Devotional For Women Blog
Why Did God Let It Happen?
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“Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb” (Job 3:11)?
Have you ever felt that low?
So many things had gone wrong in Job’s life — for no apparent reason — that he despaired of life. He had lost his children, his marriage, his belongings, his health and his reputation. When he asked, “Why?” his four friends said, “You must have sinned grievously or God would never allow this to happen to you.”
“But I’ve always tried to do what’s right,” Job replied.
“You couldn’t have,” his friends insisted. They kept accusing him of sin and Job kept defending himself. After thirty seven chapters of this, they were no closer to an answer than when they started.
That’s when God showed up and spoke for Himself. Although He cleared Job of all sin, He did not give him an answer as to why he had suffered. Instead, God asked Job questions which he, being a mere man, could not answer. And what was Job’s conclusion? “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5,6).
Job worshiped.
We worship God when we leave it up to Him to interpret our circumstances. We worship God when we allow our heartache and our horrible circumstances to crowd us closer to the One who grieves with us because He loves us more than we can imagine.
Like Job, I’ve discovered that God doesn’t give us an answer to our why questions. Instead, He offers Himself: a listening ear, a refuge in the storm, a center when persons we trusted forsake us; a foundation when everything caves in. Suffering provides an opportunity for us to get to know God in a deeper, more personal way.
I’ve stopped asking why to life’s inexplicable situations. Instead, I ask now what? Now that this thing has happened, what can I do to make my life a little better? How can I help to bring some relief to those who are also suffering? I can’t do anything about the why, but I can do something about the what. And that’s where I want to put my energies.
Dear God, I want to trust You even when I don’t understand what’s happening in my life. Amen.
Questions: How can you help to bring some relief to those who are also suffering? Why does God allow suffering?
About the Author Helen Grace Lescheid
Empty Stomachs
Is your marriage satisfying? Talk to someone who will come alongside you.
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“I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to Me, declares the LORD” (Amos 4:6).
It’s hard to think of an empty stomach or crop failure or pain or a lack of employment as a gift. It’s even harder to accept that it could be a gift from God. Yet, in the book of Amos God lists these unusual “gifts” that He gave in order to motivate the people to seek His face and return to His ways:
“I gave you empty stomachs” (4:6)
“I withheld rain from you” (4:7)
“I struck your gardens and vineyards…with blight and mildew” (4:9)
“I sent plagues among you” (4:10)
“I overthrew some of you” (4:11)
After each of these statements the refrain is repeated, “yet you have not returned to me”.
The people of Israel had strayed from God. They worshipped idols and lived contrary to the good laws God had given them. So God used trouble to get their attention. He knew that when the economy is good, when there is plenty of food and work, people forget Him. It was true in the past and it is true today.
Trouble makes us turn to God and too often prosperity makes us forget Him. Let us heed the warning of this ancient prophet. Let us not be guilty, as the Israelites were, of not returning to God when He brings trouble and hardship into our lives to get our attention.
Holy God, forgive me for the times that I have left Your ways. May the trouble that I experience in my life remind me how much I need You. I want to seek Your face and return to your ways. Amen.
Questions: Do you think trouble can come from God? How has God managed to get your attention?
About the Author Suzanne Benner
What You Do
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What will your hands be busy with today? Do you feel grateful for the tasks at hand? Is there joy in doing what’s on your list today?
Many of us just hurry from one thing to the next. Delays frustrate us and people who aren’t directly related to our tasks can annoy us with their interruptions.
Pause in your thoughts for this one moment. Thank God for the work ahead of you today in spite of what you would rather be doing.
You will be amazed at the change in your outlook as you focus on being thankful.
You are where you are today… that’s a reality. You can make choices to change that reality. The first choice is to choose a grateful attitude. It will widen the road you are on and bring a perspective that will lighten your step.
The prayer of the Psalmist is a good prayer to echo today, “Establish the work of my hands, O Lord, establish the work of my hands” (Psalm 90:17).
Heavenly Father, Right now I want to offer the work of my hands to You today. Help me to have a grateful attitude as I do what is in front of me today. May I give these tasks to You as my offering. I do them in Your name. Amen.
Inspired by “The Rest of God” Chapter 1 by Mark Buchanan
Questions: How can you change your attitude towards the work that is at hand if you would rather be doing something else? How do you handle interruptions in your busy work schedule?
About the Author Gail Rodgers
The Rest of My Life
Has your world shattered and left you with no hope for your marriage? Talk to us.
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“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5).
I witnessed a meaningful baptism of a teenager at church where the grandfather stepped into the baptistery with his grandson to baptize him. “It’s a pleasure to baptize my grandson,” the grandfather began. Then speaking directly to his grandson he said, “Jonathan, I’ve known you since you were a little twerp, and I’ve watched you grow into a fine young man.” Then he asked his grandson, “How long do you plan to let Jesus control your life?”
Without hesitation, his grandson replied with a strong voice, “The rest of my life.”
