Sherah

Jesus Christ: A Perfect Example

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ~ John 15:13 ~ As we continue toward intentional living over Easter weekend, I want to talk about the life of Jesus. Jesus is our perfect example of how to live intentionally; everything He did and said had a reason. Even as a child Jesus understood His purpose and lived with intention. We read in Luke 2:52, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man,” (NIV). At the age of twelve following the Passover feast and unbeknownst to His parents, Jesus stayed behind in the temple to discuss scripture with the teachers and priests. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”  He asked his parents when they anxiously asked why He had not gone with them (Luke 2:49, NASB). Jesus was not being disobedient or disrespectful; He was being intentional. His parents did not account for Him when they left and assumed that he would be with the other children most likely. Who was lacking intention in this event? In Mathew 3:13 – 17 we read about the baptism of Jesus. John the Baptist at first resisted, feeling that he was unworthy and that it should be the other way around, but Jesus knew that by being baptized he was fulfilling God’s righteous plan and identifying himself with man so that He, the perfect lamb of God could take all of our sin and failure on Himself.  And as He arose from the water the Spirit of God came on Him like a dove and spoke, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased,” (Matthew 3:17, NASB). Jesus spent His entire ministry teaching love, compassion, and purpose. He commissioned us from the beginning. In Matthew 5:13 – 14 He tells us that we are the salt and light of the world, in other words we are to set ourselves apart from the rest of the world as disciples of Christ. The bible is our instruction manual on how to do this. He tells us to love not only our neighbors, but to love our enemies, going as far as turning the other cheek when someone has wronged us. Jesus was not teaching us to be pushovers, but to choose our battles wisely. Do you ever scroll through an argument on social media? When conversations get heated, it can go on and on. Everybody wants to get the last word. “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him, (Proverbs 26:4, NKJV). Jesus understood this and He did not answer the leading priests nor Pilot when later interrogated. Jesus promoted justice and righteousness; He was frequently heard calling out the Pharisees and the Scribes for their hypocrisy. Warning them cared a their desire for honor and dignity came before love; they placed heavy burdens on their followers that they did not keep (Matthew 23). He flipped over the money tables in Matthew 21 and rebuked the people, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves, (Matthew 21:13, NKJV).’”  Jesus was not throwing a tantrum, but exemplifying reverence for God Almighty. By doing this, He demonstrated how anger has a place when utilized appropriately. Jesus promoted lovingkindness and mercy. When He met the woman at the well, He did not discriminate against her, even though she was a Samaritan (despised by Jews) and a woman of ill repute. He asked for a drink of water and offered her forgiveness for her sins. Not only did she receive Jesus as Lord that day, but she followed the great commission and brought the other people of the village to Jesus as well (John 4). Later in John 8, attempting to trap Jesus the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery before Him. His answer about stoning her gave them no option but to walk away, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first (John 8:7, NKJV).” For forty days in the wilderness, Jesus not only modeled the importance of fasting and prayer, but He taught us how to resist temptation. Three times the devil tried to tempt Jesus, twisting scripture, but Jesus rebuked him with the word of God. Jesus was armed and ready for Satan, are you? Ephesians 6:10 – 18 tells us to put on our armor of God. In verse 12 we read, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” (NIV).  Jesus understood this and followed the commands of God in word and action. He hung out with outcasts; In Luke 7:36 – 50, Jesus is anointed by an immoral woman (possibly a prostitute or adulteress) with her tears and expensive perfume, she wiped his feet with her hair; this offended the Pharisee who had invited Jesus over, but He pointed out that the Pharisee did not offer water for cleansing, greet Him with a kiss, or anoint Him in anyway.  The immoral woman arrived to do just this, and her sins were forgiven. We read in Luke 19:1 – 10 the story of Zacchaeus, a corrupt tax collector, who was so excited to see Jesus that he climbed a sycamore tree to see Him past the crowd. Jesus called Zacchaeus down and went to stay at his house, when the people grumbled His reply was a revelation of His purpose on earth. “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost,” (Luke 6:10, NLT). When the soldiers arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, He did not resist, in fact, he healed the soldier whose ear Peter cut off. He did not try to stop His execution, in fact, Jesus tells Pilot in John

