Devotional For Women Blog
Feeling Rejected?
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“And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.” (Genesis 29:16-17, KJV)
Have you ever been the victim of rejection? Have you ever felt like you were a contestant in a game of favorites and lost? If anyone knew the pain of rejection, it was Leah. She was treated differently because she was not as attractive as her sister. Talk about hurting your self-esteem! Can you imagine how much Leah must have hurt knowing that she was not loved as much because of her looks? Rejection is painful!
Maybe you’ve never faced that kind of rejection. Perhaps your rejection is of a different sort. Could it be that you were fired from a job because “the other woman” was a suck-up? Maybe you’ve eaten your lunch alone because you weren’t popular enough to eat with the “in crowd.” Perhaps your loved one walked out on you because he found “someone better.” At some point in our lives, we have all faced rejection.
The good news is that God knows all about our rejection. He knows how much we hurt. He knows all about our heavy hearts. He knows, and He cares. If you’ll read on in chapter 29 of Genesis, you’ll see how God dealt with Leah’s rejection.
“And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. . .And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, ‘Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah’; and left bearing.” (Genesis 29:31,35, KJV)
Not only did the Lord give Leah children, He gave her Judah, the child that would be the start of the line of Christ. What a gift! True, Leah may have been rejected by her family and friends, but God never rejected her.
The same can be said for us. Many times it seems like we don’t have a friend to stand with us. At times, we can be brought so low that we wonder if anyone really cares. Well, I’m here to remind each of us that God does care. He will never reject us! After all, we were ugly in our trespasses and sin, yet He still sent His only Son to die for us. Now that’s true love!
Questions: Do you feel rejected? How can you learn from Leah’s story about God’s love?
Back on Track
Be encouraged! Failure is not fatal.
“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” (Hebrews 12:1)
At the beginning of each New Year, multitudes of people make a resolution to change a particular area in their life that needs improvement. The most common ones are to lose weight, reduce debt, and stop smoking. Most have every good intention to correct the problem, but many give up by February, if not sooner.
As followers of Christ, often we too set out to renounce particular habits and behaviors, along with solemn promises to embark a more dedicated walk with the Lord. We might pledge to read our Bibles and pray on a daily basis, to faithfully attend church and tithe regularly, or to serve in a particular church ministry or outreach. However, just like the majority of people who break their New Year’s resolutions, we too may have fallen off track, abandoning our commitment and forfeiting the victory we earnestly desired.
If this sounds all too familiar, today is the day to get back on track! Do not allow the enemy, your flesh, nor guilt and shame to keep you disqualified from that which you wholeheartedly desire. Get back in the race so you can achieve the goals you set out to attain on behalf of God, yourself and others.
In Proverbs 24:16 we read, “for though a righteous man (woman) falls seven times, he (she) rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.” Refuse to allow the enemy to bring you down into calamity, eliminating you from receiving that which God desires to see you win.
With determination and self-control, realistic goals, continuous reliance on the Holy Spirit, an accountability group (if needed), and fixing your eyes on Jesus, you’re on the way to victory. In Hebrews 12:1 we read, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Ask God to reveal the ‘weight and hindrances’ that are entangling you. Pray that the Holy Spirit will aid you in overcoming fleshly desires and the works of the enemy so you can come out a winner. Remember, it is never too late to get back on track, become victorious in all that He seeks to accomplish in and through you, and pass some of your victory unto others that are struggling.
Heavenly Father, pardon me for my shortcomings. May Your Holy Spirit empower me to live a victorious life that brings honor and glory to Your name. May I run this race with perseverance in hopes of bringing others into the victory lane as well. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen
Question: Is there a certain area of weakness you have been battling?
This is a Grace-Day
Do you find it hard to accept God’s forgiveness? Come talk to a mentor.
“In him (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” (Ephesians 1:7-8)
God calls us to practice grace in a fallen, unjust world, where fighting or avoiding each other is more common than forgiving each other. We need to remember that we are recipients of grace, God’s undeserved favor.
Because of God’s holy justice, we deserve judgment for our sin. But Jesus paid for our sin-debt in full, so that now God offers us mercy and grace. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting favors we don’t deserve. “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8) Grace is a gift, which he has freely given us in Christ.
Not only do we receive God’s grace at salvation, but He pours it on us lavishly moment by moment. He equips us to be His agents of grace in our families and our neighborhood.
