by Catherine McDaugale | Mar 4, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Thoughts
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27 (NKJV))
The Source of Peace
Where can you find peace? The source is God. As Isaiah said, “You [referring to God] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)). And like we saw in the verse above, Jesus told His disciples that He would give them peace (John 14:27). So, peace comes from God.
But how exactly do you get it?
Go to the Source
If you want peace, you need to go to God. He is the source of peace. You won’t find that peace in the world because the peace from God is a “perfect peace” (Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)) that “surpasses all understanding “(Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)).
How do you go to God for peace? Philippians 4:6–8 (NKJV) gives us the answer. It tells us,
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
Based on these verses in Philippians, here are three steps you can take to get peace:
-
Pray
Talk to God and tell Him what’s on your mind. Ask Him for help with whatever situation you’re going through or for wisdom about a decision you need to make. And ask for his peace to quiet your mind.
-
Thank God
Come to God with a heart of gratitude. Thank God for who He is and all He has done for you. Be specific. For example, you could thank Him for
- saving you,
- forgiving all your sins,
- His ability to help you – no matter how big your problem is,
- His promise to always be with you,
- walking with you through your trial,
- the ways He has provided for you in the past, and
- anything else you can think of.
Being thankful to God will prepare your heart for the third step.
-
Meditate
Focus your mind on God. Don’t try to stop thinking about what’s making you anxious. Instead, replace those thoughts by thinking about things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. God’s character and nature and the ways He has blessed you fall into these categories.
Meditate on how God has been faithful to you – on all the things you thanked Him for. Learn about God’s nature by reading His Word, the Bible. To name just a few, God is good, holy, powerful, and loving. Training your mind to think about God’s character and faithfulness will build up your trust in God.
As we saw in Isaiah, the person whose mind is “stayed” on God will be in “perfect peace.” Why? Because that person trusts in our awesome, amazing God.
While your mind is fixed on God, that peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind. So, follow these three steps: pray, thank God, and meditate on your beautiful Savior. Then, you’ll have peace as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Feb 19, 2024 | Life
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1(NKJV))
You Get to Choose
Who is your shepherd – the one who will guide and care for you? It’s your choice. God gave us free will. So, you get to choose who will shepherd your soul. You can be your own shepherd, making choices that seem right. Or you can submit your will to God.
Shepherding Yourself
When you shepherd yourself, you make decisions based on whatever doctrine sounds good to you. You may borrow a little from the Bible here and there when it suits you. But you don’t rely on God or follow His commands.
We see an example of this in the Book of Judges. The people did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6). And it never ended well for them. They always ended up crying out to God, for His mercy and help.
When you shepherd yourself, you’ll eventually look like a sheep that has wandered away from the flock. The wool grows and picks up the gunk from your sin along the way, choking your spiritual life.
Without God, life is empty and pointless. You may try to feel content by filling your life with other people and possessions. Or you might try to escape the emptiness with alcohol or drugs. Ultimately, nothing fully satisfies. The bottom line: we don’t make good shepherds.
Jesus as Your Shepherd
But with Jesus as your Shepherd, you can have an abundant spiritual life. As Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 (NKJV)). Jesus is the good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep (John 10:11). He willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins (John 10:17–18), so you could choose to let Him shepherd your soul.
When you follow Jesus, you don’t need anyone or anything else to be your shepherd. Jesus gives you all that your soul needs. With Jesus, you’ll have contentment and peace.
Sure, we still have times when we stray from our good Shepherd. But we’re miserable when we do. Although Jesus will bring us back, we can avoid a lot of heartache by staying close to Him in the first place.
So, let’s be like David when he declared in Psalm 23:1 that the Lord is his Shepherd. Stay close to Jesus. Keep your eyes on your good Shepherd and submit to His authority over your life. When you do, your soul will be completely satisfied as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Feb 5, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Ministry
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19–20 (NKJV))
In my last post, we talked about being on mission with Jesus. We learned that
- every born-again believer is called to be on mission with Jesus (Matthew 28:19–20), and
- to bear much fruit on that mission, we must abide in Jesus (John 15:5).
If you missed it, here’s a link: On Mission with Jesus (Part 1).
I then challenged us to pick a day to be intentional about our mission. So, how did mine go? Here are some highlights from my day.
6:15 a.m.: My human alarm clock (a/k/a my husband) wakes me up. Although he didn’t do so that morning, he often wakes me up while singing:
This is the day. This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Because he’s done it so many times before, the song immediately came to mind.
6:30 a.m.: I get up after praying about the day, giving my mind, heart, body, and everything I have to the Lord. This is something I do regularly. It helps me to focus my day on God. So far, the day is going well.
6:45 a.m.: In the shower, I sing to the Lord along with Pat Barrett’s God Is So Good (You Are Worthy).
7:10 a.m.: Time to commute to work. I listen to The Word of Promise Bible app on my phone, starting in the Book of 3 John. It’s a really interesting way to listen to the Bible because different actors do the voices of the people in the text. By the time it’s gone through Revelation 4, I’m in a traffic jam. Getting frustrated, I press stop, switch to music, and pray for God to help me stay focused on Him.
8:00 a.m.: After a long commute, I’ve barely made it to work on time. I say a quick prayer, asking God to help me keep my mind focused on Him and be a godly example.
4:00 p.m.: Leaving work, I realize that I hadn’t even thought about God since mid-day when I ate my lunch. Feeling like a failure, I get in my car, put on some worship music, and pray. I ask God for patience and strength as I go to minister to someone on my way home. As always, He helps me to be patient and compassionate during the visit.
6:30 p.m.: My husband and I meet on the couch for our devos, reading the Bible together and praying.
