Your Daily Crossroad

Encouragement

Posted on Jun 12, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Encourage

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Loving others includes encouraging one another. In Romans 12:7-8, Paul lists encouragement among the gifts of grace. When people accomplish a common objective together, all are encouraged. Fellow believers encourage one another to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

The Thessalonian Christians faced struggles and an uncertain future. Paul wrote to encourage them, reminding them of their faith and love and hope in Christ, all of which prepared them to be ready for the Lord’s return. And with these assurances they could keep encouraging one another and building each other up.

The gift of encouragement is important in our lives. Encouragement is a gift in the home, the workplace, the church—wherever we find ourselves. We can come alongside others and be there for one another. We can listen, comfort, console, affirm. It’s a way of living out the command to love one another.

Take time to recall the people who’ve been encouragers in your life. They’re the ones who were there when you thought you’d never laugh again. They were the ones who listened to you; whereas others just talked. Then ask yourself, “When was the last time I encouraged someone?” It’s not difficult, and the people you encourage are so blessed by it.

Lord Jesus, help me to recognize the struggler or the lonely—anyone who needs your encouragement of love and hope today. In your name, Amen.

This devotion blessed me today. I pray it blesses and encourages you as well. Remember this, God uses broken people like you and me to rescue broken people like you and me. Take time today and build someone up, remind them they’re worthy, be a light in a too often dim world. Encourage one another and build each other up.

Today’s Reading is 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Jun '19

When You Have a Choice to Make

Posted on Jun 11, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: choices, Isaiah 30:21

Jun '19

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)

According to recent statistics, I made 5,000 decisions today. Seriously?

Well, I made a decision to get out of bed. I made a choice to put on my tennis shoes and run at 6 a.m.

I chose peanut butter Cheerios over oatmeal. I decided which bills to pay. What to make for dinner. Whether to answer a phone call. Which clothes to wear. Whether the plants needed watering or if they could wait another day. I chose to fill up the small car instead of the gas-guzzler.

I may have made more than 5,000 decisions today!

Some of our everyday choices are random, others weighty, but many of our decisions are choice points. Choice points are seemingly insignificant decisions yet they lead us in one direction or another.

I choose whether to react in anger, or respond with understanding to my husband.

I choose whether or not to create drama with a friend who hurt my feelings.

I choose time with my Heavenly Father, or push that time to another day … again.

I choose whether or not to say those words that cause my child pain.

Recently I was on a mission trip and the team was exhausted after nearly six days of intense travel. We had missed a train and stood on the platform in the moonlight. It was nearing midnight and cold and wet. Our next ministry event was early in the morning.

The coordinator walked over. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean for it to work out this way.”

There I stood with a choice to make.

I could share my frustration. I could explain that my sleep tank was on empty. I could say nothing, while sighing with a martyred expression. Or I could choose to override my fatigued irritation and be gracious.

As she waited for my reply, a gentle voice softly spoke to my heart: “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

I knew it was definitely the leading of the Holy Spirit, just as Scripture promised. Yes, I was exhausted, but I reminded myself what a privilege it was to be there. Ease and comfort were not readily available to Jesus, and losing a little sleep was nothing in comparison to anything He went through. The Holy Spirit nudged me to recognize that everyone around me was just as tired as I was. He led me in the way to respond.

“I’m fine,” I said. “In fact it’s been an amazing day and I can’t wait to see what God does tomorrow.”

She grabbed me and pulled me in a huge hug. “Thank you, Suz.”

I wish I could say I handle every choice I have to make that way, but sometimes I fail and gripe, nit-pick, am critical and grouchy. It’s my prayer that I’ll remember how much my choices matter. You see, they don’t just affect me; they affect those within the vicinity of my decisions.

In the 5,000 decisions you make today, take a moment to pause before deciding. Ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance and counsel. And choose to follow as He leads the way.

Dear Lord, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by all my choices, and it makes me cranky. Today as I make my 5000 decisions, walk with me, remind me of how my choices affect others and help me follow Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

When I woke this morning I was greeted with Psalm 46:10, today’s reading, then as I was praying and searching for a devotion to share today The Lord dropped this devotion in my path. What a beautiful devotion, full of truth. I pray it encourages you today, in the moments when you feel overwhelmed and maybe even a little cranky to be still and look to The the Holy Spirit for guidance and council and allow Him to lead the way. Remember, your choices affect others. What choices will you choose to make today? Wow! I needed this today.

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Psalm 46:10

Jun '19

When You Don’t Feel Like It

Posted on Jun 10, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: Choose, Psalm 119:89

Jun '19

For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

(Psalm 119:89)

We all struggle with spiritual discouragement and lethargy. Some days our circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, and we struggle just to pray. Many times we just don’t feel like doing the things we know we should. For one reason or another, God sometimes seems far off and unreachable.

