‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV — May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.‬

Sunday I encouraged you to find soul rest. Monday I encouraged you to keep going. Today I encourage you to Trust in God and not get discouraged.

Let’s pick a word to focus on today. When we start to feel discouraged, sad, or worried may this verse transform our feelings to bring us joy, and to place our trust in God so that we can experience His perfect peace and hope.

Hope: A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

Joy: A feeling of great pleasure.

Peace: Freedom from disturbance; tranquility.

Trust: Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

What word or words will you choose to focus on today?

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in full surrender. I trust You and want to experience Your hope, joy, and peace. Help me not to get discouraged. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Sunday I encouraged you to make time for soul rest. Today I am telling you not to give up. God has a purpose for the journey. God will bless long obedience. Joshua is the perfect example of long obedience in the same direction when marching around Jericho for seven days. 

I encourage you to meditate on ‭‭Joshua‬ 6. In particular focus on Joshua ‭6‬:‭3‬-‭4‬‭ NIV — March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

This road of life we are traveling changes with the different seasons. In Mark 6:31, the Disciples were so busy they didn’t have time to eat. You may be in the trenches with little ones. You may be working endless hours. You may be caring for the elderly. You may be running after grandchildren. You may be in sorrow. No matter where we all are in our journey, we must remember to have moments where we go away with God through stillness, prayer, and devotion so that we can find soul rest.

On this Spiritual Sunday, I pray we can go to our places of worship and get renewed for the week ahead. Will you take time each day to find a quiet place? I pray we all experience His peace today and throughout our week.

Let’s worship!

I’m Desperate For You by Red Rock Worship

Psalm 16:11 NIV — You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Join us on our YouTube channel as we wrap up the week by sharing on our words of the year for 2024!

Psalms 34:8 NIV — Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

I love the variety of teas at a tea party. My favorite is black tea and I love chai too. More recently I started drinking green tea. As a tea bag emerges in hot water, the tea leaves are triggered to move and start the diffusion process. It is fascinating to watch the water as it changes till it’s rich in color, taste, and aroma. 

Are you a tea lover? A coffee lover? Each one of them goes through a process to taste good. Notice in today’s key verse from Psalms that we have “good” and “refuge” in the same verse. Our Christian walk is not promised to be easy but God is good and He is faithful. Just like the tea bag, we are often emerging through the waters of life. We know that we can find refuge in Him.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for Your goodness and Your faithfulness. As I taste and see that You are good, help me remember to also lean into You when I need a time of refuge. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Psalm 16:11 NIV — You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

We have 55 days till the new year. Every year Deborah and I pick a word of the year. We have been practicing this since 2017. I usually select a mantra to continually reflect on throughout the year as well. Over the next couple months we will reflect on those words. It is so important to journal and write down key verses, blessings, joys, and disappointments, especially when selecting your word of the year. I love looking back and reflecting on previous years as I am making visions for the new year to come.

In 2017 my word was flexibility because I struggled with joy. If my to do list didn’t get done or if plans changed I would get so upset. I made a mantra that would help me remember to be flexible. It was to “Dance through life, seek joy in His presence.” 

Looking back over the years, I am so thankful that we have adopted this practice. It really helps me to keep my focus on God and specific areas of my life. Do you have a practice that helps you focus on God?

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for encouraging me to remain faithful in my word of the year practice. Guide me in finishing out the year strong. May I be in tune for what my word and mantra need to be for next year. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.