Well, that was basically my day. And the takeaways? Through it all the Lord showed me:
- This shouldn’t have been an “experiment.” I should intentionally be on mission with Jesus every day. Life is short. And I only have a limited time here on Earth to be on mission with Him.
- Even though I was intentional, there were still large gaps of time when I wasn’t focused on Jesus. I started and ended my day well, but I need to use reminders to refocus my mind on Him.
- Jesus knew I wouldn’t be focused on Him at work. But He still graciously used me to be His hands and feet on my way home.
So, how about you? Did you intentionally go on mission with Jesus? If so, how did it go? Take time to reflect on what the Lord showed you.
And let’s commit to being on mission with Jesus every day. You won’t ever do it perfectly. But if you purpose in your heart to abide in Jesus, you will bear much fruit because Jesus will do the work in and through you. Abide in Jesus day by day, minute by minute, as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jan 22, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Ministry
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19–20 (NKJV))
Everyone Should Be on Mission with Jesus
As a born-again believer, you are part of what’s been called, “The Great Commission.” Jesus wants all of us to tell others about Him and to teach them His commands. He wants us to be His hands and feet.
To do that, you don’t have to be a pastor or transition into full-time ministry. You don’t have to travel to a foreign country. And you don’t need to get a degree in theology. Of course, Jesus may call you to do those things. But not having them doesn’t mean that you’re off the hook.
In any event, the mission starts right where you are – right where Jesus already has you. It’s no coincidence that certain people are in your life. Your coworkers, acquaintances, and family are your mission field.
Yet, although you don’t have to be anything special, you do need Jesus. Jesus will guide you and equip you to do whatever He asks you to do when you go on mission with Him.
A Successful Mission Requires Abiding
We can’t do God’s work on our own. Jesus said that we can’t do anything without Him; we need to abide in Him to bear much fruit (John 15:5).
Abiding in Jesus is not a difficult concept. Like many Bible principles, it’s pretty easy to understand. The Greek word for abide is meno, which means to stay put or remain. So, abiding in Jesus means to stay put in Jesus, to remain in Him.
As a born-again believer, His Spirit lives inside you (1 Corinthians 3:16). Jesus is with you all the time. But you still have free will. Your focus can be on Jesus. Or it can be on other things. Even though Jesus is with you, you can be a million miles away in your mind, thinking about something else.
Abiding in Jesus is a conscious decision on your part to be present with Him: to keep your mind focused on Him and remember that He’s right there with you every step of the way. When you make that decision, it’s an act of abiding. It may be a choice to spend time with Jesus by
- reading or listening to His Word;
- asking Him for advice or direction;
- thanking Him for something good that happened;
- singing to Him;
- obeying when His Spirit prompts you to do something; or
- choosing not to do something because you know He doesn’t want you to do it.
Unfortunately, if we’re honest with ourselves, these abiding acts may only last a few seconds or minutes before we return to our own thoughts – to whatever we want to do.
When another person is with you, it’s easy to remember that he’s there. And everything is different because of his presence. You alter the way you talk, what you say, what you do, and how you do it. You pay attention to him.
For example, when I go downstairs in the morning and my husband is there, I don’t ignore him. I say good morning, hug him, and make conversation. My behavior and actions change because he’s there.
When he’s not there, I don’t talk to him. Instead, I get a glass of water, eat breakfast, and go about my day. But when he’s present, I slow down and spend time with him.
Like I already said, Jesus is with us all the time. Yet, how often do we acknowledge His presence in our lives? We often go about our day like He’s not there – without talking to Him or spending time with Him.
Going on Mission with Jesus
You can’t go on mission with Jesus unless you’re abiding in Him. Without paying attention to Him, you won’t know what He wants you to do or how He wants you to do it. And you won’t have the strength to do it. Abiding in Jesus is mandatory.
So, I decided to do an experiment. I’m going to set aside a day to be super intentional about abiding in Jesus to see how my life is different and to record what happens along the way.
Stay tuned for the next blog post to find out how it goes. In the meantime, I challenge you to abide in Jesus. Find out what happens when you intentionally walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jan 8, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Ministry
For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (James 4:14 (NKJV))
As we start a new year, let’s take a moment to consider the brevity of life. Bottom line: it’s short.
Sure, when you were a kid, the days seemed to drag on forever. I have a distinct memory of watching the clock in eleventh-grade English class. The minutes ticked by ever so slowly. Each time I looked up, I expected it to be close to the end. Yet, only a few minutes had gone by.
As you get older though, the days, months, and years start to zoom by, barely waiting for you to catch your breath. Before you know it, decades have slipped past.
This life is short. And it’s even shorter if you look at it in comparison to eternity. Even if you live a long life and make it to be over 100 years old, 100 years compared to forever is really, really brief. “Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor” (Psalm 39:5 (NKJV)).
So, let’s remind ourselves that we only have a limited time here on Earth. Let’s be like the psalmist who asked God to “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 (NKJV)).
And as we realize that life is short, let’s commit to using our time wisely. It’s so easy to waste our lives on frivolous things. We get sidetracked by things that won’t last into eternity. When we’re focused on ourselves, we tend to prioritize entertainment and comfort. We need wisdom to know how we should be spending our time so we can glorify God.
The Bible compares the things we do to gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw (1 Corinthians 3:12). One day our works will be tested by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13). The fire will reveal what kind of works they were.
If they were works you did for yourself – wood, hay, or straw – the fire will consume them. But if the works were done for Jesus – gold, silver, and precious stones – they will survive the testing (1 Corinthians 3:14–15). As they say, only what’s done for Christ will last.