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Dream Crusher

Key Verse:  Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (Colossians 4:5-6, NKJV) Devotion: As a child I dreamed of becoming a writer, but words can serve as a double-edged sword. They can take a dream to the next level, or they can crush a dreamer’s heart. We have all experienced it and we have all been guilty in some way. We should be encouraging one another, but sometimes we get caught up in our own negativity like the teacher I spoke about a couple weeks ago, who did not see the relevance in having her students experience a filibuster in action. There were other dreams I had as a child, dreams that I would do big things someday, dreams of having my own family, of breaking the cycle of poverty over my life, of affecting change. Some dreams have come to fruition, but not in the way I imagined; some are a work in progress, some have been released with acceptance, some have been forgotten or stifled by the world’s cruelty. The perspective of a child is often innocent and full of wonder, but disappointment and pain can imprint scars not easily undone. “Parents, don’t provoke your children in a way that ends up discouraging them,” (Colossians 3:21, CEB). The Word tells us to treat others as we want to be treated, to be gentle and kind and gracious toward one another for a simple word can crush a dream (Eph 4:32, Luke 6:31). But we also must be careful not to feed a dream that does not come from the Lord. We live in a divisive world with much confusion; not every desire comes from God. “For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God,” (Ecclesiastes 5:7, NKJV). Often these fleshly desires crush God-given dreams. In both Matthew 6 and Luke 16 we read that we cannot serve two masters. James admonishes his listeners, “You unfaithful people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy,” (4:4, CEB). Engage: So, what then? We must walk in the wisdom of God in the Spirit of love and truth. If you have God-given dreams being crushed by someone’s worldly desires, know that you are not alone. Pray: Abba, Thank you that you are not a dream crusher, but the Giver of dreams. Guide me into discernment and help me to be an encourager to others. Let all I do and say bring You praise; bring comfort and encouragement for those dreams that feel crushed and stifled. In Jesus name! Amen!

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Dreamer

Innocent and serene, is how the dream began A butterfly spreads its wings, a dance that too soon ends Beguiled or foolish, not sure of which Taunting so ruthless, the bait and switch Crimson dreams that slowly die From naive gestures, a log in their eye The noise and clamor of slow decay A busy distractor, emotive Bengay Bound up and silenced, but still alive The dance can never truly die Shine a light, and wings may shudder There’s still a fight inside this gutter Bruises may take time to heal A forgotten dream lives here still

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Perspective

Bible Verse: Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Romans 4:8, NKJV) Devotion: As we focus on being intentional, I was reminded this week that we need to keep our opinions in check, and “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ,” (2 Cor. 10:5, NIV).   My organization brought some of our students together from across the state to learn the importance of civic duty at the State Capitol. During the Legislative session, I overheard a teacher in the mezzanine say that she and her students left the session because there was a filibuster on the floor and nothing was really happening, it was boring.   Okay, I can see that; but then the next day I had the opportunity to visit with another teacher who shared how exciting it was for him and his students to watch a filibuster in action. They were both watching the same thing, but the opposite outlooks changed the experience for each teacher and influenced the attitudes of their students.   As I reflected on this, it was a bit convicting. Often, I see myself as a glass half full kind of person, with a positive attitude, but I know this is not always true. Sometimes, I follow the crowd and allow other perspectives to shift mine. Sometimes I am the one who has a negative attitude to begin with. If we are always looking for the problem in a situation, we will miss the opportunity within it.   If instead, we look for opportunity and beauty, that is what we will find. I am not suggesting that we put on rose-colored glasses and ignore all the ugliness that comes our way. But rather recognize problems while focusing on solutions. Look for the opportunity in each situation rather than the struggle, find the beauty for ashes; this takes intentionality. Things to consider: Are you more positive or negative? What influences your perspective? Prayer Abba ~ Holy and wonderful you are! Thank you for the opportunities around me and for helping me to recognize them. Guide me to meditate on what is pure, lovely, good, and praiseworthy as I lean to Your Holy Spirit to take every thought captive. In Jesus name, Amen!

