Do You Need A Miracle?

We all go through difficult times in our lives. Sometimes the struggle lasts hours, days, or even years and during that time we pray for things to get better. Whether we pray for a parking spot at the busy mall or for a friend to be healed of cancer, we can bring any request to God, but it is in those desperate moments, the moments when there doesn’t seem to be a way to fix things, that we come to God and ask for a miracle. In times of trouble, we need to turn to God and pray for a change, a miracle that will make life whole again.

Matthew 21:22: “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

There are two very important aspects of asking for a miracle: 1) We have to pray and 2) We have to have faith. We have to make our requests known to God. Although God knows the desires of our hearts, He wants us to take the leap of faith by asking Him for help to reveal to God that we are submitting to His will and that we believe that He can repair what has been broken. Sometimes a situation seems so impossible that we can begin to lose hope because we are thinking about how we aren’t strong enough to fix things when, what we should be thinking about, is what a Mighty God we follow. He is powerful enough to conquer any foe and any problem.

Mark 11:24: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

God expects us to have faith so strong that we believe that God has given us the solution even before we have asked Him for it. When we pray, we have to believe in God’s power beyond the current hardship. By having big faith, we are showing the people around us that we trust God completely. We cannot have any reservations when it comes to our prayers. Faith in God is mind over matter. We are humans who naturally believe what we see but, as men and women of faith, we believe in what we cannot see. While we can see God’s miracles and blessings in our lives, we are not able to sit down and physically have a coffee with God. Non-believers may ask why we believe that God is real but what they have yet to comprehend is that we have faith that transcends flesh and blood.

Psalm 77:13-14: “Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.”

God has shown us through miracles that His power is real. There is story after story in the Bible of miracles that Jesus performed in His short life on earth but the miracles didn’t end back then. There are modern day stories of miracles every day. We hear stories of a miraculous healing of a terminal illness, a family receiving money right before the house is about to foreclose, a person walking away from a horrendous car accident without a scratch, or of a person leaving the scene of a crime, moments before the crime occurs. Miracles are a way for God to remind us that He sees our faith and He hears our prayers. Miracles are also a way for God to show people His power so they too can know and trust in Him.

John 14:13-14: “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Our faith glorifies the Lord. The biggest miracles happen when we have even bigger faith. Sometimes the solution to a problem is too big for us to fathom but we have the Lord. We don’t have to find the solution; we have to pray with conviction and believe without a doubt that the Lord will bring restoration and clarity when we need it the most. God will find a way to make any situation better. It may not be the answer we are expecting, but He will always come through for us, if we ask and believe.

Thank you, Lord, for reminding us that you are a Mighty God who performs miracles. Thank you for being so deserving of our praise and adoration. Thank you for your many blessings in our lives. Thank you for hearing our prayers and answering them. Please help us, Lord, to have unwavering faith that, for anything we may be struggling with at this moment, you have already found a solution that is on its way. Thank you, Lord. Amen. – Katie Ann

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Are You Feeling Judged?

The world would be a much more pleasant place if we would all accept each other for our differences without judgement or, at the very least, if only we were immune to judgement. Unfortunately, judgement is an aspect of life that is inescapable. Judgement can come from just about anyone and, when we are judged, it hurts. We have to be conscious of the fact that, by proclaiming that we are Christians, other people are going to judge us and the choices we make, but don’t get downhearted.

John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

We, as Christians, are sometimes judged for following God because there are preconceived notions and stereotypes about what it means to be a Christian but, whether the judgment is coming from Christians or non-Christians, we can find peace knowing that Jesus was also judged and His every move was scrutinized. Even the religious leaders judged Jesus and wanted Him to make a mistake.

Luke 20:20: “So they watched Him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch Him in something He said, so as to deliver Him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.”

Although we are in the spotlight because we follow Jesus, we can find comfort that, if we are being noticed, it means that the good that we do will also be acknowledged. We should try not to notice people who are looking for us to fail but instead focus on the good we can do for the Kingdom and the difference we can make in the lives of others. All God’s children must focus on the positive and forgive those who judge us.

Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

We have strength in the Lord to guide our steps and protect us from evil. It’s important to remember that none of us are perfect and we won’t always make the right choices. Being a victim of the judgement of others isn’t an excuse to distract us from the positive. Now, there may be times when we find ourselves on the other side of the judgment; we may be tempted to judge someone else’s choices or actions. Jesus has told us that it is not our responsibility to judge others; it is God’s job to judge. God has instructed us to love one another and to share His gospel. Wasting our breath and thoughts on judging others is counterproductive against our mission to spread God’s love.

James 4:11-12: “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, He who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?’

The time will come when we will all be judged by God but, until that time comes, we need to focus on the future that God has prepared for us. He is doing a great work in our lives and He directs us where we need to go. In order to be a good example of what it means to be a Christian, we have to remember that we are held to a higher standard because we believe in God. Some people would expect us to be perfect, but we know that is impossible, just as it is impossible to have control over the judgement of others. All we can do is ask God to be our guide and do our best to follow His instructions. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect, otherwise He wouldn’t have sent Jesus to save us all. We can find comfort in the Lord, for He loves us despite the imperfection.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us peace to overcome the judgement of others. Thank you for the Bible to instruct us how to tolerate judgement. Please help us to remember that judgement is your responsibility.  Thank you for not expecting us to be perfect. Thank you for helping us daily to transcend the negative Christian stereotypes to show the world that following the Lord is the only way to live life. Amen. – Katie Ann 

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Are You Thankful?

Life is a journey filled with praise-worthy moments that make us utterly joyful. When life is going well, we are more prone to be thankful to God for our blessings. However, it is more difficult to be thankful when we are dealing with cringe-worthy moments that make us utterly depressed. It’s easy to be overwhelmed when we are dealing with something difficult and forget to thank God for our blessings. The best way to turn our attitude around is to thank the Lord, despite the hardships.

1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Our God is a mighty God who blesses our lives so completely. He is worthy of our praise and yet at times we are easily distracted and forget to say “Thank You”. What we may fail to realize is that a change in attitude can be just what we need to refocus on the positive. When we thank God in the hard times, it is almost like a surge to our soul. By focusing on the positive things in our lives, the struggles seem small in comparison. God’s blessings far outweigh the hardships.

Psalm 100:1-5: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

It is impossible to be angry if we are too busy thanking God and praising His name. When times are hard, praise Him. We should always strive to show God how much we love Him and to express our appreciation for our many blessings. Sometimes we get busy worrying and praying for God’s help that we forget to thank God. Remember that God knows our hearts and He knows that we love and appreciate Him but, just like any other parent, He also likes to hear His children say “Thank You.” He has never failed to bless us so we need to try not to fail to express our appreciation.

Psalm 136:26: “Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

God will never forget about us or leave us. His love is never ending. We are grateful to have a God who love us so completely and unconditionally. Whether we come to Him in good or bad times, He welcomes us with open arms. We need to remember to show our appreciation and thank him endlessly.

Thank you, gracious Father, for EVERYTHING. Amen. – Katie

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Can You Control Your Tongue?

In an age of social media reliance, opinions are shared constantly. There are so many sites devoted to people sharing their opinions over the internet, whether people care to hear their opinions or not. Some people take a more neutral stance while others are more verbal about what they believe and why their opinion is the right one. However, as Christians, we should turn to scripture for instructions on how to behave when people have different views than our own.

When it comes to picking a side on an issue, we are presented with many options and we are expected to pick a side. Unfortunately, life isn’t black and white. There is a lot of grey area and sometimes it is difficult to make up our minds. Regardless of our personal views or our stance on certain issues in today’s society, we are first and foremost Christians. God has given us the Bible so we can learn how God feels about the issues or, more importantly, what He deems important in the larger scheme of things.

Titus 3:1-11: “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”

We need to always remember that, although someone may not agree with us about a topic, we should always be gracious to allow them to have their opinion without feeling attacked or belittled. We should not act as others do by demeaning people who do not agree with us. God wants us to love and live in harmony. When we stand up on our soapbox and demand to be heard, we run the risk of causing dissonance among believers. It is better to leave things unsaid than to create waves against the greater good.