So, as we enter into 2024, take time to ask God what He wants you to do with your life. He’s prepared good works for you to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Seek God first this year (Matthew 6:33) and abide in Jesus every day (John 15:4). Don’t waste your short life. Purpose in your heart to glorify God as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Dec 11, 2023 | Christian Living, Life
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . . (John 1:14 (NKJV))
I’ve heard it said that entertainment is a reflection of culture or where culture is headed. And it’s true, isn’t it? When you watch a movie, you somehow become a part of it. You want the encounter to be heartwarming, exciting, encouraging, or empowering. As you live out the story with the characters, that experience wouldn’t be those things if it didn’t fit into your worldview.
Christmas movies are no exception. And, unfortunately, a closer look at the most popular ones reveals that they have little, if anything, to do with Christ Jesus.
Instead, the scores of Hallmark Christmas romance movies and holiday favorites like
- It’s a Wonderful Life,
- A Christmas Carol,
- A Christmas Story,
- Elf,
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas,
and others abound with themes of family, belonging, loving, giving, Santa Claus, and poking fun at the difficulties of family gatherings. They’re centered around man-made traditions. And they are often light-hearted and give us that warm, fuzzy holiday feeling.
Those that include angels and ideas about the meaning of life often contain beliefs that are contrary to a Biblical worldview (e.g., humans don’t become angels or come back to warn others about their destiny). And other than a random Christmas carol, the name of Jesus or the reason we celebrate His birth is rarely mentioned.
I’m not saying that the movies are bad, in and of themselves. Nor am I saying you shouldn’t watch them. (I confess, I watch Elf and It’s a Wonderful Life just about every year.) But we should be aware of what’s missing from them. And we should recognize that Christ Jesus isn’t a part of many people’s lives – they don’t give Him a single thought during this time.
When we realize what’s missing, we’ll be more likely to share why we celebrate Christmas. The Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Christ Jesus left His glory in heaven to be born as a baby – a baby who grew up to be a man. He lived a perfect life (Hebrews 4:15) and died on the cross so our sins could be forgiven (Colossians 1:13–14). We celebrate His birth and the hope that He brought to a hopeless world.
So as Christmas draws near, be intentional about sharing the hope that only exists because of Christ Jesus. Make sure that Christ is at the center of your Christmas celebration. And praise God for the amazing sacrifice He made for you as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Nov 27, 2023 | Ministry, Thoughts
Serve the Lord with gladness . . . . (Psalm 100:2 (NKJV))
Let’s face it. Serving others can be hard. Difficult. Tiring. And even exhausting.
You may have started with the right mindset – joy and even excitement at being given the chance to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Then over time, that delight may have fizzled into showing up out of a sense of obligation. Instead of serving because you get to, you may have begun serving because you feel like you have to.
Yet, God wants us to serve with gladness. The Hebrew word (simcha) that is translated in English as gladness means joyfulness, mirth, pleasure, and rejoicing – and not just a little bit of those things. Simcha suggests an exceeding joyfulness, mirth, pleasure, and rejoicing.
Serving shouldn’t be a chore. It’s not a duty or a “have to.” Serving the Lord is a privilege – it’s, I can’t believe I get to be a part of this amazing opportunity! Because remember: when you’re serving others, you’re really serving Jesus (Matthew 25:34–40).
So, practically, how do you serve the Lord with gladness? Here are three tips to consider as you examine yourself:
1. Check your heart motivation.
Who are you serving? Are you really serving the Lord? Or are you serving yourself?
In your mind, are you doing it because you’re worried about what others will think about you if you don’t? Or are you doing it out of an overflow of gratitude for what Jesus has done for you?
As a born-again believer, you have much to be thankful for. Because Jesus died on the cross, your sins have been forgiven (Colossians 1:13–14). You are free (John 8:36). You’re a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). And you have the promise of eternal life with Him (1 John 2:25).
Cultivate gratitude in your heart by remembering all that Jesus has done and continues to do for you. Meditate on His goodness and His love. Praise Him for who He is.
2. Check your fuel tank.
Have you been spending time with Jesus? If you’ve only been spending a few minutes here or there – if you haven’t been abiding in Him – your spiritual fuel tank may be empty.
As Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 (NKJV)). Spending time with Jesus isn’t optional if you want to serve Him. You can do nothing for Jesus in your own strength.
Be with Jesus daily. Think about Him as you go through your day. Read His Word. Talk to Him. Worship Him. When you do, your spiritual tank will be full, and you’ll be ready to bless the people God puts in your path.
3. Don’t skip weekly rest.
After God created everything in six days, He rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2). He blessed that day (Genesis 2:3) and set it apart as a day of rest for men (Exodus 23:12). As Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27 (NKJV)).
After Jesus came and died for our sins, we are no longer judged by whether we keep the Sabbath (Colossians 2:16). We don’t have to rest every Saturday. It’s not a legal obligation.
But the principle still stands. God knew we would need rest. He’s our Maker, and He knows us better than we know ourselves. If you don’t set aside a day to rest in the Lord, you will eventually end up frazzled, weary, and wondering why you’re doing what God’s called you to do.
So, make sure you’re serving with the right heart motivation, abiding in Jesus, and taking time to rest in Him. When you do, there will be a natural flow of His love through you as you serve others. Then you’ll be able to serve the Lord with gladness as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Nov 13, 2023 | Christian Living, Thoughts
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 106:1 (NKJV))
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching – a time for family gatherings and expressions of gratitude. (And a time to wonder, Where did 2023 go?) It can be hard to give thanks if you’re going through a difficult season. Yet, God wants us to give thanks “in everything” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)).
It’s challenging to have a thankful heart when we’re focused on the bad stuff or the hard things. Although our feelings are very real, they can keep us from seeing the bigger picture. Instead of showing us the truth, those feelings give us tunnel vision.
But as a born-again believer, you have a lot to be thankful for. You are God’s child, and your heavenly Father is amazing!
