Feeling pressure to be perfect? We can pray for you.

As a mom, I sometimes wish for simpler days when I had one thing to do. The multiple duties of motherhood constantly fragment my attention. There is the need to teach, to discipline and encourage my children; to organize schedules, to drive and volunteer; to cook and clean; to study, to write and lead. In the midst of the urgent, it is easy to lose sight of what is important.

It isn’t just my problem. We all get distracted; we all forget what matters most.

That is why I love God’s promise to Jeremiah:

“They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them” (Jeremiah 32:38, 39).

Because the people of Judah had forgotten God’s commands and followed other gods, God sent Babylon to destroy their nation and take the people into exile. God stripped away the outside stuff of their lives, so that they would be able to focus on Him alone.

But in the middle of their trouble, God promised to give them singleness of heart and action. He promised to be their God. God Himself would give them the ability to fix their attention solely on Him.

He will do the same for us if we ask Him.

Great and Awesome God, give me a singleness of heart and action so that I will always fear You. Teach me to walk in Your ways and focus on You alone.

Questions: Is it difficult for you to focus on God alone? Why? How does it help to know that God is the one who gives us singleness of heart and action?

About the Author Suzanne Benner

Is there life after abortion? This online study talks about the answer.

“Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains; Truly, in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel” (Jeremiah 3:23 (NKJV).

The answer is Jesus. It doesn’t matter what the question is; the answer is Jesus! He is the answer for every problem and every need. His death on the cross bought us eternal redemption, healing, deliverance, prosperity, peace, liberty and protection. He is the one who rises up to provide for us and defend us. He is the one who calls to us when we are alone, and He fellowships with us. He is the one who never lets us down or leaves us. He is with us at every turn and His eyes are always on us. He sings over us, teaches us, nurtures us, protects us, and leads us. We are always safe in His arms and He does not disappoint. Look to Him, trust Him, wait on Him, He will come through.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers o the diving nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:2-4 (NKJV).

Questions: Have you asked Jesus to help you with your problems?

About the Author Emmie Stanley

Take a deep breath:

Get help: We all need help at times. Help is not a sign of weakness, but strength.  Make sure to reach out for help when you need it.  Find a pastor, trusted friend, or mentor and ask for help. Let them know you are hurting and what you need from them.  If your crisis is severe, you may need them to get you to the right help, counselor, coach, intervention etc.  Often in severe crisis making simple decisions is overwhelming, much less making big decisions.  Make sure this person is wise and makes good choices.

Help comes in many forms:  a meal, someone to talk to, someone to remind you of a different perspective, a gift, (money or food), a place to stay, babysitting and many others.  You need help now so accept that from someone who cares.  If you have a home church this is a good starting place. If you do not go to church we can connect you with one of our mentors who will help give your some guidance on-line.

Focus on now: What needs to be done today? Don’t focus on the long term, focus on today, if that is too overwhelming, focus on the next hour.  What can you do today?   The thing about today is that we have enough energy for now, not enough to figure out the future and all the different scenarios.  There is a verse in the Bible that says”Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Mathew 6:34 )

Control your emotions:  It is VERY easy to let emotions make your decisions in a time of crisis.  Use your emotions as an indicator rather than a decision maker.  Emotions are important as they are a barometer of what is going on, that being said, they can greatly lead in the wrong directions if left untamed or shut out.  So the bottom line is, don’t ignore emotions but don’t let them rule your life and decisions.

Make a plan:  What needs to be done immediately? Is physical safety an issue?  Can you function?  Do kids need caring for?  Make a plan, you may need someone who cares to help with a plan.  Educating yourself about your specific crisis may be part of your plan.  Know what you are dealing with, but don’t assume worst case scenario.

Understand the problem. It is important to realize that every marriage or family problem involves at least two people: you and the other person. How might you have contributed to the problem? How might you need to change? What attitudes and actions need to be addressed? The more you understand the problem, and how to address it, the better prepared you are.

Be comforted:  prayer and God’s word can be very comforting in crisis.  Prayer is a big help.  You are not alone, God cares about you and your situation.  Millions of people around the world believe in the power of prayer. If you are facing a difficult time in your life we would love the opportunity to pray for you.

Requests sent to us will not be posted on the website. A prayer mentor will respond to your request. Whenever possible we pray for these requests within a day of receiving them. If we receive a lot of requests, a quick response time may not be possible, but we will be praying for you.

Take a deep breath:

Get help: We all need help at times. Help is not a sign of weakness, but strength.  Make sure to reach out for help when you need it.  Find a pastor, trusted friend, or mentor and ask for help. Let them know you are hurting and what you need from them.  If your crisis is severe, you may need them to get you to the right help, counselor, coach, intervention etc.  Often in severe crisis making simple decisions is overwhelming, much less making big decisions.  Make sure this person is wise and makes good choices.