Titus 3:3-5a: “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”

We don’t need to foolishly put hate into the world but taking an aggressive stance against others who do not agree with us. God has shown us undeserving love by saving us. We didn’t do anything to deserve His gift. He gave it to us freely because He is a God of love. We too should give the same love and respect to all people. We should be sharing God’s message of love and hope to all people instead of arguing.

Titus 3:9-11: “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.”

Some people will simply not be able to understand the concept of holding one’s tongue. We are instructed to give people multiple opportunities to learn to be quiet and, if they are unable to do so, we need to separate ourselves from the drama. We should never put ourselves in a situation that might steal our joy or steer us away from concentrating on what God holds important. God will lead us and teach us how to bring healing to this world, one person at a time, but we have to follow His lead without being distracted by our own motives.

Proverbs 16:1-2: “To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”

We must focus on the Lord and He will direct our path. We need to remember to humble ourselves to His Will because we know that pride always comes before a fall. Try not to be consumed by the passion of your opinions and lose sight of the example of Jesus Christ during His time on earth. He followed the Father’s commands, He was vigilant in prayer, and He studied the Word. We should follow His example and then our passion can be redistributed back to God’s message of love for all people. Jesus showed great restraint and, in turn, He was more effective as a teacher.

Proverbs 21:23-24: “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity. The proud and arrogant person – ‘Mocker’ is his name – behaves with insolent fury.”

If you want to be heard, sometimes it is better not to speak at all. When the adulterous woman was brought before Jesus, He could have easily condemned her like the others because she was guilty. Instead, Jesus was quiet and wrote in the sand. It is unclear what he wrote in the sand but one thing is definite, Jesus was able to extinguish the scene with His silence because out of the chaos, He was able to show everyone that none of them were without sin. Jesus brought logic and understanding to a mob of people ready to murder a woman by stoning. We too need to bring logic and understanding to a world full of opinions and judgement. We all need to do our part not to add to the chaos.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching us to have self-control. Thank you for showing us that we can teach through silence. Thank you for Your Word so we know how to love others despite a difference of opinions. Thank you for showing us what is truly important in this world. Please help us to be gracious to all people. Thank you for loving us, even though we are undeserving. You are a mighty God. Thank you for saving us. Amen. – Katie Ann

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Do You Hold Onto Hope?

Life is full of surprises, sometimes happy surprises and sometimes not-so-happy surprises. The trick is finding a way to accept both the good and bad in life by focusing on the amazing possibilities that both types of surprises pose for our lives. I am convinced that everything happens for a reason. If it weren’t for the obstacles we have faced in our lives, we wouldn’t be the people we are today. It is better to hold onto hope then to focus on the trials we face and run the risk of losing hope. Without hope, we are lost and wandering aimlessly through life. Hope gives us purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

The hope that we posses because of God is sometimes hard to understand. It can seem strange that Christians are hopeful even when things are going wrong. To non-believers, we may seem delusional to believe that there is always a future to look forward to, even when it looks as if everything is falling apart. It is during the tough times that Christians choose to praise God despite the storm because we know we have a glorious future on the other side. It is pointless to fixate on the problems when tough times never last forever. Things always get better. By holding onto hope, we are able to overcome the obstacle virtually unscathed because God is with us through it all.

Job 14:7-9: “For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant.”

God is able to quench our thirst and bring us back to life just as a plant that begins to whither. We need to be faithful and hold onto hope. There are times when our faith will be tested. The best way to rebuild our faith when it has been shaken is to pray for restoration. For when we hope, we begin to see that our God is mighty to save us in any situation. He is a God of life and love. He has given us the ultimate hope because we have been blessed with eternal life through our Savior, Jesus Christ. We have a future because loves us.

1 Peter 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

God’s perfect plan for our lives is like a puzzle. At first it seems like the pieces are in a jumbled pile and it doesn’t seem possible that all of the pieces will ever fit together but, as God begins to put the pieces together, we slowly see that there is a great work being done in our lives and that God has a purpose for everything we endure. When we allow God to work in our lives and we hold onto hope as He puts the pieces together, we are able to find great joy in the journey. Instead of being depressed when life isn’t going down the road we would have chosen, we can embrace the detours because God has bigger plans for us.

