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.

Psalm‬ ‭65‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭MSG‬‬ – Oh, visit the earth, ask her to join the dance! Deck her out in spring showers, fill the God-River with living water. Paint the wheat fields golden. Creation was made for this! Drench the plowed fields, soak the dirt clods With rainfall as harrow and rake bring her to blossom and fruit. Snow-crown the peaks with splendor, scatter rose petals down your paths, All through the wild meadows, rose petals. Set the hills to dancing, Dress the canyon walls with live sheep, a drape of flax across the valleys. Let them shout, and shout, and shout! Oh, oh, let them sing!

Change is inevitable. It may be unwanted or desired. I love the quote by Walt Disney: “If nothing changed, there’d be no butterflies”. On this Transformation Tuesday how will you handle change? I encourage us all to pray and ask God to equip us to handle the changes because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! 

We can’t always fathom the grand plan but we can choose how we handle it as it unfolds. Notice Ray’s photo looks like a field of dry grass. Along the horizon, you see lush greenery. In our key verse, there is a lot of change. The Psalmist says that creation was made for this. As God’s creation, we too are made for change.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for the butterflies to remind me that I was created for change. Equip me for the changes that today will bring! I can do all things through You oh Lord, who strengthens me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭MSG‬‬ – Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.

We tend to compare ourselves to others but God made us each unique. We must change our mindset and accept how God made us because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. The message version says; “marvelously made”. If you tend to struggle with comparison, just take a moment to remember who made you.

I hope Ray’s photo makes you laugh. Just as we all need to wash our hands, we must cleanse our minds. The Psalmist says we are all sculpted from nothing to something. What is your mindset today? If you are struggling with your thoughts, cleanse your mind in God’s word and truth.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for all of creation. I worship You in adoration. Help me not to compare myself to others. Help me to appreciate how You wonderfully, fearfully, and marvelously made me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.