I will remember that today is a grace-day:
Great Riches At Christ’s Expense are mine.
I will immerse myself in the ocean of His grace. I will feed on promises of His grace. I will be a grace-giver in prayer, and in my walk and talk.I will bless someone with grace today.
Dear Father, I’m truly amazed at your grace which you keep pouring out on me. I want to bless someone with your grace today. Amen.
Questions: Can you think of someone who needs to know and experience the grace of God? Will you reach out to that person today?
Do Not Give Up
Does it feel like your life is under construction? Find hope for today and tomorrow with our free lessons in the book of Philippians.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Several years ago, my life was going through some tough terrain. If I had given up hope and allowed my circumstances to get the best of me I would not be carrying out the plans God had for me today. During this time of great pain and suffering, God inspired me to write a book about the ordeal I found myself in. This is a piece of it:
“I knew God still had plans to use me and no way could I allow my present affliction to thwart His will. According to scripture, He knew how many hairs were on my head, especially now with so few. I refused to let the shedding of my hair keep me down. I had too many important things to accomplish…the good plans God destined for me to carry out…I believed God knew my heart and concern, thus, I prayed and sought help to aid me through this valley of darkness.
Accordingly, I found a specialty shop that sold wigs. The owner understood my concern. She treaded similar grounds, along with the array of other customers walking through her door. The two of us took nearly an hour to find the appropriate wig for my petite head. It took almost another hour for her to perform her miraculous works, cutting and trimming it to accommodate my features. With my back to the mirror, I had no idea what was taking place. She assured me I’d be very pleased. She had many years experience doing what she loved the most.
Once done, she turned me around and I couldn’t believe my eyes. A huge smile blanketed my face, accompanied by a sparkle in my eye. Wow! What a difference. I love it! Thank you so much. I knew I’d be on my way to embracing the things I sought to accomplish without hindrance. I recognized she held a gift, a divine knack to aid and comfort those undergoing change and acceptance. Upon leaving, I thanked God for placing one of His working angels in my path. I believed He fated her to be a blessing unto others as she was to me. I hoped she fully recognized her awesome gift, her contribution to this imperfect world. The wig assisted me for a season, paving a way for me to press on.”
Thankfully, during this season of hardship, God placed the right people within arm’s reach to aid, comfort, and encourage me. No matter how bleak my situation appeared, I was determined to do my best regardless of the momentary affliction. God is faithful to those who diligently seek Him.
If you are currently going through a difficult time right now, seek God and be aware of the special people He places in your life. Do not give up…for God has plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Questions: Do you need some hope in your life? Who are some special people in your life who can be of comfort to you?
He Called Me Sister
Do you feel like part of the family? Come talk to a mentor.
“I’m praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in me because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me”. (John 17:20-21, The Message)
It was a simple conversation in a crowded room with a man from another country. We had met only once before, almost a year earlier. I knew a few details of his Christian experience; he knew none of mine. As we stood surrounded by people, he prefaced his remarks with one word: Sister.
In his culture it is common and comfortable to address a Christian with the term “brother” or “sister.” It also happens in some other cultures when Christians gather. But to me that evening, the word took on the brilliance of neon. I am his sister. He is my brother. We are connected to each other and to the Father. The family tie is unbreakable.
This powerful connective moment has happened before in my life and always with a person from another culture. It is as though God wants to strike me with the importance of plural pronouns in His Kingdom. “Don’t you (all) know that you (all) are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in the midst of you (all)?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
While we are individually accountable to respond to God’s invitations, once we are in the family, we are one unit. Jesus’ prayer for us just before His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane almost aches with His desire that we relate as brothers and sisters, that we work out in daily experience what Christ accomplished in reality. The Apostle Paul put it plainly: “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
When Jesus’ disciples asked for a lesson on prayer, it is significant that Jesus began with “OUR Father…” “Our” is a personal pronoun that packs a Kingdom punch.
Question: Do you feel like you are part of God’s family? If you don’t, ask the Lord to guide you to good church, small group or new friends.
Under Toe
God’s protection is just one side of His character. Get to know Him even better with our free study on the character of God.
“Your way was through the sea,
your path through the great waters;
yet your footprints were unseen.” (Psalm 77:19)
When I was a child, my family would head for the Texas coast on Memorial Day. Being too young to frolic in the waves by myself, my father would lift me onto his shoulders. As the waves flowed to his waist and chest, they would swirl around my legs. I could touch the waves and splash, but my dad was protecting me, holding on tight. His feet dug into the sand to steady us, just under the water.