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Divine Confirmation

And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;  but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 2 Corinthians 8:10-11, NKJV Allow me to start by answering the question I left you all with in my last post: What are some good habits that you have developed and how do you keep them from being too ritualistic? My strongest habit is my morning routine; it is during this time that I read scripture and spend time in God’s presence. After reading I pray, meditate, and journal but even this can become ritualistic. Sometimes I add in a worship song or use a commentary, I have even joined group chats to discuss to discuss the reading. If I am short on time, I may forgo journaling or come back to it later. Most of all I start with the intention to deepen my relationship with my Maker and better understand His words. You heard last time the practices that my friend Jenna has on being intentional with her own morning routine as we discussed living intentionally. While I talk about this subject a lot, it is very much a struggle in my life. As Jenna had shared, it does not come naturally, but rather through daily habits and routines we build over time. Some people may be stronger in this area than others, but we all must work at it. The very meaning “done by intention or design,” (Merriam-Webster) suggests that we have to think about it. My confession to you, my readers, is that I have not been very intentional with my writing. The curve balls of life thrown at me last year may provide good reasons, but God is still calling me to finish what I started. A growing desire in my heart has always been there and as I completed my first class in my master’s program, my professor encouraged me that I needed to start ministering now and not wait until I am finished with my degree. Wouldn’t you know, one of his suggestions was a weekly blog and then verse above was in a recent morning devotion. Can we talk about divine confirmation here? As I think back to some earlier blogs, this means being more intentional with my “yes” and “no.” As I say “yes” to blogging once a week, it might mean saying “no” to other things. Only I can choose what. On this journey I am learning even more lessons in prioritizing my time. This can only be done through intentionality, to think before I speak, pray before I choose, and seek God’s guidance in both big and small decisions. Right now, God is guiding me to make this a bigger priority in my life. With that, I make this commitment to you my readers: I will post weekly, sometimes it may be longer, and sometimes shorter. Some weeks I may just post a poem or a prayer that is on my heart, other times, I may repost content from one of my former blog sites. But you have my commitment and promise to receive something weekly from me. Thank you to all of you have encouraged me in my writing! Praying God’s guidance and blessing over your lives as you join me in this journey of intention and perseverance.  