If you’re having trouble finding reasons to be grateful this Thanksgiving, here are 20 reasons you can give thanks no matter what you’re going through. Take a moment to look up the verse for each one. Then meditate on how awesome that truth is!
- God is good (Psalm 100:5).
- God loves you (John 3:16; 1 John 3:16).
- God is always with you (Psalm 139:7; Matthew 28:20).
- God will never leave you or drop you (Hebrews 13:5).
- God will strengthen you (Isaiah 41:10).
- God will help you (Isaiah 41:10).
- God will uphold you (Isaiah 41:10).
- God is strong and mighty (Psalm 24:8).
- You are safe in Jesus’ hand (John 10:28–29).
- God thinks about you more than the number of grains of sand (Psalm 139:17–18).
- God’s thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace (Jeremiah 29:11).
- God hears your prayers (1 John 5:14–15).
- Jesus is praying for you (Romans 8:34), and so is the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26).
- God understands your thoughts (Psalm 139:2).
- God is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).
- God is conforming you into the image of His Son, Jesus (Romans 8:29).
- God will complete the work He has started in you (Philippians 1:6).
- Jesus is preparing a place for you so you can be with Him (John 14:2–3).
- Jesus will come again (John 14:3).
- One day, God will make everything new (Revelation 21:5).
So, “[e]nter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)). Focus on who God is and all He has done and continues to do for you. Choose to be filled with gratitude as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Oct 30, 2023 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Spiritual Growth
He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 11:15 (NKJV))
Many of us want to hear God speak to us. We want to receive a personal message from Him. Yet, we are often unwilling to slow down in our day-to-day lives to spend time with Him in His Word, the Bible.
God can speak in unexpected ways
God will sometimes use extraordinary methods to get a person’s attention. He can use unusual circumstances so you will listen to what He wants to tell you.
- God used a burning bush that wasn’t consumed by the fire to get Moses’s attention (Exodus 3:2–4).
- He got Balaam’s attention through a donkey (Numbers 22:26–34).
- And He sent a wind that was so strong it “tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces” to get Elijah’s attention (1 Kings 19:11 (NKJV)).
But He doesn’t usually speak to us in those ways.
God also speaks through people
Other times, God uses others to get your attention. For example:
- Have you ever felt exposed during a sermon, wondering if your pastor had bugged your car so he could hear the conversation you had with your husband on the way to church that morning?
- Or have you had a time when the Holy Spirit prompts you during a Bible study or teaching, telling you, “That was for you!”
We like those times when we know God has spoken to us through another person. It doesn’t feel like work when you hear from Him in those times. It’s a blessing to get a word from the Lord through your pastor on a Sunday morning.
God usually speaks through the Bible
Yet, we don’t have to wait for those special times. We can hear God speak to us every day. God wants to tell you things. And the primary way He does that is when you spend time with Him, praying and reading through His Word.
The Bible is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). It’s not just a bunch of words that men wrote down thousands of years ago. The Bible is literally God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16). God will speak to you through His Word when you take the time to listen.
If you regularly take time to read the Bible, it can be tempting some days to read through it quickly. In those times, you open the Bible to the designated place you want to read. Then you read it. Close it. And you’re done for the day.
You may even feel good about yourself, thinking, I did my devos today. I did what I was supposed to do. Now I don’t have to do anything else until tomorrow. I can move on with my day.
But if someone asks you later that afternoon what you read, you would probably have to think about it to remember. Okay, I’ve been reading through the Book of John. I think I’m in chapter four. What’s in chapter four? In other words, you have no idea what you read.
Slowing down to hear God’s Word
But what if you approached the Bible differently each day? Instead of reading it quickly and proclaiming that you’re done, what if you sloooooooowwwwww dooooowwwnnnn.
- Start your time with God by singing along with a worship song you really like, preparing your mind to hear what God wants to reveal to you.
- Pray and ask God to speak to you as you read His Word. Ask Him to help you focus on what He’s saying. Tell Him about your desire to hear from Him.
- Open your Bible to wherever you’ve been reading. Read a verse or two. Then take time to think about it. Meditate on the words.
- Ask yourself the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions. For example, you could ask things like: Who is speaking? What is happening? Where is the speaker or the one being spoken to at the time? When was it? Why is something happening? How does it apply to your life? Does it say anything about God – His character or nature or something He’s done?
- Take the time to ponder the things you’ve discovered and to listen for God’s voice.
The Holy Spirit may want to teach you something about your amazing God – about what He loves or what He hates; about who He is and the awesome things He has done. He may want to prompt you and give you guidance about a question you have. The Holy Spirit may tell you to stop doing something you’re not supposed to do. Or He may just want you to learn about how someone in the Bible responded to a particular situation.
So, slow down. Take time out of your day to spend quality time with God. Talk to Him and listen so you will hear what He wants to say to you as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Oct 16, 2023 | Christian Living, Life, Ministry
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39 (NKJV))
Difficult people can be . . . well . . . difficult. So, what should you do when you encounter them?
It’s tempting to try to get away as soon as you can – or avoid them altogether. Let’s face it, sometimes we wish we were high up on a mountaintop where they can’t find us. But that’s not what God wants us to do. Instead, the simple answer is that you should love them.
We all have difficult people in our lives. I’ve heard it said that if you can’t think of anyone then you’re the difficult one (haha). But seriously, we can all be “difficult” at some point or another. So, dealing with difficult people is just a part of life.
Jesus told us how we should treat others. And He didn’t qualify His commandment based on how the other person treats you. Jesus said,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself’.” (Matthew 22:37–39 (NKJV))
Who is your neighbor? It’s common in the English language to think of your neighbor as being limited to the person who lives next door to you. However, the Greek word for neighbor is plesion, which means any person who comes across your path.