Help comes in many forms:  a meal, someone to talk to, someone to remind you of a different perspective, a gift, (money or food), a place to stay, babysitting and many others.  You need help now so accept that from someone who cares.  If you have a home church this is a good starting place. If you do not go to church we can connect you with one of our mentors who will help give your some guidance on-line.

Focus on now: What needs to be done today? Don’t focus on the long term, focus on today, if that is too overwhelming, focus on the next hour.  What can you do today?   The thing about today is that we have enough energy for now, not enough to figure out the future and all the different scenarios.  There is a verse in the Bible that says”Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Mathew 6:34 )

Control your emotions:  It is VERY easy to let emotions make your decisions in a time of crisis.  Use your emotions as an indicator rather than a decision maker.  Emotions are important as they are a barometer of what is going on, that being said, they can greatly lead in the wrong directions if left untamed or shut out.  So the bottom line is, don’t ignore emotions but don’t let them rule your life and decisions.

Make a plan:  What needs to be done immediately? Is physical safety an issue?  Can you function?  Do kids need caring for?  Make a plan, you may need someone who cares to help with a plan.  Educating yourself about your specific crisis may be part of your plan.  Know what you are dealing with, but don’t assume worst case scenario.

Understand the problem. It is important to realize that every marriage or family problem involves at least two people: you and the other person. How might you have contributed to the problem? How might you need to change? What attitudes and actions need to be addressed? The more you understand the problem, and how to address it, the better prepared you are.

Be comforted:  prayer and God’s word can be very comforting in crisis.  Prayer is a big help.  You are not alone, God cares about you and your situation.  Millions of people around the world believe in the power of prayer. If you are facing a difficult time in your life we would love the opportunity to pray for you.

Requests sent to us will not be posted on the website. A prayer mentor will respond to your request. Whenever possible we pray for these requests within a day of receiving them. If we receive a lot of requests, a quick response time may not be possible, but we will be praying for you.

Are you tired of living a life of trying to please everyone?

“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’” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV).

I have a confession to make. I was a compliant child.  How was that a problem, you might ask?  It makes me a people pleaser. I rest only after I’ve done enough for everyone to love me, which often leaves me exhausted, both emotionally and physically. And when there is nothing left to give? Undeserved guilt soon follows.

The other problem with being compliant is that many times, people like me get lost in the noise and chatter of well-meaning voices that remind us what is expected of us. People pleasers seldom find the courage to determine what God has in store.

In order to truly hear the voice of God, we must distance ourselves from everyone else. If we ask questions, we must stay long enough to hear His answers. And in many cases, He often calls his children to do the opposite of what the rest of the world is doing.

Just ask the young mother who traded in her high profile career to spend her days with her children. Ask the missionary who sold his big house and SUV to live in a hut in a faraway land.  Ask the father who works a job he hates in order to provide for his family.   The truth is that we were not created for everyone to love us, as Jesus painfully demonstrated.

Jesus was not compliant. Even his family and those in his home town had a hard time understanding what he was up to at times. Not one time did he alter his actions or beliefs based on the expectations of others.

I hate to imagine what would have happened if those who loved him tried to talk him out of what God had called him to do.   The only chance we have at eternal life came because Jesus was willing to be hated.

Dear God,

Thank you for Jesus and the example he provided for us.  We confess that sometimes it is difficult to find our place in your world. It is a busy place, and sometimes we get so caught up in survival that we forget to seek your guidance. We thank you for the love and wisdom of our families and friends, but please help us to separate ourselves enough to hear your voice as well.

Touch our hearts and strongly lead us. We want to follow, even when it doesn’t make sense. We trust you above all else, and are willing to go where you lead us.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you a people pleaser? Where has that been getting you so far? How can you turn from being a people pleaser to being a God pleaser?

About the author Janet Morris Grimes

Are you tired of living a defeated Christian life that seems to lack any power? Maybe there is more to this new life in Christ. Check out this video.

When hearing Goliath’s threats, David could have been terrified like the rest of the soldiers.

He could have excused himself by saying, “It’s not my problem. I’m not in the army. Anyway, the battle is the LORD’S,” and gone home.

Yes, God could have won the battle by Himself by sending an earthquake, a plague, any number of natural disasters. But God habitually chooses ordinary persons to accomplish his victory. It gives Him pleasure to work through the most unlikely persons like David, a shepherd boy.

But before God could use him, David had to put his faith into action.

How?

He faced the giant. Whereas others had said, “Goliath is so big we can’t defeat him.” David said, “Goliath is so big, I can’t miss him.”

He marched down into the valley to meet Goliath.