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Intentionality is Warfare

Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.              (1 Peter 5:8, AMP) Tears sprang to Jenna’s eyes as I shared how God had put her on my heart. Throughout our friendship I have watched her live intentionally: From raising her children to how involved she is at church, her work and career, and how she lives life. Even amidst her busy life, I have always recognized an intentional lifestyle in Jenna.  “You are too kind,” she whispered. Her humility only strengthened my resolve and as she laid out her thoughts on intentionality, it was clear that the Holy Spirit was moving in this conversation: “We are at war every day in a spiritual realm and there is always going to be temptations to go the wrong direction. Whether it be negativity or sin or whatever, we are always at war, we are at war for our families and so many different places in our life and if I’m not intentional with my time, I am on the defense instead of the offense. The devil is intentional, setting out ‘to kill, steal, and destroy,’ (John 10:10). He wants us to fail and struggle, to be unfaithful, unreliable, inconsistent, and self-destructive. He wants us to miss bible study and leave our godly companions behind. Intentionality is a piece of that spiritual warfare.” As Jenna reflected on how she wants her life to be better and different than it was 20 years ago, she maintained, “that’s not going to happen on accident.” And I could not agree more as she went on to reference 1 Peter 5:8, “the devil roams like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour.” He is not walking around hoping that we sin, he is actively tempting and tripping us up, purposely setting up distractors to keep us from living with intention. As she talked about the complacency of today’s world with everything being too much or too easy, with more access and tools to information than ever before, Jenna continued, “It’s at our fingertips, with phones like minicomputers… information overload. It’s easy to search the internet and YouTube for what we need in the moment, but how much of this are our brains storing? I just think we are in a consumptive society where we forget.” This prompted me to share a story about a young lady spending the day with her mom, shopping, hiking, and just hanging out.  Later that day she told her mom that she just needed a break and was feeling a little overstimulated. But then, she went to bed that night watching videos, in the shower the next morning she listened to a podcast, she never shut down but could not seem to recognize where the stimulation was truly coming from. In Isaiah 29:13, “The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught,’” (NIV). Even in ancient times, people found themselves in the habit of just going through the motions, unaware of what was really going on or the true purpose in their practices. “We hear a good message and have great ideas, but are we moving forward?” Jenna Asks. Sometimes that is overwhelming. I have all these boxes to check every day, I need to be a good: mom, wife, employee, business owner, church member, youth group leader, etc. We put pressure on ourselves to be good at all these things. How do we check these boxes every day? Honestly, we can’t, many days we can’t. But I feel like you can start your day and live your life connected with the One who matters the most, God, then those other things come, and you’re prepared. It’s hard to be intentional with so many distractions. “Have you always lived so intentionally?” I asked: “No definitely not, I think even today there are times where I’m really good at it and there are times that I am not.” Jenna’s secret is creating healthy habits making intentionality easier or habitual. One of her routines is listening to the bible recap on the YouVersion bible app every morning while she is getting ready for the day. “Its immediate, I grab my phone, click the day that I’m on… it just starts my day off.” If you have a busy lifestyle like Jenna, this is one way you can easily incorporate the word of God into your daily routine, which circles us back to the B in BALM, Be consistent. While habits could easily become checkmarks in the box, Jenna has intentionally engaged in the interactive portion of the bible recap, keeping her Accountable! What are some good habits that you have developed and how do you keep them from being too ritualistic?

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Yes, Lord!

After sharing so much on consistency and accountability, I took a pause from posting for much longer than intended. Through this time, life brought me through many ups and downs: victories, failures, loss, love, and revelation. There have been many lessons learned and some I am still trying to understand. My last post before this break shared my struggle with keeping Jesus as my first love, too often caught up in life. This is what the enemy wants, to keep us looking inward at our wants, feelings, and desires; but inward is the gateway to selfishness. Selflessness on the other hand is what Jesus demonstrated every day. “…Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me,” (Matthew 25:40, NKJV).  And I must ask myself, ‘What am I doing for the least of these?’ Honestly, there is so much need that it can be overwhelming. There are so many hurting people, and just one of me, often hurting in my own way. It is only through the leading and discernment of the Holy Spirit that I can be effective. Sometimes God wants us to wait and pray, other times He wants us to act. As I shared last week God has been impressing upon me to be steadfast, this means sticking to my priorities. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “But let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no,’ ‘no.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one,” (Matthew 5:37, NKJV). Every ‘yes’ is a ‘no’ to something or someone else. We cannot say “yes” to everything, we must establish boundaries and protect ourselves. Jesus Understood this and took time to rest, He did not always say yes, and he did not break His promises or make excuses. But He did always say “yes” to His Heavenly Father. If we are to live according to the Word, a good place to start is, “yes Lord!” This often means doing the hard things, the things we don’t want to do. It means sacrificing comfort for discipline, busyness for rest, distraction for attention. It means letting go of our to-do lists and embracing what is truly important. By modeling this in the way He lived Jesus taught us to seek His Kingdom first, to love one another, to be prepared. He demonstrated the importance of boundaries and spending time alone with the Father. He loved people well and stayed engaged and in the moment throughout His ministry on earth. While I may grapple with when to say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ Jesus points us to the greatest priority, our relationship with Him. A relationship with our Maker takes intentionality, next week we will hear from another dear friend of mine as we begin unpacking the L in BALM, Living intentionally. Consider if your life reflects intentional living. Does your walk reflect Christ? Are you willing to say, “Yes Lord!” Please share your comments. Join the mailing list to receive an email alert for every new post! Blessings!