Jesus’ commandments can be simply put: love God and love others. And how are we to love them? The Greek word for love in that verse is agape – the kind of love with which God loves us – a self-sacrificial love. It’s the highest kind of love.
In First Corinthians 13, we learn more about agape love. It tells us,
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NKJV))
Jesus calls you to be patient with the person who irritates you. He wants you to be kind to someone who has been disrespectful to you. He wants you to love others as He loved you.
It’s a high calling. And it’s one you can only fulfill when you’re walking in God’s Holy Spirit. You can’t love with His agape love if you only have your own selfish desires in mind.
So, the next time you need to deal with a difficult person – while talking on the phone, by responding to a text message or email, or while she is standing right there in front of you – ask God to help you love that person with His agape love. Pray for guidance about what you should do and what you should say. Ask Him for His love to flow through you and into that person’s life.
In short, love each person God puts into your path. Be patient. Be kind. Don’t be proud or rude. And don’t demand that you get your own way. Choose to do things God’s way and love others with His agape love as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Oct 2, 2023 | Christian Living, Life
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV))
Someone once told me that Christianity is just a crutch. He said only weak people are Christians.
It was before I became a born-again believer. I had been going to church and considering whether God was real. I think I replied with something profound like, “No, it isn’t!”
Now that I’m a born-again believer, I still disagree. Christianity isn’t a crutch. A crutch implies that you can still do everything pretty much on your own. You’re still able to walk; you just need a little help.
Instead of a crutch, a better analogy is spiritual life support. Before I decided to follow Jesus, I was spiritually dead. If I hadn’t accepted God’s free gift of salvation, I would still be dead in my sins. I don’t need a little assistance; I need all the help I can get. I need God for everything. And so do you.
There’s an entire hospital waiting to render aid to those who are broken and sick. When you admit your condition, there’s no wait to be admitted into the emergency room. The ICU is always open to help you. All you need to do is call out to Him (Jeremiah 33:3).
God is the One who brings us from death to life (Ephesians 2:1). He takes our hearts of stone and gives us hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). And He sustains us every second of every day. He is literally holding us together (Colossians 1:17). Praise God!
Yet, that person was right about one thing. Christians are weak. But so is everyone else. Whether you’re willing to acknowledge it or not, we weren’t made to do life on our own. Our Creator made us to be in a relationship with Him.
We all need Jesus. No one can save himself. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). We can’t be spiritually alive on our own.
So, it’s okay to admit that you’re weak. It’s okay to ask God for help. When you do, you make room for Him to be strong in your life. Stay close to your life-giving, life-saving, all-powerful Savior as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Sep 18, 2023 | Christian Living, Spiritual Growth
Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. (John 13:23 (NKJV))
How close are you to Jesus? Are you walking right beside Him?
When I was thinking about it the other day, I remembered a family I had seen walking to the park on a sunny afternoon. The parents walked steadily down the path. Yet, their kids either lagged behind, darted ahead, or ran all around them. At times, the kids were on the path. But other times, they were out in the field, pushing the boundaries of how far they were allowed to go.
It was apparent that each child was focused on his own agenda. Most of the time, they didn’t walk closely with their parents. And the farther away they got, the louder their parents had to shout so their kids could hear them.
Our walk with Jesus can be like that. We don’t always walk closely with Him. As God’s children, we can be like the kids in that family. Sometimes we get way out ahead of Jesus, slow way down, or go off the straight and narrow path, doing our own thing. The farther we get from Him, the harder it is to hear what He’s saying.
And God doesn’t shout at us. Instead, He usually speaks to us like He spoke to Elijah.
When Elijah ran away and hid in a cave, God told him,
“Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 11–12 (NKJV))
God didn’t shout at Elijah. Instead, He whispered to him.
And God speaks to us in the same way. He often speaks to us in a still small voice. So, if we’re not close to Him, we won’t hear what He wants to tell us. If we don’t draw near to Him and pay attention, we won’t be able to hear Him whisper.
But if we’re like John, so close that we could rest our head on Jesus’ chest (John 13:23), or like Mary, sitting at Jesus’ feet (Luke 10:39), we’ll be able to hear Jesus whisper to us. We’ll be able to hear everything He says.
If you want to be close to God, He’s given us a beautiful promise. When we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us (James 4:8). God lets you choose whether you want to be close to Him.
So, how close are you to Jesus? Are you close enough to hear Him whisper to you? If you’re not, take God up on His promise. Draw near to Him.
- Spend time in His Word, the Bible, finding out what He wants you to learn.
- Put on a worship song and praise Him.
- Talk to Him all throughout your day.
- Meditate on His power and might.
- Keep your thoughts focused on Him.
Then, stay close to Jesus and listen for His voice as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Sep 4, 2023 | Christian Living, Ministry
But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him [Jesus] and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” (Luke 10:40 (NKJV))
On the one hand, it’s easy to judge Martha. We can look on from afar – knowing Jesus’ admonition that Mary had chosen best by sitting at His feet and hearing His word (Luke 10:39, 41–42) – and quickly condemn Martha for not doing the same thing.
But on the other hand, could you imagine if Jesus was at your house for dinner? Wouldn’t you want everything to be perfect? You’d likely get out the pretty place settings and cook a delicious meal. You’d want all the finest for Jesus. Not to mention vacuuming, ensuring that the bathroom was clean, and picking up the toys that had been strewn all over the floor.
It’s important to remember that serving isn’t bad. And it wasn’t bad for Martha to want Mary to help her. Martha’s desire for Mary’s assistance – in and of itself – wasn’t wrong. Maybe Martha thought that, with Mary’s help, she’d be able to finish all that needed to be done so she too could sit with Jesus.