Secure and giddy, I never felt any danger. I wasn’t afraid of the ocean even though I had seen the news reports of the hurricanes and witnessed the leftover damage along the beach. But on those summer days on the Gulf, the ocean was my friend because Daddy was there, his feet in the sand and me on his shoulders.
When I grew older and wanted to venture in on my own, I learned about undertow – the mucky sand pits that can swirl around your feet and threaten to topple you as the waves ebb and flow. You can feel the power of their pull on your ankles and if you stand there in the current long enough, you will start to sink into it, get stuck, and the waves can pound over you. There were also things lurking under the water you could not see, like broken shards of sea shells, sticky tar balls, Man O’Wars and Jellyfish.
“Footprints in the Sand” is a very familiar inspirational poem. The footprints in the sand along the beach of time were sometimes in twos as God and Man walked side by side. But when there was only one pair, it was when God was carrying Man.
This verse from Psalm 77 gives another image of God’s footprints. It shows them, like my dad’s, unseen because they are deep below the surface. They are under the waves, dug into the sand—under-toe, so to speak. But just because we can’t see them doesn’t mean they are not there steadying us. Perhaps those are the times that we learn He not only walks on water, but walks underneath it and through it as well—all for our protection.
Life is better and safer when we are on our Father’s shoulders. He knows what lies below the surface of our lives. I prefer to frolic in the safety of his grasp—don’t you?
Questions: When has God carried you? When have you felt the pull of life “under-toe”?
The Kingdom of God is Near
Are you living a Spirit-filled life? You can start today.
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” (Matthew 4:17)
The gospels record Jesus proclaiming, (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15) and instructing His disciples to proclaim, that the kingdom of God is near. (Matthew 10:7; Luke 10:9, 11) Although the book of Acts, Paul’s letters and other New Testament books continue to speak about the kingdom of God, none use the phrase, “the kingdom of God is near”. Why wouldn’t the apostles continue to use that statement?
People were looking for an earthly kingdom, one to overthrow the Romans and free them from oppression, but Jesus’ talk of the kingdom suggested a less tangible but still powerful realm. Jesus told the Pharisees, “The kingdom of God does not come visibly, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21)
Jesus also said “Some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” (Mark 9:1) If Jesus meant the complete fulfillment of the kingdom of God – with sin and Satan finally defeated, where Christ will reign eternally – then some of the people who heard His words would still be living today.
That’s not the case. So, we know Jesus was describing the indwelling of Holy Spirit, who enables believers to live in the kingdom of God and experience His power. Many lived to see that day – Pentecost – when the Holy Spirit powerfully descended upon the disciples. (Acts chapter 2)
The disciples no longer preached ‘the kingdom of God is near’ after Jesus’ resurrection, because it had arrived. Jesus explained that you can’t see the kingdom of God because it is within you. His death, resurrection and ascension into heaven, made it possible for the Holy Spirit to come and live within us.
God’s kingdom – His rule and authority – came to earth through Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit in our lives – the kingdom of God within us – empowers us to walk in righteousness.
Thank you God that Your kingdom is here – within me! Help me to live in that reality. Amen.
Questions: How does knowing the kingdom of God is within you affect you? How have you experienced the power of the kingdom in your life?
Acknowledge Him
Where do you need to see God at work today? Come talk to a mentor.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3: 5-6)
We both entered the doorway at the same time. She paused and looking at me, waved her arm in front of her gesturing me to go first. Acknowledging my presence she let me lead the way. In much the same way God has given us the wise instruction to acknowledge Him in all of our ways; to look to Him and let Him lead the way. With that instruction comes the promise that He will direct our paths.
Today as you go through your day, be mindful to acknowledge the Lord God in everything that concerns you. In doing so He will enter every situation and conversation ahead of you and He will direct the way.
As you wake up not feeling enthusiastic about going to work:
Lord, please go ahead of me today as I walk into work. Give me peace and confidence as I acknowledge You as the source of this provision for me. Guide my path through this day as I work diligently for You.
As you walk into a meeting, a conversation, a chance meeting on the street:
Lord, I step aside right now and ask You to step ahead of me and prepare the way so that my words and attitudes will bring Your light into this moment.