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A Steadfast Spirit 2025

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 I don’t know about the rest of you, but this last year was tough for me through trials and grief, accountability and commitment, perseverance and longsuffering. When this new blog site was relaunched, I was trying to work towards some of these struggles, but I clearly wasn’t ready and just could not seem to get myself in the headspace to stick to my plan. In my acronym, BALM, I wrote about being consistent and attaining accountability, but I have not gotten to the second half of this acronym. Before I do so I want to set the stage for a successful year, following Jesus wherever He leads. Last year “still” was my focus word, which is where I came up with the name for this website.  Through the practice of being still, I have developed some good habits especially on meditating scripture and listening to God. But in recent reflections, I have come to recognize a weak area of my life that may be preventing me from getting very far and may even be rooted in a stronghold in my life, a wavering spirit. Let me explain because I have never wavered in my love for Jesus, but I often falter in my convictions which results in poor decision making, feelings of insecurity or inadequacy, and regret. From going along with a group decision that I don’t agree with to not enforcing rules in my home, there were too many times that I caved to groupthink and did not stand up for the truth. But this is not who I want to be or how I want to be known. Over the last few months, God has repeatedly brought me to James 1, which has a lot to say about a wavering spirit. In verse 8 we are told that, “a double minded man is unstable.” In verse 12 we read, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation.” In verse 22 we are reminded to, “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” As in verse 23, I was looking in the mirror and forgetting what I looked like. Or more on point, I was reading the word, but not sticking to what God purposed in my heart. As I read through the Christmas story this year, a repeating phrase jumped out at me; every time an angel approached someone, their words started with, “fear not.” Fear has been my problem; fear of rejection, of failure, of being wrong. When we fold to fear, we feed insecurity which leads to a wavering spirit. But if we hold steadfast and stand up for our values, for truth, love, and integrity our fears fade. Merriam-Webster defines steadfast as: firm in belief, determination, or adherence. It seems as though I have stayed determined in only a few things over this last year. Often giving up when it gets rough, especially when it comes to differing viewpoints or even decision making with other people. The pushover in the room with no real conviction, honest to a fault, but not well respected because my peers see how easily I cave. This has been the source of work frustrations, but I did not recognize it until recently. This, however, is not who I am, I am a child of God. Romans 8:14 – 15 tells us that if we are led by the Spirit we are God’s children, adopted into His family. I need to start trusting myself and remember that often I am being led by the Holy Spirit and He knows better than anyone else. Whether I win or lose, stand or fall, I need to be led by the Spirit and I need to trust Him! As I had mentioned in my Christmas letter, Mary had to be steadfast 2,000 years ago as she went through the most amazing, but terrifying experience, giving birth to the son of God. Rather than running away in fear, she faced this challenge and greeted it as an opportunity. Friends, trials and challenges are opportunities to grow, will you join me this year in developing a steadfast spirit? Please share your comments or questions. Subscribe to receive an email for each new post. God speed!  