Romans 15:13: “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.”

We can never allow hard times to stifle our joy. We can never allow troubles to steal our hope. We can never allow our faith to be stolen away. There are going to be rough times in our lives where there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. All we can do is submit to the Lord’s will and believe that He can make everything better. We may not be able to fathom how God could possibly turn things around but He can and He will. It may seem like blind faith to believe in something beyond ourselves who can do what we can’t but, the difference with having faith in something and having faith in God are two very different things. With God, it is never simply blind faith. God has shown us that we can trust Him and that our faith isn’t wasted on Him. He is beyond worthy of our love and admiration. There is nothing too big for Him to do.

Luke 1:37: “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Thank you, Lord, for giving us hope in things we cannot see. Thank you for giving us faith in Your Power and Your love for us. Thank you for giving us peace when the end seems miles away. Thank you for giving us joy, even when we feel like crying. Thank you that we can always trust in you. Thank you for dreaming bigger for our lives than we could even imagine.  We can’t wait to see all you have planned! Amen. – Katie Ann

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How Do You Relieve Stress?

We all deal with stress throughout the day and it can be quite tiring. Sometimes it feels like there is no relief because day after day the stress keeps building. Whether our stress comes from work, school, or our home life, we all need to accept that stress is a normal part of life and not allow it to pull us down. If we turn to God when we are stressed and tired, we can give our stress to the Lord and He will lighten our load.

Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

While we of course still have to face the stress and resolve our issues, we can find relief through prayer because we have God as our confidant. God sees our burden and He listens when we pray. He carries the weight of the world on His shoulders so we don’t have to. We can share our stress with God and believe that He understands what we go through. God has given us the gift of peace so we can find comfort in trying times.

Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The peace of mind that God has given us is powerful and enough to completely envelope us and show us that no amount of stress is too much for God to handle. We can bring any problem to God and He will find a way for us to make it through the storm. Even when we don’t feel like we are strong enough to deal with the mental and emotion drain that stress can cause, God is mighty enough to carry us through it all.

Isaiah 40:28031: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

All people, young and old, struggle with stress but God can renew us and make us whole. God is strong enough to handle anything we bring to Him. He never wants to see us suffer. When times are tough, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to get further and further into a hole of despair. We shouldn’t try to figure it out on your own and run the risk of overwhelming ourselves. We should always bring our problems before the Lord and remember:

Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Thank you, Lord, for giving us strength when we are weak and for giving us peace when we are stressed. Thank you for rescuing us when we are too tired to go on. Thank you, Lord, for helping us to deal with stress and for replenishing our energy so we can make it through any obstacle.  Thank you for carrying us through the trials. Amen. -Katie Ann

You Aren’t Perfect?

No one is perfect, and anyone who says otherwise is delusional. The good news is, however, that being a Christian doesn’t mean we have to perfect. Perfection is absolutely impossible. God tells us to live godly lives to be an example for His Kingdom, but God understands that we are sinners and, hard as we may try not to make any mistakes, we are going to sin from time to time. God doesn’t have any delusions that, once we are saved, we are never going to make any mistakes or poor decisions. He loves us for who we are and has forgiven us in advance of our sins through Jesus.

Romans 3:23-25: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood – to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

God has given us grace freely through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. There are no hidden agenda and there is no catch. We are unworthy and yet He has freed us. We have been justified because the Lord made it so. God wanted to save us from death and the only way to save us was for His Only Son to die so that we can live.

John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus is at the center of the cross. He is our ticket into Heaven. That may sound a little simplified but it’s true. In order for us to be Christians and be able to go to Heaven, we have to believe that Jesus is Our Savior. We don’t have to “buy” our ticket to Heaven by following a bunch of laws and traditions to receive God’s approval. God knows our hearts and, if we proclaim that we believe, we are saved and have been blessed with His grace. Jesus changed everything.