He audibly declared victory in the name of the LORD. (Vs 46, 47)

He whipped out his slingshot and aimed.

Then God gave the victory!

When feeling overwhelmed by a situation, what do you do? It’s comforting to know that “the battle is not ours, but the LORD’S.” But like David, what steps can you take towards victory?

God honors active faith.

Father, show me the steps to take towards victory and give me the strength to take them.

Questions: What do you do when feeling overwhelmed? How can God give you the victory even in dire situations?

About the Author Helen Lescheid

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

I often look back on my university days with fond memories. Although the workload was heavy, I didn’t mind final exams. No more classes or assignments, no expectations placed on me but one alone – to study. I reveled in the singular focus.

As a mom, I sometimes wish for simpler days when I had one thing to do. The multiple duties of motherhood constantly fragment my attention. There is the need to teach, to discipline and encourage my children; to organize schedules, to drive and volunteer; to cook and clean; to study, to write and lead. In the midst of the urgent, it is easy to lose sight of what is important.

It isn’t just my problem. We all get distracted; we all forget what matters most.

That is why I love God’s promise to Jeremiah:

“They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them” (Jeremiah 32:38, 39).

Because the people of Judah had forgotten God’s commands and followed other gods, God sent Babylon to destroy their nation and take the people into exile. God stripped away the outside stuff of their lives, so that they would be able to focus on Him alone.

But in the middle of their trouble, God promised to give them singleness of heart and action. He promised to be their God. God Himself would give them the ability to fix their attention solely on Him.

He will do the same for us if we ask Him.

Great and Awesome God, give me a singleness of heart and action so that I will always fear You. Teach me to walk in Your ways and focus on You alone.

Questions: Is it difficult for you to focus on God alone? Why? How does it help to know that God is the one who gives us singleness of heart and action?

About the Author Suzanne Benner

Daily audio podcast: Today’s daily devotional, Singleness of Heart and Action, read aloud on the Men’s Devotional Blog

The problem, though, for most of us is that we get diverted by more worldly things and lose sight of the presence of God in our lives. I recently went to a website to look up some information. When I pressed a certain icon, a dialogue box popped up to tell me I was being “redirected” to another website.

I thought about the spiritual application of that and realized that when the matters of the world cloud my spiritual vision, I need to redirect my thoughts to focus on what God is telling me in each situation I face in life. For example:

• When I feel all alone, I should redirect myself to Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

• When I am fearful, I should redirect myself to Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”

• When I feel weak, I should redirect myself to Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

• When I am torn between following the ways of the world of the ways of the Lord, I should redirect myself to Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

• When I feel lost, I should redirect myself to Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For, everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

• When I feel inadequate in knowing God’s will for my life, I need to redirect myself to Psalm 86:11 “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart.”

• When I am tempted by the world, I should redirect myself to 1 Peter 5:8 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

Father God, Your Holy Word is truly the roadmap for life. Throughout the days ahead please help me to make a conscious effort, in every situation, to redirect myself to Your Word and find the strength and power to walk as You would walk. Amen.

Questions: Do you find yourself in a situation where you just don’t know what to do next?  Are you getting side tracked away from God’s Word?

About the Author John Grant

**Are you desperately struggling with a problem and just don’t know where to turn? Do you need a listening ear? One of our Women Today e-mail mentors will respond to you personally. http://christianwomentoday.com/chat/askus.html

“…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

What did Jesus do when He faced a problem? Such as having 5,000 hungry people in the wilderness with only five small barley loaves and two small fish at His disposal? Jesus took one small loaf, broke it in half, lifted it up to heaven, and gave thanks.

Another time, Jesus was confronted with the death of his dear friend, Lazarus. Standing at the burial tomb, the sound of wailing in the air, the accusations of the sisters in his ears –what did Jesus do? He raised his eyes to heaven and simply said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me…” When confronted with a problem, Jesus gave thanks. Interesting, isn’t it? We usually say please.

The language of faith is not please, but thank you. Please is a beggar’s language. It denotes that I’m not quite sure that God will do anything. Maybe if I pray louder, longer, and with more sincerity, He will do it. So the onus is on me – on doing it right. When we give thanks, the onus is on God: we expect Him to look after the problem.

Notice, we are not told to feel thankful; that would be unrealistic. It wouldn’t even make sense. Some things are downright evil, and God hates evil. We are instructed to give thanks. That’s something we can do even if we don’t feel thankful. It’s a decision we make.

Its okay to pray like this: “God, I don’t like what’s happened. It doesn’t make any sense to me. But I thank You that You know what this is all about and You will work even this into Your good purpose for my life.”

When we give thanks to God in every situation, change happens. Perhaps the greatest change is inside of us. We begin to notice our blessings – even the small ones. Hope flourishes. Perspective sharpens. We can see more clearly what’s truly important – what needs to be done. We give God an opportunity to work His miracles within us and outside of us.