With that the grandfather baptized his grandson. Then putting his arm around his wet grandson, the grandfather prayed, “Lord, help Jonathan to keep his eyes on You. Help him serve You and live with integrity and faithfulness to You. I commit him to You to be a servant of the gospel the rest of his days. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
As the grandfather said amen, I wiped my eyes. I pictured each of my four grandchildren and asked God that they too would want to serve Him the rest of their days and would make a public commitment to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
The congregation clapped for joy to celebrate a life dedicated to God. And in my mind, I thought I heard applause in heaven as well.
Heavenly Father, may others see my sincere faith and want to obey You. As David prayed for his son Solomon, so I pray my grandchildren and others I love will want to follow You with wholehearted devotion the rest of their lives (1 Chronicles 29:19).
Questions: Who is in control of your life? How do we continue to follow Jesus wholeheartedly?
About the Author Lydia Harris
The Spirit and PCs
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Suppose you could acquire the most complex computer in the world – one that would make you the wisest person who ever lived. It could give you the answers to every problem. It could make you a beautiful person. It could give you the sweetest disposition.
It could give you direction. “What should I be in life?” you could ask. Pressing buttons, you’d list your interests, your talents, your training. And the answer would come. You ask advice on something. Red light flash! Watch out, look where you’re going! Just think of the problems it could save you.
It could give you self-control, peace, joy, hope for the future. It could even give you eternal life. Wow! You touch the right key–and zap! You’re immortal!
How to get this wonderful gift:
You have to go to your manufacturer – with a capital “M.” Yes, it’s God who wants to provide your new Central Processing Unit. Actually, He is a Person who can do all those things and more for you: God the Holy Spirit. To receive Him, we have to turn in our own defective personal computer.
The Holy Spirit urges us to be truly sorry for our sins and turn from them. And He makes it personal, so that we understand how much God’s Son suffered for love of us. Then He urges us to receive Christ as our Savior. The Bible says, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
When you receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, the Holy Spirit comes into you and causes you to be “born again” into God’s family (1 Peter 1:23), to become a totally new person. He becomes your helper, your guide, and your source of power. He can make you beautiful inside and out, with His fruit: love, peace, joy, goodness, gentleness, patience, humility, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
But what if you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior and you have fallen away from following Him, and the new spiritual PC you received has not been in operation? The old clunker (otherwise known as “old self”) has been in control of your life. What can you do?
Like a Father, the Lord has been waiting for you to come back to Him and have your new PC restored. First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Oh, come back and claim your wonderful inheritance!
Questions: Is your old self in control of your life? What can you do about it?
About the Author Muriel Larson
Hidden Talent
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“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
During care group, we were discussing the talents and gifts God has given us. A question was asked by the facilitator: “Do your talents change as you get older? Our group consists mostly of people aged 55 and older.
Almut enthusiastically shared that when her children had grown, she decided to go back to work. She was hired to manage volunteers in a second – hand clothing store. Although she enjoyed the work, her favorite day of the month was the day she did the bookkeeping – balancing the books. She enjoyed bookkeeping so much that she took an accounting course and has been the financial accountant for her church ever since – and she loves it. Earlier on in life, she never knew that God had given her that talent.
Anita told us that after she retired from work she started dabbling in paints and discovered she has an artistic gift that never had shown up before.
Mark Gerzon, in his book Listening to Midlife writes:
“As we age, we human beings yearn for wholeness. We yearn for parts of ourselves that have been in the dark to find sunlight, and those that were sunburned to find shade. We yearn for parts that have been underdeveloped to grow, and those that were overdeveloped to be pruned. We yearn for the parts that have been silent to speak and those that were noisy to be still. We yearn for the parts that have been alone to find companionship and those that have been overcrowded to find solitude. We yearn to love our unlived lives.”
We have at least a third of our lives left to try new things, learn new skills, go on overseas adventures – to serve God by being everything He created us to be. Life is not over when we reach 55. We are just entering a new exciting season of life. Let’s not waste these most wonderful years by sitting on a rocking chair waiting for the kids to come over.
Father you have told us in Psalm 92:14, “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green. Give us the creativity and courage to use every bit of life for your glory. Amen.
Questions: Are you concerned as to how God will use you when you get older? Do your talents change as you get older?
About the author Katherine Kehler
Generosity
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Generosity is the currency of life. Generous people generate things… they produce and create. Sometimes it’s in the tangible things of life and other times it’s what their generosity creates in the hearts of others.
Choose today to give. Hold your hands open and offer yourself to God first. Let His wisdom, strength and power flow through you. Offer to be His conduit.
Then give yourself to others. Give your time, give your attention, give your resources and give your care.
God’s word speaks the truth when it says, “The world of the generous gets larger and larger – the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller” (Proverbs 11:24).
Be generous today and just see if your own world doesn’t expand in some way.
Think about stingy-ness. The mark of the stingy person is the attitude of fear that convinces him there never will be enough. Ask yourself if you are stingy in any area. Making a change will enhance your life.
Choose wisely. If you are a manager and have people working under you, be deliberate in having a generous attitude as you respond.
Surprise yourself today as you reach out to make a generous choice in some unexpected way.
Lord, fill my heart to overflowing with gratitude for Your love and faithfulness. Help me to pass Your love on in some way today. Amen.