Romans 8:1-2: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

The next step, while not technically mandatory if we are saved, is entirely necessary and takes training and discipline. God expects us to live lives that please Him. We should want to live godly lives, not because we have to but as a thank you to God for His grace. Christians are examples of God’s love here on Earth. We should always strive to live by His example found in the Bible. We need to let our light shine on His behalf just as Jesus is the true Light of the World.

John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Even in the darkest times, fraught with sin and bad decisions, we need to turn to Jesus. He will provide a light to guide our steps out of the darkness and back to the safety of His arms. God understands that we make mistakes. We simply need to come to Him with a humble heart and confess our sins and He will forgive us.

1 John 1:9-10: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word is not in us.”

We should not take God’s forgiveness for granted. We have to remember not to abuse God’s forgiving nature and make the same mistakes over and over again. We should strive to be right in the eyes of the Lord because He deserves our love and devotion for all He has done for us and will continue to do for us. We should never deny that we are sinners nor should we be too proud to confess our sins. The Lord is always with us and, therefore, He knows when we make mistakes. We have to accept that we have committed a sin and ask forgiveness. We have to stand up and make ourselves accountable so that we don’t make the same mistake again. When we brush off a sin, we are giving power to it and the evil that can come of it.

James 4:7-10: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts.”

It is better to stand before the Lord and confess so He can straighten our paths and make us righteous once again. Like any good parent, God has high expectations for all of us. God isn’t the type of parent who simply says, “Timmy was naughty” and doesn’t hold us accountable for the sin. Because we are one with the Lord, as Christians, when we sin, we feel convicted by the Holy Spirit to ask God for forgiveness when we sin. Conviction may not happen right away but eventually the Lord is able to get through to us and He shows us that we need to get back on track. The Lord is pleased when we take the initiative and humble ourselves to His Will instead of our own sinful nature.

2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

We have to rise above the sin whenever possible. We have to live lives that glorify the Lord and fight the impulses to live our lives as the rest of the world does, without any regard to the pain and consequences that come from making poor decisions. The Bible has provided us with the support and guidance we require to rise above the sinful nature as humans to fight sin. God has already done the hard part by sending Jesus to remove our sin. Now all we have to do is show God that we appreciate His gift by being the righteous, loving people He knows we can be.

Thank you, Lord, for Your Grace. Thank you for sending Jesus to save us and the Holy Spirit to guide us. Thank you for being a great Father. Let us live up to your awesome expectations for our lives but following your commandments. Thank you for being the Light in a world filled with darkness. We love you and appreciate all you do for us. Amen. -Katie Ann

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Are You Ready To Fight?

Most of us have experienced times in our lives when it seems like nothing is going right. Just when we think that life is finally settling into a good place, all of a sudden there is a huge event that throws things off course, and many of these times seem to coincide with our current relationship with God.

I used to notice that, whenever I would turn to God and get closer to Him, something bad would happen. There started to be a trend of bad things happening every time I would build my faith. After this happened a couple times, I decided enough was enough and I denounced living a godly life. Why would I want to have a relationship with God if everything fell apart when I did? Who would choose that?? Then I realized that the Devil was to blame for the bad things happening in my life, not God. It wasn’t God who was failing me, it was the Devil trying to destroy my relationship with God.

John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

The Devil wants us to think we don’t need God. The Devil wants us to think that we can live our lives without God. The Devil is wrong; he is a deceiver and a liar. It took me many years to realize that the only way to live life is with God. When I recommitted my life to God, God accepted me back with open arms. The night I came back to God, I kept repeating, “I rebuke you, Satan. You have no power here.” We have to knock the Devil down. We have to show him that, no matter how hard he may try, he is not strong enough to overpower us because we have the Lord.

