James 5:16 MSG — Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.

How open are you to sharing your struggles with Christian friends? Do you allow others to see your vulnerability or do you work hard to keep your struggles hidden? When thinking about how we hide our weaknesses I think of the scene from the Wizard of Oz when the characters see on the other side of the curtain the wizard has been hiding behind. Click here to watch the video.

Sharing our struggles is a way to connect and oftentimes witness to others. Allowing others to see how you react and respond to your troubles may reveal struggles you have in common. Being vulnerable also allows others to share your struggles so they may pray for you. I encourage you to let down the curtain around you instead of constructing a perfect looking facade. Being vulnerable and sharing with others can become a beautiful blessing for both of you.

Let’s pray. Dear God, give me strength to let down the curtain I use to cover my struggles. Use my vulnerability to witness and share with others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV — But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

What does “vulnerable” mean to you? Being vulnerable seems negative when simply studying the meaning outside of the context of the Christian life. Vulnerable can mean being exposed and susceptible. This week let’s explore how being vulnerable in our relationship with God can be our biggest blessing. I encourage you to begin your devotion time each morning by being open and receptive to new ideas God may lay on your heart. Rely on the grace of Christ as you explore being vulnerable in your Christian walk.

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my mind, heart, and ears to Your individual message for me this week. May I be an open and willing vessel for You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Join us for See You Saturday as we recap the week. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel while you’re here.

2 Corinthians‬ ‭8:11‬ ‭NIV — Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

As my emotions are higher this week, I am reminded that I don’t want to just rush through life, even when times are tough. No matter what each of us has going on in our lives, I encourage us all to finish this week strong. God has already covered our yesterdays with His grace. He has already gone before us in every task, milestone, and relationship. Let’s grab our cup of coffee or whatever drink you choose and let’s be eager to start our day. 

Do you own an adult coloring book? I encourage you to color as you reflect on this past week. Let’s not get stuck on worrying about coloring inside the lines. Life is messy, yet beautiful. Let’s be thankful for the grace that God extends to each of us, regardless of the mess.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for not expecting me to always color inside the lines. Help me to not rush through life and to worry less. Give me the love and grace I need to conquer this day and finish my week strong. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Isaiah‬ ‭30:21‬ ‭NIV — Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

When I look at the moon it always reminds me of a book my parents gave for our twins after they had moved four hours away called, I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me by Jonathan London. No matter how far we are from our loved ones or even our God, we are all looking at the same moon. Just like the Magi followed the star to Bethlehem in Matthew 2:9 NIV, God is always guiding us. On this Thankful Thursday I am blessed with the reminder that God is guiding us always. We won’t hear an audible voice but we know He is saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Although He may seem distant at times, we are looking at the same moon. 

In my childlike mind, I giggle with a thought. What if our loved ones who have gone on before us are looking at the same moon from their heavenly home. It’s a thought that brings me joy. I hope you all can find something as big or small as the moon to be thankful for today and always!

Let’s pray through the song, Don’t Stop Praying by Matthew West.

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭40:7-8‬ ‭MSG‬‬ — So I answered, I’m coming. I read in your letter what you wrote about me, And I’m coming to the party you’re throwing for me. That’s when God’s Word entered my life, became part of my very being.

Deborah and I called our blog, Water Walkers because we want to have bold faith, step out of our boats, and walk on water with Jesus. Will we always make the choice to be like David in today’s featured verse and tell our Lord that we desire to do His will? Probably not because we are not perfect. As we know, life is short. When God presents us with an opportunity to step out, we can think of it as, “I’m coming to the party you’re throwing me.” 

Life may not always be a party. There are many times we’d rather stay in the comfort of our boat. I encourage us to use those times to sit with Jesus and seek His will. In seeking Him we will renew our strength for when we’re ready to step out again.

Let’s pray. Dear God, I surrender my will today. I seek to do Your will. Give me the discernment and peace I need to walk and sit with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.