But the order Martha did things was wrong. When we’re serving Jesus, the order is always relationship first and then serving.
Without relationship, our works are meaningless from an eternal perspective. Jesus told us, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4 (NKJV)). Jesus taught us that we need to abide in Him because, without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
God has planned days for us (Psalm 139:16) and prepared good works for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). But we cannot know
- what He has for us,
- how He wants us to do the work, or
- have the strength to do that work in His way
without abiding in Jesus. We need to start by spending time with our Lord and Savior, at His feet, hearing His word.
We can do a lot of things for Jesus in our own way and in our own strength. But those things won’t have any eternal value.
We see evidence that Martha was doing it in the wrong order. We know that she was serving in her own strength because she was complaining. She told Jesus, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?” (Luke 10:40 (NKJV)). In other words, “It’s not fair. I’m doing all the work!”
We also see that this happened with the church in Ephesus. They were doing a lot of works. But they were doing those works in their own way and in their own strength. It had become all works and no relationship. And Jesus’ response? He said, “I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4 (NKJV)). Ouch!
But Jesus gave them the remedy. He told them, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works” (Revelation 2:5 (NKJV)). He wanted them to remember the most important thing – their relationship with Him; turn back to Him; and do those things they did when they first came to know Him.
Remember when you first came to Jesus? You wanted to spend time with Him. You desired to be close to Him. And you were overjoyed at the opportunity to be in His presence and learn about whatever He wanted to show you.
So, let’s stay close to Jesus. Let’s keep the order straight in our lives: relationship then works. Spend time sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing His word. Praise Him for who He is. Be present with Jesus and look to Him for direction as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Aug 21, 2023 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Spiritual Growth
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV))
What is faith? In our society, many use the words faith and believe interchangeably. If you believe in something then you have faith in it.
Although the word faith in Hebrews 11:1 can be translated as believe or belief, the way the word is used in that verse has more depth. In that verse, it tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) (emphasis added)).
So, faith has substance. It’s tangible. It’s something you can see. It’s not blind. And it’s not elusive.
I heard an illustration about faith that really made sense to me. And I want to share it with you.
In the 1800s, there was a man who decided to cross over Niagara Falls on a tightrope. Niagara Falls spans from New York to Canada. The tightrope he used was over 1,000 feet long, stretched between the two countries. And the man didn’t have a safety net underneath it.
Thousands of people gathered to watch the man. And on that first attempt, he successfully crossed over the waterfalls on the tightrope while holding a balancing pole.
Over the following years, the man returned to walk that tightrope multiple times. At different times, he crossed it with a sack over his body, depriving him of sight; carrying a table and chair, stopping in the middle to sit down and prop up his legs; somersaulting and doing backflips; walking backward to Canada and returning to the United States pushing a wheelbarrow; and carrying a man on his back.
Now, you could stand in the audience and say, “Yes, I believe that he can do it. I have faith that he’ll make it to the other side without falling.”
But the faith here in Hebrews 11:1 is if you volunteered to get in the wheelbarrow that he was pushing. Or if you agreed to let him carry you on his back as he crossed. By volunteering, your faith has substance. It’s evidence that you believe the man will safely push you in the wheelbarrow or carry you to the other side.
And our faith in God – to be true faith – should have substance too. As James told us,
I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is a God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:18–20 (NKJV))
James goes on to give us an example of someone whose faith had substance. He reminded us that Abraham lived out his faith when he was willing to offer his son, Isaac, on the altar when God asked him to (James 2:21–23).
And the Bible has many examples of people whose faith had substance:
- Noah’s faith had substance when he obeyed God and built an ark, even though it had never rained before (Genesis 6).
- Daniel’s faith had substance when he “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” by eating the king’s delicacies and by drinking the king’s wine because he knew God didn’t want him to (Daniel 1:8 (NKJV)).
- Peter’s and John’s faith had substance when they refused to stop telling people about Jesus, even though they had been arrested and were told “not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18–20 (NKJV)).
So, can you point to the substance of your faith? As Paul exhorts us, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)).
Your faith has substance when you rely on God for everything, trusting that He will help you. People can see your faith when you obey God and quit doing something that He wants you to stop doing. Your faith is tangible when you step out in faith to do something that you know God is calling you to do.
Take a moment and make sure your faith has substance. It will be obvious as you purpose in your heart to walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Aug 7, 2023 | Christian Living, Life, Thoughts
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13–14)
There was a time when I felt like I would never be able to live in the present. Like everyone else, I have a past. And like many others, I spent a lot of time looking back – thinking about things that had happened to me and regretting the choices I had made.
I was stuck. And I didn’t know how to change my thinking. I had been doing the same thing for years. It was like I thought I could solve a puzzle by replaying an event over and over in my head for the umpteenth time. But there was no puzzle to solve.
Then one day, I found the Biblical tools to help me. I was browsing in my church’s bookstore and saw a sermon series on CDs. (Remember when we still played CDs in our cars?) The series was called Free From Our Past. I bought it, thinking, Well, it couldn’t hurt.
And it turned out to be one of the best investments of my life. In the sermons, Pastor Ed Taylor teaches Biblical tools that can help you to walk in freedom. God used that sermon series to teach me how to let go of the past hurts and live in the present.
By living in the present, my relationship with God grew stronger. I could walk more closely with God because my mind wasn’t focused on what once was. Praise God for that!
And now, Pastor Ed has released a book based on that sermon series called Free From Your Past: learning to live the life you’ve always wanted. If you struggle with ruminating on your past or know someone who does, I encourage you to get a copy of his book (from Calvary Church’s bookstore or on Amazon) or listen to the sermon series on the church’s website for free.