Ephesians 6:11:12: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the Devil’s schemes. For the struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

There is a spiritual battle happening all around us. We may not be able to see this battle but it is very real. There is a battle between good and evil being waged everyday. We need to remember this always because, as Christians, we are fighters in God’s army. If you were called into battle today, would you be ready to fight and win? God has provided us with all of the tools we need to defeat the Devil but we have to learn to utilize these tools.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

In order to be a good fighter, there are characteristics we have to possess and develop so we are prepared to fight. We have to have discipline to withstand the attacks. We need to be both powerful and intelligent in order to stop the Devil’s advances. We need to be quick and accurate when striking out against the Devil. We need to have endurance and not lose hope if sometimes we feel weak. We have be fearless because we have faith in the Lord and, whatever we may lack, He will provide.

James 1:4-5: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

We have to be prepared for anything our opponent, the Devil, may try to throw at us. The forces of evil are always trying to attack God where it hurts Him the most: with us, His children. The Devil tries to tempt us and distract us from focusing on God but we have been given power by God to break down the control the Devil tries to have over us. We are conquerors if we keep God at the center of our lives. We have to rise up with our weapons which God has given us through His holy word, the Bible. When Jesus was tempted by the Devil, Jesus was able to dispel the temptation by quoting scripture. However, we have to be cautious because the Devil knows scripture. Before he was the Devil, he was one of God’s angels. We have to know scripture just as well, if not better than the Devil, as the Devil so we can also defeat his tempting.

Isaiah 55:11: “So is My Word that goes out from My Mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

The Bible is the inspired, written words of God. We should meditate together on scripture so we are prepared to fight. Always remember that you are not alone in this fight. Not only do we have God, but we also have each other. We are all Christian brothers and sisters, an army with many soldiers, ready to defeat the darkness. We need to develop and foster relationships with other Christians so we can mount up against evil.

1 Peter 5:8-9: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

We are not alone. God has prepared us with all of the tools we need to defeat the Devil but we must practice them daily. Hence the importance of having a daily devotional, time spent with the Lord and His Word. We need to use the Bible, plus our experiences, as ammunition to defeat any foothold the Devil may try to get on us. Be strong and courageous, brother and sisters. We are on the winning side of this battle.

Thank you, Father, for entrusting us as members of your army. Help us to never lose faith in your awesome power and love. When we are weak, You are strong. Thank you fighting alongside with us. Thank you for giving us the Bible so we are able to defend ourselves. Amen.  – Katie Ann

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How Do You Stay Safe?

Safety is a combination of self-awareness plus the ability to protect oneself or be protected. In regards to self-awareness, we have one end of the spectrum with the damsel in distress, completely void of any self-awareness, and on the other end we have the hero who saves the day by being cautious and calculated in every step he/she takes. God is that hero for us. It is inconsequential to God which end of the spectrum we are on as far as self-awareness because He will protect us whether we need His protection or not. Even when we are doing just fine at protecting ourselves, God is still standing by like a spotter in cheer leading, ready to catch us if we fall.

Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

We always have God’s protection. We can always hold onto hope in troubling situations because God will not fail us. He will not let us down, especially when we need Him the most. Fear can be an overwhelming emotion but we can’t allow fear to have any power over us. When fear creeps up, we should pray to the Lord to restore our faith that has been shaken, and God will restore our faith. God’s protection is forever and wherever we go.

Psalm 121:7-8: “The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

God has promised to love us and watch over us. We have faith in His ability to protect us, even when we aren’t wise enough to see that we need protection. There will be times in our lives that we make poor decisions and put ourselves in compromising situations that test the hedge of protection that God has placed around His children and yet, every time we do this, God continues to reign victorious over the evil that tries to hurt us.

2 Thessalonians 3:3-5: “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s Love and Christ’s perseverance.”

Even when we are weak, He is strong. The Lord is strong enough to withstand anything. Jesus came to earth and died on the cross to save us. If He was willing to do that for you and me, we can have complete confidence that He is going to continue to lay down His life for the good of His children. His love is evident each and every day in how He cares for us and provides everything we need.

Psalm 36:7: “How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Like a giant bird, God outstretches His wings of protection and comfort over all of us. We can find safety in the shadow of His wings. He is our shelter, He is our shield, He is our Lord and Savior. We are the children of a Mighty King who has never met a foe He could not defeat. There is no one greater that could have picked us to be on His team. We should be honored that He has called us His own and that He works tirelessly to ensure that we are safe.