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the Hope in Christmas

Dear loved ones,   This letter almost didn’t make it this year, I could hardly get the words down. As I read through some of my Christmas letters from the past, I was reminded that every year comes with its struggles, but this year felt unusually heavy. Rather than a family update, I wanted to share about both the pain and the miracles of Christmas.   Please know that my family is well and while we have all shared precious moments together, we have all experienced individual ups and downs. Scott and I have enjoyed some amazing adventures but also faced difficult battles. Through it all we have continually clung to the hope of Jesus Christ. Since hope is at the core of Christmas, it will also be at the core of this letter.   Let me start by sharing that I have experienced disappointment and pain, I have witnessed both deep grief this year and mighty miracles. I have felt the burden and ache of my own loss and that of others dear to my heart. But God has shown up in ways unimaginable. The miracles I witnessed this year would take too long to describe in a letter, but they did not come without great pain. It seems that miracles are born through pain, and the birth of Jesus Christ is no exception.   The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed in 735 B.C., “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel,” (Isaiah 7:14). 700 years later Mary conceived, but what happened in between? The Israelites experienced captivity and exile throughout those long years, faced with God’s silence for most of it. Under Roman rule at the time, they endured significant challenges and surely struggled to maintain hope. They must have felt disappointment and pain through those years, ever wondering if the prophecy would be fulfilled.   While I do not know the reason for the wait or why we sometimes suffer so, I know that God is good, and He has a plan and purpose in everything He does and allows, He is Emmanuel, God with us. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” If He had a purpose in the pain and suffering that the Israelites experienced through those years, then I know that He also has a purpose and a plan for the pain we experience today.   When the angel Gabrielle paid Mary a visit she could have refused, after all we have free will. She could have run away overcome by fear; her words instead were, “may it be done to me according to your word,” (Luke 1:38). In Luke 2:19 we are told that she pondered all that was happening in her heart. Mary held fast to the promises of God through her son despite the pain that was still to come. Throughout this Christmas season, I hope to follow Mary’s example and hold fast to what matters most, to relish in the moments with friends and family, to be ever present throughout the season and to hold onto the hope in Christ.   As we venture into 2025, I pray for hope over your households, healing over broken hearts, and peace over calamity. In the darkest moments I encourage you to remember Emmanuel – God with us. Below is a poem written to honor those who have had an especially difficult year.   Merry Christmas! God bless you all!   Christmas Hope For the hearts that have been broken, and the joy that’s been stolen. For the tables with empty chairs, and the burdens left to bear. For the dreams that have ceased, and the moments without peace. Cling to Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals! For those struggling to get by, and the cries throughout the night. For the people no one sees, the hungry, hurting, and the weak. For those who feel forgotten, for the weary and downtrodden. To El Roi, the God who sees, appeal! For a Savior now has come, The Christ child, God’s only Son. He came, this world to save, and through His life endure our pain. Through Him hope is found, and His glory is renowned. God is with us, Emmanuel!

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First Love

Last week I shared about the noise and distractors that hinder my walk and I left you with a comment about God reminding me of my First Love, Jesus Christ! Triggered by something I heard on a radio sermon; I started thinking about the first time I really felt the love of God. With feelings of nostalgia, I reminisced about telling my grandmother, that while I have always loved Jesus, I was now in love with Him. Tears streamed down her face in recognition that my heart had changed permanently. The morning following this endearing memory my devotional brought me to Revelation 2:4, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” God’s gentle reminders are always orchestrated beutifully. As I reflected to my thoughts the morning before, I meditated on these words, and recognized that God had been telling me to stop looking for the aha moments, to stop depending on my own self-will, and to start leaning on Him instead. In the noise I forgot my first love. I forgot how to be still, how to quiet my soul, how to wait on Him. He is my first love, not only my Creator, but the Creator of the universe. Nothing is too big, too powerful, too hard, too broken for Him to change, set free, heal, or mend. He alone can soften the hardened soul and awaken a sleeping spirit. Nothing is beyond Him! He truly is my All in All and I can do nothing apart from Him. He is the reason for every success, He has a bigger plan and purpose for every trial, He is my strength, my joy, my calm, my reason! He should be the first I go to whether I am planning, celebrating, or grieving. He is my guide through every aspect of life. Too long have I taken this for granted. Too long have I not recognized His amazing grace. Too long have I leaned on my own self will, no wonder I have failed so miserably. Recently, I heard a guest speaker on my favorite podcast share that we should be going to God for everything, down to simplest of tasks such as what store to frequent. But most days I just go through the motions, doing what feels right in the moment, what’s easiest, what makes the most sense. As Angie mentioned in our conversation, “feelings are fickle.” What is easy is not always right, and what makes sense may not line up with what God has planned. God may not always share His plan in detail with us but be assured that He has a plan, and it is perfect. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit,” (Romans 15:13). When we walk toward Him, doing the next right thing, we can find joy and peace in His presence; rest in the hope of His plan. Can you remember a moment that you first truly felt God’s love? Hold on to that moment, cherish it, let it serve as a reminder that He is your first love.

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