actions.
Many of us function this way with God. We mess up in our hearts, minds and actions and then we begin to operate out of guilt, trying to “work off” our sin, even though we know it doesn’t work that way.
Can I propose something new? Let’s praise Him through our guilt instead.
- Let’s Praise God for being merciful and gracious.
- Let’s praise Him for new mercies every morning.
- Let’s praise Him for letting us bring our confessions right to Him.
Don’t work your guilt off, praise through your guilt and let that praise get your heart and mind back on the path God has laid out for you.
Spend time today praising God for forgiving you for something specific you have said or done this week.
I pray you are just as encouraged by this devotion as I was. Remember to Praise Him through all things.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
27
Apr '21
Praising in The Tunnel
27
Apr '21
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13:5-6)
Have you ever been with a young child driving through a tunnel? They have the mix of fear and fascination on their little face as they drive through the enclosed space. Some are completely terrified, while others seem to somewhat enjoy the journey. However, all are looking forward with an eagerness to see the light that marks the tunnel coming to an end.
There are so many seasons of life that feel like a long tunnel, and we are often leaning forward desperately trying to see the light.
Whether you’re waiting for spouse, waiting for new job, waiting for child, or waiting for change of circumstances, it is not our natural inclination in that tunnel season to praise.
However, there is great power in praising God while you are in that tunnel and can’t yet see the light at the end.
There is power in praising through the waiting and the unknown. Your praise in the tunnel builds your faith while you wait and having a deeper trust in God’s faithfulness will lead and serve you well in future challenging times.
When you’re in the tunnel, and can’t see the light ahead, think back on what He’s already done and let that be your source for praise.
What past blessings can you praise God for again today?
When I read this devotion it blessed me so much. I pray you are encouraged to think back on what He’s already done. Praise Him even in the tunnel.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
22
Apr '21
Fruit of The Spirit
22
Apr '21
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
Our Lord Jesus calls those blessed who hunger and thirst after righteousness. What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness?
It means to desire, above all things, to be wholly conformed to the mind of God.
Have you ever looked at what the fruit of the Spirit produces in us— really looked at it?
Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
God’s Spirit in us is cultivating and producing “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness…” The Spirit is producing in us the very character of God. The Spirit of God is wholly conforming us to the mind and will of God.
Is it any wonder then that “smart,” “important,” “comfortable,” and “successful” didn’t make the fruit of the Spirit?
The things we spend most of our time, effort, and treasures pursuing, are not on the list.
We thirst for importance. We hunger for success. We strive to be comfortable. We want to feel and be seen as intelligent. And yet, none of these things will satisfy us. None of these things will bring us closer to God. None of these things will conform us to the mind and will of God.
Those who thirst and hunger for righteousness want to be “holy as God is holy.” Our Lord says “blessed” are these people. They thirst and hunger now, but one day they will have enough; they will “wake up after God’s likeness and be satisfied” (Psalm 17:15).
What are you thirsting for today? Where is your hunger leading you?
Your prayer today, “Lord conform me to your image. Quench my thirst with love, joy, peace, forbearance, and kindness…quiet my hunger with goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
When I read this devotion it blessed me. I pray you are encouraged to seek God to quench your thirst and quiet your hunger.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!