So yes, you can live in the present. You can learn Biblical principles that you can apply to yourself. By applying God’s Word to your life, you can enjoy the time God’s given you today. You can stop wasting time and making new regrets.
In the Bible, Paul gives us a great example of letting go of the past. Before Paul started following Jesus, he persecuted the church. Innocent blood was on his hands (Acts 7:54–8:1). I’m sure he had many regrets. Yet, he was able to accept God’s forgiveness and live a life committed to doing what God had for him in the present. Paul purposefully forgot his past (the things that were behind him) and reached forward to what God had in store for him (Philippians 3:13).
Let’s commit to being like Paul – forgetting those things that are behind us (the past hurts and regrets) – and reaching forward to whatever God has for us now. God has fashioned days just for you (Psalm 139:16) and has prepared good works for you to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Stay in the present, living in the days God has made for you and doing the work He’s prepared for you as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jul 24, 2023 | Bible Study, Christian Living
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV))
Praying through the Bible is a powerful exercise. Why? Because God’s Word is powerful. And since all of the Bible was inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16), you can know that you are praying in His will as you pray through what He’s said.
So, how do you do that? Here’s an example from Psalm 139:1–2 to get you started:
“O LORD, You have searched me and known me” (Psalm 139:1 (NKJV)).
Prayer: Abba Father, It’s so amazing that You, the Creator of the whole universe and my Creator, would take the time to search me and know me. It makes me think of the verse that says, “What is man that You are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4 (NKJV)). And even more amazing to me, is that after You have searched me and known me, You still want to have a relationship with me. You know everything about me – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and yet, You still love me. I praise You for loving me that much!
“You know my sitting down and my rising up” (Psalm 139:2 (NKJV)).
Prayer: You not only know me, You know everything I do. You know when I sit down and when I get up again. You know when I’m being lazy or doing something I shouldn’t do. And You also know everything I do to serve You. Please help me to remember that You see all that I do. And please give me the desire to only do what will please You.
“You understand my thought afar off” (Psalm 139:2 (NKJV)).
Prayer: It’s astonishing that You not only know everything I think but understand my thoughts. I don’t even understand my thoughts all of the time. And sometimes I don’t even actively hear all of the thoughts rushing through my head. Instead, I’ll listen to the self-talk and believe everything I hear – thoughts that maybe You don’t really love me or care about me. Please help me to pay attention to those thoughts and take them captive. Help me to consider whether they are true or lies. Then, help me to replace any lies with Your truth – that You do love me. That You love me so much that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for my sins. I praise You for all You have done for me! In Jesus’ name, amen.
You can pray through any part of the Bible. And you can pray through God’s Word in different ways. For example, you can pray
- as you read the Bible;
- by meditating on a verse you have memorized; and
- by listening to a Bible app as you take a prayer walk, playing a verse, and then pausing it to pray through the verse you just heard.
So try it for yourself. Start praying through God’s Word every day and breathe life into your prayers as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jul 10, 2023 | Life, Thoughts
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:13–14 (NKJV))
We like to place a value on things, don’t we? And that value can be affected by many factors. A huge factor in determining value is the item’s maker.
For example, a painting by me would be worth next to nothing. Whereas, a painting by Claude Monet sold last year for over $3 million. A pair of jeans sold at a department store may cost about $50. Yet, if you buy a pair with the designer label Khaite, it’ll set you back $440. And while a small Hermes handbag can cost over $22,000, you can buy one (and a well-made one at that) from other sources for less than $200.
So, how much are you worth? When it comes to people, our culture values them mainly by their looks, accomplishments, and possessions. Those who are homeless are often treated like they’re not worth as much. In contrast, an actor, a politician, or a savvy businessman will likely be placed on a pedestal.
Given our cultural standards, it’s common to compare ourselves to others. And when we do, we can end up devaluing what we think we’re worth. In a few moments, we may look at another woman and determine that we’re not as
- pretty,
- smart,
- well-dressed, or
- well-spoken.
Or we might watch someone’s highlight reel on social media. Her life seems perfect with flawless pictures of family, travel, and selfies. And after the comparison, we may decide we’re worth less or even worthless.
But your worth is not determined by how well you’re able to entertain, dress, or put on your makeup. It’s not dependent on whether you’ve been successful in your career. Instead, it’s based on your Maker.
You are valuable because you were made by God. He made you in His image (Genesis 1:27) and formed you in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). You are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). And you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
Because you were made by God, you matter. He made you uniquely you for His glory. He even fashioned days for you (Psalm 139:16) and prepared works for you to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Praise God!
So stop comparing yourself to others. Because, really, there’s no comparison. God only made one of you. Instead, ask Him to show you the days He has made for you and the works He has prepared just for you. Then walk in those days, praising your Maker as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jun 26, 2023 | Life, Thoughts
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34 (NLT))
Are you worried about your future? Are you anxious about whether . . .
- your company is going to lay people off;
- gas prices will continue to rise;
- you’ll be single your entire life;
- your kids will turn out well; or
- you’ll even be able to have children?
Do you fret about what next month or next year will bring?
It’s easy to worry about your future. All you have to do is look at a newsfeed and stories about crime, the economy, and the way people treat each other can quickly raise your anxiety levels. And circumstances in your own life can overwhelm your thoughts in an instant.
But God doesn’t want you to be worried about your future. Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). And He taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11 (NKJV)). In other words, focus on what you need day by day.
Even in the Old Testament, God oriented His people’s focus on the day at hand. When the Israelites were wandering in the desert for 40 years, God provided them with their daily food – that heavenly bread called manna – one day at a time (Exodus 16:15-16, 19). If they gathered more and left it for the following day (unless it was the day before the Sabbath day), the manna “bred worms and stank” (Exodus 16:20 (NKJV)).