Inspired by “The Rest of God” Chapter 5 by Mark Buchanan
Questions: Are you a generous person? Are you stingy in any way? What changes can you make to enhance your life?
About the Author Gail Rodgers
God Is Still Seeking the Lost
Are you hiding behind secrets? Talk to us.
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“God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2. Peter 3:9)
During my visit in Senegal, West Africa, my daughter and I went to see a dear Senegalese friend. Fatima had just returned from a trip to Mecca and was she ever excited! Her eyes glowed as she said, “I was in the procession of millions of other believers; I performed all the ceremonies; I circled the Ka’aba (the cube shaped stone building); I said all the prayers. I did it all.” Then her eyes clouded as she lowered her voice, “Still, if Allah should call me tonight, I don’t know if he would receive me into his heaven,” she said. “That’s really his choice, isn’t it?”
“Fatima, we can know for sure,” my daughter replied. “Should God call me tonight, I know I’d go to heaven, not because of all the things I’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done for me.” She took Fatima’s hand and said softly, “And also for you – Jesus died for your sins also.”
An impersonal God requires ritual, rote prayers, sacrifices... and we can never be sure if we’ve done enough.
The Bible teaches that we have a personal God who wants a love relationship with us. He wants it so badly that He gave His only Son to die for our sins on the Cross.
Do you know of one person who doesn’t know Jesus personally? Perhaps she’s struggling with addictions, depression, loneliness or pride. What can you do to help her find Jesus?
1. Pray for her by name every day. Prayer breaks down spiritual barriers.
2. Spend time with her: Go for walks together, go out for coffee with her, help her with a project
3. Listen to her without giving advice. Listening affirms a person as a valued human being.
4. When you’ve gained her trust, share the good news of a personal, risen Savior who wants to set her free.
5. Continue to be her friend even if she doesn’t respond. Coming to Jesus is like being born again – there’s a gestation period. We need to continue to water the seed even though we don’t see a harvest.
Lord Jesus, you are still the good Shepherd who came to seek and to save the lost. I commit my friend to you right now…………(name her). I pray that your Holy Spirit will soften her heart and open her eyes to your salvation. Amen
Questions: Do you know someone who is struggling with life? How can you help her? What can you do to help her find Jesus?
About the Author Helen Grace Lescheid
Enthralled
Is anger defining your relationships? Take this study to learn about the key to the joy of putting shame behind you.
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A little girl’s dream is to be a princess.
An adolescent thirsts for her daddy’s approval.
A young woman desires someone to see her as beautiful.
There is something within the female heart that longs to be treasured. Regardless of physical features, character qualities, intellectual ability or athletic prowess, a woman wants to know that she captivates one man’s attention.
Within the psalms there is a wedding song that gives us a glimpse of how Christ sees us, His bride.
“Listen, O Daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father’s house. The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord” (Psalm 45:10, 11).
Oh that these words from God would satisfy our yearning. For too long, we have listened to the world and its lies. It’s time to forget the careless or intentionally hurtful words we’ve been told.
Instead, we can choose to believe that our Creator is enthralled with our beauty.
Then, the conflicting voices from TV, magazines or maybe even family will fade into the background as we realize that we are of great worth in God’s eyes. He loves us with an everlasting love and draws us with loving-kindness into relationship with Him. (Jeremiah 31:3). He is enthralled with our beauty.
Then too, we can set our hearts on honoring Him, for He is our Lord.
Heavenly Father, thank you for these words that fill my heart with hope. Help me to believe that You find me beautiful and that I have great worth in Your sight. Close my ears to the other voices around me and give me the courage and strength to honor You.
Questions: Why do we long to be beautiful? How has the desire to be beautiful led to poor choices? How does knowing God finds you beautiful transform your thinking?
About the Author Suzanne Benner
Am I Headed in the Direction I Want to Go?
Searching for meaning to existence? Let’s explore together the theme of craving or longing for more.
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Your feet hit the deck running this morning with lots on your schedule. As you walk out the rhythm of your steps ask yourself this question…
“Does this path I am walking today lead me to a place I want to go?” Oh, I don’t mean the steps you take to work or to your next appointment… but this direction you’re on in your life. Will it take you to where you want to be next week and next year?
The choices we make today will determine where we are tomorrow.
The same principle applies to our thoughts and our attitudes. Do a check on the primary thoughts and attitudes parading through your mind these days. If you keep thinking those thoughts or carrying that attitude, will you end up where you want to be in life and in a particular relationship?
Our daily choices of where we walk, what thoughts we entertain, and the attitudes we allow to simmer will affect our lives and relationships in profound ways.
A wise Proverb from God’s Holy Word says,
“A person with good sense gives thought to his ways” (Proverbs 14:8).
Take a moment to consider… “Will the choices I am making today take me to where I want to be tomorrow?”
Lord God, Please inspire my choices today with the power of the Holy Spirit. Help me to be wise in the direction I am I going. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Inspired by the book “The Rest of God” Chapter 2 by Mark Buchanan.
Questions: Does the path you are taking lead you to where you want to go? How will your daily choices and your attitudes affect your life down the road?
About the Author Gail Rodgers