~ Father, thank you that no matter what’s happening, you’re still in control. Thank you that you always have my best interest at heart.

Questions: What problems are you facing?

About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/helen-lescheid/

Shaky marriages, divorce, death, illness, accidents, terrorist threats, war arouse in us a crisis response. What happens when crisis or trauma impacts people’s lives? How can we prepare and respond to crisis? Marriage and family counsellor Lynette Hoy, stresses the importance of differentiating between a problem and a crisis:

• A problem is something you can do something about. A problem is a situation presenting difficulty or uncertainty which needs resolution.

• A crisis of life is a highly volatile or dangerous situation/emergency requiring immediate remedial action. A crisis is usually something you can do nothing about. A crisis occurs when a stressful life event overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope effectively in the face of a perceived challenge or threat.Typically, individuals respond to a crisis with an elevated stress reaction; mental confusion and overload and physical symptoms such as a racing heart and high blood pressure. A crisis can cause people to seek out God or to question their faith.

What are some practical interventions for coping with crisis and fear?

• Share your story and your reactions. Begin to process the grief.
• Seek help and resources within your church and community or professional counseling if needed.
• Take care of yourself through exercise, nutrition and relaxation.
• Surround yourself with family, friends and support.

When there’s no one to talk to, we can also pray. When we don’t know what to do next, we can pray. The What good will come form praying? Why talk to Jesus? Because he understands suffering — not in some distant cosmic way, but in the flesh. He suffered greatly during his time on earth. He was innocent and died a cruel and horrible death. You can talk to him because he cares about you and knows what you are going through. The Bible describes him as a “man of sorrows acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). He knew fear and anxiety, physical suffering, hunger, cold, and sadness. He wept. He even questioned God.

We have a lot of questions

Why is my family struggling? Why isn’t my husband here? Why is there evil in the world? Why are we at war? We need answers and we need an opportunity to ask these questions. God is not threatened by our questions. The Bible is full of people of faith questioning God, and God answered them.

Habakkuk, one of the books of the old testament recounts one man’s challenge to God. Habakkuk saw the world around him and asked God “how long shall I cry and you will not hear?” (Hbk 1:2) He went on to ask “why do you look on those who deal treacherously, and hold your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he?” (Hbk 1:13) Sound familiar? How many times have you asked the same questions, especially when someone else has what you want?

God does answer Habakkuk. He tells him that in a world that doesn’t always make sense to us “the just shall live by faith” (Hbk 2:4). What does that mean? Faith is believing that God is big enough to bring some good out of what is happening in Iraq and what is happening in your family. Living by faith means waking up in the morning and saying “God, I have no idea what you are doing. My world is a mess and it hurts. But I know you are there and you say that you love me so I am going to get out of bed this morning and see if today is the day that you make things right.”

It is far too easy just to say “God loves you and everything is going to be okay.”

God does love you, very, very much, but there are things that have happened that are not going to be okay. So many among us are grieving for lost loved ones, or anxious for sons and daughters sent off to war, or fighting private battles against illness or betrayal or finances. The days can get very bleak and the nights offer no relief. Still, God is in control so even in the middle of all of this there is a reason to hope. There is a reason to believe that there will come a day when the ache hurts a little less than it does today.

Why do bad things happen? I can’t answer that, but I know this — God is very real. He loves us very much and the events that break our hearts break his heart. When God created the world it was perfect and beautiful. He created man and woman and gave them free will. Our choices brought sin into the world. The perfect world he created was ruined, but God didn’t abandon us to our choices. He sent redemption in the form of his Son. He sent a savior to bring us hope.

There is reason to hope, even now. The Bible tells us that God promises he will never leave us (Heb 13:5). He can make something beautiful out of ugly circumstances. He can bring good out of what others meant for evil (Gen 50:20). He still offers hope and peace to each of us today.

You can know peace tonight.

There is a line in an old hymn that says “Let there be peace in the world and let it begin with me.” Whether that means peace on a worldwide scale or peace in your own hear, it can begin with you right now. John 3:16 tells us that God loves the world so much that He sent Jesus, His only Son, to die for us so that everyone who believes in Him can have everlasting life.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord, I need you now more than ever. I want your peace of mind. In the midst of my broken heart and my pain, I turn to you. Jesus, I ask you to forgive my sins and to give me your peace and comfort. I open the door of my life and put my trust in you.

If you sincerely expressed that prayer to God, you can know that you have a personal relationship with Him. He will be your comfort in these troubled times. God promises us “peace that passes understanding” in other words peace in a world that doesn’t make sense. You can know peace even while the world is in turmoil. God does not change. Ever.