God doesn’t want you to worry about your future. He wants you to trust Him with tomorrow. He already knows what your future holds, and He will help you through it all if you’ll let Him.
Instead of worrying about your future, Jesus invites you to abide in Him (John 15:4). The word abide means to be present or remain. We need to live one day at a time and be present with Jesus. If you’re worrying about something in your future, you’re no longer present with Jesus today.
You are safe in Jesus’ hands (John 10:28). But you can’t enjoy being in that safety if you’re somewhere else in your mind. So when you catch yourself worrying about your future, stop it! Choose to focus your mind on today.
And yes, it’s a choice. We can meditate on the unknown. Or we can focus our minds on what we know – the things God tells us to think about. The Bible tells us to fix our thoughts on things that are “true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable”; it exhorts us to “[t]hink about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8 (NLT)).
You can purposefully shift your thoughts by choosing to think about
- how God has provided for you in the past;
- the promises God has made to you in the Bible;
- the way God saved you and how He gave you eternal life when you surrendered to Him;
- the blessings God has given you; and
- the things you are thankful for.
Put on some worship music and sing praises to God. Read His Word and seek out the promises He has made to you. Make a list of the ways God has been faithful to you in the past. Take a walk and count the different varieties of flowers you see along the way.
So don’t worry about the future. Don’t be anxious about what may or may not happen tomorrow. Instead, choose to live one day at a time while abiding in Jesus. Be present with Jesus and walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jun 12, 2023 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Spiritual Growth
The entirety of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalm 119:160 (NKJV))
Food is a funny thing, isn’t it? On the one hand, we need food to survive. Without food, your body will use its stores of fat and muscle until there is nothing else to sustain it. Studies suggest that we can only survive about one to two months without eating food.
On the other hand, we can abuse food by eating things that are unhealthy. Brain imaging has shown that when a person eats sugar, it stimulates the brain in the same way that drugs, like cocaine, do. The bottom line is that eating certain food leads to health while other food leaves us overweight, sluggish, and sickly.
It’s the same with spiritual food. There is spiritual food that leads to life. And other food that will lead to death.
The source of our spiritual food is crucial. We can get caught up in listening to things that sound good to us. Yet, they aren’t true. The Bible warns us that
a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. (2 Timothy 4:3–4 (NLT))
When we eat unhealthy spiritual food, it leaves us sluggish and sickly – in a spiritual sense. It moves us farther away from, instead of closer to, God.
We must remember that only one source of spiritual food is founded on truth. The rest are derived from lies.
And the source of that truth is God’s Word, the Bible. As Psalm 119:160 teaches us, all of God’s Word is truth. To be spiritually healthy, we need to be nourished by the truth found in His Word.
Indeed, Jesus’ Words are life (John 6:63). He is the bread of life (John 6:35, 58). And, we can feed on God’s faithfulness (Psalm 37:3).
When we eat healthy spiritual food, our walk with God grows closer and more intimate and our faith is built up. We are stronger and able to withstand spiritual attacks from the enemy because we are firmly grounded in God’s Word.
So, let’s commit to eating healthy food – the spiritual food that leads to life. Spend time in God’s Word, the Bible, every day, feeding your soul. Stay spiritually healthy so you can walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | May 29, 2023 | Christian Living, Life
Jesus said, “‘[Y]ou shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30(NKJV) (quoting Deuteronomy 6:4))
Without a doubt, I’ve had days that don’t start off well. Those days often begin with me waking up late. I jump out of bed and hurry to get ready and out the door. Inevitably, a day like that leaves me frazzled and anxious. And I never seem to make up for the time that was lost at the beginning of the day.
On the other hand, days that start well begin with prayer. On those days, I wake up and focus my mind on God. I take the time (in bed or in the shower) to talk with God and pray through what Jesus told us is the greatest commandment: to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).
Those days always go better. With a good start, I’m able to prioritize what’s important and rely on God throughout my day.
I challenge you to try starting your day well. Instead of going over all the things you need to do the moment your wake up, reorient your mind to God. Then pray through the first and greatest commandment.
Here’s an example of what that might look like.
Abba, Father, You are an awesome God. You made me; You are my Creator. And You made this day. Please help me to love you with all of my mind, heart, soul, and strength.
I give You my mind. Please help me to meditate on You – on who You are and all You have done for me. Please help me to keep You first and foremost in my mind throughout the day. Help me to remember to come to You with everything that arises today – to seek Your wisdom, guidance, and strength. Help me to consider You in every decision I make.
Please protect my mind from spiritual warfare. When an unwelcome thought enters my mind, help me to take it captive to the truth in Your Word.
I give You my heart. All of my dreams and desires are in Your loving, capable hands. I release them to You, knowing that You know what’s best for me. I thank You for being my good, good Father whose will for me is perfect. So, I pray that You will do what seems good to You with each of my desires. Your will, and not mine, be done.
I praise You that my soul belongs to You. I am Yours. Thank You for saving me and forgiving all of my sins. I am so grateful that You did what I couldn’t do on my own. I thank You for keeping my soul secure in Your hands.
All that I am and all that I have is from You: my body, time, possessions, and money are Yours. Please help me to be a good steward of what You have given to me. You have blessed me with so much. Help me to glorify You with all that I do today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Then don’t forget to think about the second commandment: to love others as you love yourself (Mark 12:31). Look for opportunities to show kindness to those you encounter. Be ready to give practical help to those God puts in your path. Let someone get in front of you while you’re driving in traffic, smile at someone you pass by in the hallway, hold the door open for someone, or pray with someone in need.
As you begin each day by praying and focusing your mind on our loving, beautiful God, you’ll have the best start you could have to your day. So, start your day well. And then keep your thoughts focused on God as you walk by faith with Him.
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