On Monday morning I had the pleasure of meeting with a teacher who is officially retiring after many, many years of service. She shared with me how she taught her students to look, listen, learn, and love. By doing this they would always succeed. This was a very inspiring message and I quickly thought about how we can apply this with my faith. I am sure these four words could help you recall many different scripture verses. With my word of the year being “Love”, I thought the following scripture verses would be appropriate. 

Look: ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ – Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Listen: ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV – My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Learn: ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV – Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Love:‭‭ 1 Corinthians‬ ‭16‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬ – Do everything in love.

I encourage you to open your paper Bible or go to your Bible app on your phone, or Bible Gateway to find what look, listen, learn, and love mean to you. Like the lighthouse pictured here, we can look to God to find our way through life.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for these encouraging words to help guide me through Your word. Help me to look to You this week so that I can receive Your strength. Help me to listen before I act or speak. Help me to put into practice all that I have learned from You. Help me to do everything from Your Godly love as I walk my own faith journey. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Genesis 16:13 NIV – She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Have you ever felt forgotten about? Have you ever felt unheard or unseen? Have you ever been mistreated or witnessed someone else being mistreated? In times when I have witnessed mistreatment or times when I feel unseen or unheard, I remember that God sees. God knows. Hagar, the mistress to Abram, experienced mistreatment. You can read the full story in Genesis 16: 1-13 NIV. I encourage you to read it. For today we will focus on our key verse. 

Hagar was running away from her journey when an Angel of the Lord came to her and spoke prophetic words to her that only God would know. At that moment she knew that God cared. She knew that God had seen and heard the mistreatment that had taken place. She named God: “You are the God who sees me”. I think it is interesting that in verse seven the Angel found Hagar near a spring in the desert. As we go to God in prayer, envision yourself sitting by the stream of water as pictured here. Feel God surrounding you by His heavenly realm. He knows you. He sees you. He hears you. He’s got you. Now let Him hold you.

Dear God, I come to Your water today to sit at Your feet. Thank you for Your heavenly realm that surrounds me. Thank You for being a Father who knows me, who sees me, and who hears me. Thank You for Your comforting presence. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Genesis 2:1-2 NIV – Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work.

Last week Deborah encouraged us to remember how our journeys began. We are all on different journeys and in different seasons of our lives. I started thinking about the first journey that ever took place and that is when God created the heavens and earth. You can read the full passage in Genesis 1: 1-31; 2: 1-2. For today we will focus on our key verse where God carved out a day for rest on His journey of creation. We may not be able to take a day of rest from cancer, grief, or any other trial but we can surrender those things to God’s time. On Sundays or whatever day you choose to be your sabbath, you can sit in God’s word and worship. You can find rest by taking time for self-care. 

As I am writing to you today it is Friday morning. I am sitting on my back porch and it is a nice 71 degrees. I am drinking my coffee and watching two red birds and one bluebird dance about. Right now the days are long and the weeks seem short. I have a long To Do list ahead but for this moment I am choosing to sit in my sanctuary and share God’s word with you. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for my time of rest with You. As I reflect on my past and current journeys may I find both strength and rest in Your faithfulness.You know both the current and future needs. I surrender them all to Your timeline. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Psalms‬ ‭63‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Join me by clicking the link to 👉 See You Saturday as I talk about the Fourth Watch!

Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭148‬ ‭NIV — My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. ‬‬

Watches of The Night according to Wikipedia

Matthew 11:28 NIV – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Too much thinking can make us weary. Thankfully in our key verse today, God says we can come to Him when we are weary. Just like God can wake us up before our alarms, sometimes we struggle to fall asleep. We are so tired but can’t stop our minds from racing. Instead of counting sheep, we can count blessings statements to God. Just like our earthly relationships long for a hug or kiss goodnight, God desires for us to return to Him at the end of our busy schedules. My five examples of blessing statements include; “I am blessed to have woken up to a new day,” “I am blessed to have a busy household to clean and cook for,” “I am blessed to have the opportunity to work for my Heavenly Master today,” “I am blessed to take time for self-care,” and “I am blessed to have breath in my lungs as I share my blessing statements.” 

Can you list five blessing statements that you can say to God before bed? Now that we have returned to God through our blessing statements, do you feel refreshed? Notice Ray’s photo of the sun setting over the Pawleys Island Chapel. As the sun sets tonight, I encourage you to be reminded of your blessings.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for all Your wonderful blessings. Help me to see my busy schedule as an opportunity to return my blessings back to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Psalm 51:10 NIV – Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Being alone in our thoughts is only good if we don’t let those thoughts take control. Sometimes we need to ask God to renew those thoughts and lift our spirits. Our bodies as God’s temple, house the Holy Spirit. Periodically cleaning our houses by taking inventory of our thoughts is important. Just like we can hold onto too many earthly things that will not last, we can hold onto thoughts that won’t create a renewed steadfast spirit. 

I love it when God wakes me up before the alarm goes off so that I can get my thoughts under control before I start my day. Like Ray’s staircase photo, our thoughts can spiral out of control. If this ever happens to you, I encourage you to use that time for prayer.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for Your listening ear. I surrender the thoughts that are battling my mind today. I surrender all the scenarios that are keeping me from living in the moment. I surrender all the “what ifs,” all the “would haves,” “could haves,” “should haves.” Create in me a pure heart with pure thoughts. Renew a steadfast spirit within me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Psalm 32:7 NIV – You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

I have shared with you before that we have been working on creating a backyard bird sanctuary. First, we hung several bluebird houses along our fence. Next, we put out a bird feeder. Lastly, we hung a bird bath. We quickly gained a family of bluebirds. It is a beautiful thing to see them return each year. Often in the summer I sit outside for my devotion as I am doing today. You could say it is my sanctuary and my sacred place. 

What is a sanctuary? According to Merriam–Webster it can be a building or room for religious worship. It can be a place that provides safety or protection. It can be a wildlife sanctuary. It can also be protection from a difficult situation that is provided by a safe place. Where is your sanctuary? Where do you run first when you need to rest in God’s presence? 

In our key verse, we are protected and surrounded with songs of deliverance. In our sanctuaries, we can be free to worship without worldly distractions. Just like Ray’s photo, it is our private sacred place. As you sit in your sanctuary, I encourage you to watch and listen to “Who’s Gonna Stop The King” by Crowder. Alleluia, our God reigns! 

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for my sanctuary that I can sit and worship You without worldly distractions. I am so blessed to be reminded today that no one can stop You from Your protection and deliverance.