As you engage in your relationships and your work in your home:
Lord, thank you for my family. Right now I acknowledge that I need You to prepare the way as You go ahead of me into… this supper hour/this hour that I work on my bills and finances/this time that I help the kids with their homework/this mountain of work that overwhelms me/this conversation I need to have with my spouse. Thank you for Your presence and Your promise.
As you feel weary and frustrated with tiredness and health issues:
Lord, I acknowledge You as my strength and my Great Physician. Please direct my path to greater health and give me Your strength and grace today.
Lord, I trust You with every detail of my life. I want to trust You more whole-heartedly every day. I know that my own understanding is so limited and I thank You that You see the whole picture. I ask You to go before me today, to remind me to acknowledge You throughout the events of my day. Thank you that You will guide me with Your wisdom and strength and You will make the way straight for me. I pray this in the powerful name of Jesus, amen.
Question: How does it make you feel that God is directing every step of your day? Does that change how you will react and respond to your situations?
Chosen Love
“How great is the love the Father has LAVISHED on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1, NIV, emphasis mine)
I heard the heartache in my best friend’s voice, “We had to hospitalize our son last night. He was threatening violence.” I could feel the pain and anguish through the phone lines and my heart went out to her.
My dearest friend is living day in and day out with an incredibly difficult situation. Times without number she has felt that God has asked her to handle situations that are beyond what she can bear. Yet, every time I see God’s grace exhibited in her life and in the life of her son.
Seven years ago, she and her husband chose to love a young boy that was not their own. They welcomed him into their family and he became theirs. He immediately had all the privileges of a son – love, care, family vacations, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles and Cousins, wealth. Most important of all he was able to learn about God and His love for him.
Isn’t that what God did for us? He chose us to be His own children and welcomed us into the family with all the rights of an heir. We hold the same privileges as His Son, Jesus. “But when the right time came, God sent His Son . . . God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as his very own children . . . Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are His child, everything He has belongs to you.” (Galatians 4:4-5, 7)
This journey has not been easy for my friend and her family. I know she would say that it is, hands down, the hardest thing she has ever done or will do. Even so, the future is not guarenteed.
You see, their little boy, even though he has been given this amazing gift of love, cannot accept it. His past and the things that happened to him before he came to live with them have scarred his life and are holding him captive. He is unable to embrace this love, to bask in its warmth and to allow its light to shine in his life. He has built a fortress around his heart and to let that love in is too frightening and threatening for him. He wants the love and is drawn to it but then pulls away because it threatens to break down his defenses.
As I watch this gifted and talented young boy run from true, unfailing, unconditional love, I cannot help but see myself reflected in him. I do this very thing with God. I am His chosen child and I want His love, in fact I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame. But I find myself pulling away because His love exposes my innermost being and I don’t like what I see. Why does my heart do this yo-yo dance with God?
I think of my friend and her incredible love for her son. She has given everything for him. She loves him unconditionally and no matter how she is treated by him, she continues to give of herself, to endure through the pain and to love unconditionally.
She is my hero! She is the strongest person I know and she demonstrates God’s great love and incredible patience with him every day 24/7, 365 days a year! In her weakness I see her strength in God grow and in her brokenness and pain I have seen God bring her unspeakable joy.
As I see myself reflected in her son, I see God reflected in her – His grace that I did nothing to deserve, His patience when I am obnoxious and hurtful, His love when I am unlovely, His gentle touch when I am hurting and in pain. That’s how my friend loves her son and that’s how God loves me!
Questions: Why is it so hard to receive pure and undefiled love? Why do I allow fear to keep me from completely enjoying and reveling in God’s incredible love?
I Have a Choice
Are you struggling to face another day? Talk to a mentor.
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. (Romans 15:13)
How do you face another day? Do you look forward to it with joyful anticipation or do you think, oh no! Not another day.
Just as I have a choice as to what I’m going to wear for the day, I have a choice as to what my attitude will be. I can put on the glasses of pessimism or hope.
When we put on the glasses of pessimism, we see fear and despair, distortion, things are littered with “what ifs” and “if onlys.” But with the glasses of hope, we have faith and a pleasant perspective of the future. After all I serve a God of hope, not of despair. What a difference it makes when you put on the glasses of hope.
Lord, You are God, my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Questions: How can you put on glasses of hope today? What can you do when faced with pessimism?
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What Do You Fear?
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