2 Samuel 22:2-4: “He said, ‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge, and my savior – from violent people You save me. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.'”

If you ever watch the news, there is story after story of pain, sadness, and death. But then, you get that glimmer of hope when you see someone who has helped another person. Try not to get bogged down by the darkness that is in the world. The darkness will always been there but we, as Christians, we have a glimmer of hope in our lives and it is found in Jesus. As we look to Him for guidance, that glimmer of light will grow stronger and stronger until the world can’t help but notice the beautiful beaming light coming from us. There will always be people who will try to snuff out the light. These are the times that we need God’s protection to ensure that His light continues to shine through us. We don’t have to walk this life alone and vulnerable. God is walking beside us always, protecting us from the world and showering us with love.

Thank you, God, for your protection. Thank you for being our hero. Thank you for giving us hope. Thank you for never failing us. Please help us to make you proud each and every day. Thank you for allowing us the honor to share Your Light with the world. Thank you for being with us so we are not alone. Thank you, Jesus, for making the ultimate sacrifice for us. We love you. Amen. – Katie Ann

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Are You Special?

Everyone wants to feel special. Everyone wants to feel loved and appreciated for being the amazing people they are. Unfortunately, being unique is often frowned upon. In a world where famous people are admired for being quirky and even a little strange, the truth is that people would prefer for all of us “normal people” to be exactly the same without a shred of individuality. We should all just blend into the woodwork and live our lives for fear of being ridiculed for our differences. You would think that people would grow out of this way of thinking by the time they are adults, but sometimes not even that is true.

Psalm 139:13-14: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

The good news for us is God appreciates our individuality. We are all valuable in the eyes of the Lord. Our value is not based on our worth but rather on His love for us. God knows us inside and out. Matthew 10:30 states that God has even counted every hair on our head. I can bet that even the closest person in our lives hasn’t taken the time to count the hairs on our heads.This is just one example of how well God knows us. Because He knows us so completely, He is able to find ways for us to exhibit our unique personalities. For instance, God has given each of us a spiritual gift. We may not have taken the time to nurture this gift to use it yet, but it’s there, waiting for us to unlock it. We are all a part of God’s family and we all play a unique yet integral role in that family.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

We are all a part of God’s family that appreciates our differences, mourns when we struggle, and rejoices when we succeed. God is Our Father who has created us and wants the very best for us. I would say that definitely makes us special! Being one of God’s children does come with a big responsibility though, a responsibility to live godly lives that glorify Him. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect clones of one another who just drift through life as God’s minions, doing His bidding. God wants us to use our own experiences and wisdom to teach, enlighten, help, and love one another. God wants us to love, not judge.

1 John 4:16: “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in them.”

God’s love is inside each and every one of us. He shows us that love everyday and He expects that we will share that love with everyone else. We are special because we have God, therefore, we should give other people the opportunity to be a part of that love. If we are too busy being consumed by judging others, we are not sharing God’s love and we are not representing God in the positive light that He deserves. We have to remember that it isn’t our job to judge anyone.

Matthew 7:1-5: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck our of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

We are aware that we are not perfect. Yet, why do we insist on looking down on other people? God has not asked us to judge anyone. While we are not called to judge, God also doesn’t want us to sit idly by if our brother or sister is going down a potentially dangerous road. We should speak to them in love to try to redirect their steps but we are not suppose to look down on them because we ourselves are also flawed. We should look to Jesus as an example of the graciousness and love we should show others. Jesus was constantly surrounded by the “unworthy” people of His time: tax collectors, adulterers, and other sinners. He didn’t judge them but rather showed them love and compassion that inspired most of them to change their sinful ways. We should live our lives to be the same beacon of light for others, Christians and non-Christians. We must always remember that, even when the world can’t see how special we are, God loves us because we are His and embraces what makes us all special.

Thank you, Lord, for loving us and appreciating how special we all are. Thank you for sending your Son to be an example of the love we should show everyone. Please help us not to judge others. Thank you for not expecting us to be perfect. Thank you for giving us purpose. We love you. Amen. – Katie Ann