David faced times like these in his life. The Psalms are filled with verses that express his despair and feeling of abandonment.

Yet the Psalms also give us the key to living victoriously during the dark periods of life. Let’s take a quick look at Psalm 119:89-95*.

“For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.They continue this day according to thine ordinances . . .”

My circumstances or feelings have not changed God. He is the same God today as He was when He hung the stars in the sky, led the Israelites through the Red Sea , and fed the five thousand.

“For all are thy servants…”

All things, even the things affecting me right now, are God’s servants. The circumstance, people, and events around me are all under God. They are His servants, designed to help and bless me spiritually.

“Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts.The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.”

Recalling God’s faithfulness and control over everything that touches us gives us strength to walk with God even when we feel like giving up in despair. After all, our feelings and circumstances have not changed God. He is perfectly capable of sustaining us if we will only let Him. We simply need to choose to delight in and diligently consider God’s precepts (His principles and character) despite how we feel. Choosing to delight in God might not be easy. It might even involve hard work. But only God can revive and save our soul from spiritual lethargy.

Next time you feel spiritually drained or inadequate, remember that you have a choice. You can wrap yourself up in excuses and self-pity, or you can choose to draw your strength from an unchanging God.

I needed this reminder today. I pray you are encouraged to draw your strength from an unchanging God. Faith isn’t a feeling. It’s a choice to trust God even when the road ahead seems uncertain. What will you choose?

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Colossians 3:13

Jun '19

Taking a You-Turn with Your Emotions

Posted on Jun 7, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: Proverbs 19:8, You Turn

Jun '19

He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. (Proverbs 19:8)

A decade ago, when I was single and working my way through graduate school, I found myself envying a woman I worked for.

I didn’t want to envy this lovely woman who’d been nothing but kind to me. I hated feeling that way. But beating myself up about this feeling got me nowhere.

I decided to get curious about my envy instead of trying to stifle it. What is it about her life that stirs up this unpleasant feeling inside of me? I shifted from envying her to recognizing she had much to teach me — and I began to take notice.

There were many things about her I admired: how she engaged her own work with passion but always took time to be present with her family … the light-heartedness evident in her relationships with others … the way her home was welcoming and lived-in. There was always an extra seat at her dinner table, an open invitation for connection.

As I took notice of her life I realized that my own life had become a little out-of-balance. My work had taken over at the expense of connecting with others. Envy became a cue that something in my own life needed to change.

I had discovered what it meant to take a “You-Turn.” In Matthew 7:3-4, Jesus challenged the crowd to work on their own issues, before pointing fingers at others. “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?”

When you’re feeling envy, anger or resentment, it’s good to ask what else is going on inside. Is there another part of me that’s hurting and I’ve been exiling? If so, it needs to be drawn in closer so to give it the care it needs. Or, is there a part of you that’s become reckless and needs some gentle boundaries? Notice the cues. Listen to your pain.

When challenging emotions make their presence known, take the opportunity to evaluate what is going on inside of you. Which parts of your soul need your time, attention and redirection? Painful or troubling emotions present opportunities for growth and healing: Internal conflict is often growth trying to happen.

God’s Word reminds us that gaining wisdom and insight is worth it in the long run. As we see in today’s key verse, “He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good” (Proverbs 19:8).

Taking a You-Turn helps me gain clarity about my conflicted thoughts and feelings so I can respond intentionally instead of becoming reactive. It doesn’t mean I start to criticize myself for having the difficult or uncomfortable emotion. Instead, it means getting curious and treating myself with compassion. Taking a You-Turn starts with these three steps:

1.) Focus on the challenging or overwhelming emotion.

2.) Extend compassion toward this feeling you don’t like.

3.) Invite Jesus to draw near.

Just the other night, I stopped to take a break from my work to snuggle up with the dog on the couch and watch a silly TV show with my daughter. As we laughed out loud in our very lived-in family room, I remembered, with gratitude, that woman whose life I had once envied. With the help of God’s Spirit, I’d been able to focus on a feeling I didn’t like and allow Jesus to transform it. As a result, I gained access to some of my deepest desires and was able to take steps to change my own life.

When you spend time with God, don’t leave your unwanted thoughts and feelings at the door. Instead, get curious about them and invite Jesus to be near them, too.

Dear God, thank You for the gift of a multi-faceted soul. Today, I invite You to draw near and keep me close. Help me understand my emotions and wisely discern how You want me to grow. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotion blessed me so very much. I pray it encourages you to make a “You Turn” in your life if you have any unwanted thoughts and feelings. He is greater than anything we face, He is able. Go to Him in prayer. I (He) will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I (He) will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron (Isaiah 45:2).

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Psalm 90:2

Crossroad Fellowship

Your Daily Crossroad

Encouragement

When You Have a Choice to Make

When You Don’t Feel Like It

Taking a You-Turn with Your Emotions