Seek Solitude & Find Comfort

I have a lot of health issues that require tons of doctor appointments. It gets very overwhelming and draining at times to keep it all straight, to douse the worries of everyone around me, and to still feel like keeping up with "regular health" stuff, like going to the dentist, and physicals. Not to mention getting my daughter to them. The calendar is filled with appointments and follow up tests at any given time, and I admit, some days I want to just throw it all in and be done.

As an introvert, I long to be alone a lot as well. I need at least once a week where I have the house to myself for a few hours where I can either veg, clean, ninja attack the toy room without a rejecting 4 year old, binge watch Netflix, or just sleep, depending on how ridiculous the week has been. When I have a week of absolute crazy, and thing after thing, and life is just overwhelming, I find great comfort in that solitude.

When Elijah sat under a broom tree because he was overwhelmed by life, despite the miracle he had just witnessed on Mount Caramel in facing the prophets of the false god, Baal, and learning Jezebel was after him, he was just done with life. He begged God to take his life, in fact, and he fell asleep. Even though it was after a great miracle, that took great faith, in which Elijah had, life was still so overwhelming.


I feel that I am an Elijah. I have walked through life, surrounded by great miracles, yet I fall beneath the broom tree and wish it would all just stop being overwhelming. But then we read that the Lord sent an angel to comfort Elijah, and give him what he needed to keep going. And that is exactly what God does for me again, and again, and again, and again...and will continue doing until He's done with me here on Earth. 

I get overwhelmed a lot. If you know me, you know this is an understatement. But I feel burned when people think I'm shallow in faith, or unintelligent, or when they simply don't care about or see what I actually have to offer. I get incredibly hurt when I feel used, or taken advantage of. The result- unsureness. Overwhelming questioning, of my worth, of my faith, of my purpose in this world. 
However, each and every time, God shows up and gives me what I need to continue this hard and unknown journey. He gives me people to affirm me, His Word to guide me, and little things I notice when driving on a low day that comfort me. 

So for those comforts and affirmations from Him, I am so grateful. I need them as I find myself questioning who I am and whether or not I'm really up on my faith, my "biblical foundation and intelligence" Truth is people, none of us will be until we are Home. Truth is, I am who HE says I am. And that is all the comfort I need to keep going, another day, another night.

Maybe you're experiencing an overwhelming life lately. Maybe you feel questioned, slandered, or like the hardships just won't end. Take comfort from Elijah's story - his very true and very real God story. Sometimes you need to seek solitude to just stop life for a second and take stock. Just like God found Elijah in that overwhelming moment of life where he just wanted to stop, and wanted his life to stop, God sent resources. He knew what Elijah needed and He most definitely knows what you need today and for this day on. Find comfort in your moments of solitude to just remember how God moves. He has greater plans for you yet! 


Scripture to Read:
1 Kings 19:1-18, Matthew 7:7-8

Questions to Ponder:
When have you felt overwhelmed by life? What did you do?
Have you ever felt filled up by God in hard times? What was it like?
What do you do to find solitude?

Day 124: Trading Comforts

Day 124
Judges 4-5; 1 Corinthians 8

Lately, we as people have felt the limitless boundaries of using our words and even our actions however we wish. We as people have actually felt the need to use our words and actions however we wish. I wish I could completely agree with all and say that you are free to say what you want, when you feel like it, even if you are a Christian. However, Paul lays out some thoughts here that may change your mind in saying and doing whatever you want with your freedom in Christ. We'll also see how well-respected Deborah was as a judge and how she carried herself in this manner.

The root of it here is arrogance. You can have all the knowledge you need to be a "good Christian" and know all of the rules and the words of Scripture, but Jesus laid it out for us. Love. Love. Love. Love God. Love your neighbor. Arrogance is not loving. In fact, Paul tells us that it can cause another believer to stumble, especially one who is still growing and learning, and is new to the faith. Paul says he is willing to sacrifice comforts for the sake of the kingdom expanding. Are you?

Deborah, a judge of Israel, who also happened to be a woman is an example to us that God can and will use you, no matter your status in this world. Obviously, women weren't very respected as leaders in that time, but Deborah and Jael shattered that illusion when they stepped up to win Israel back from it's oppressor. No arrogance. No boasting. Only faith and knowing God was on their side. They willingly did what it took to rescue Israel from its oppressor. Deborah tried to call on Barak to lead the army, but he insisted she come with him, and she did. Are you fearful of what God is calling you to? Who do you have in your life that can walk with you in that fear?

Think of the contrasting testimonies here. If you are arrogant in your freedoms and are busy judging new believers or those who aren't "to your standards", you may succeed in driving them away, which leaves dirt on your hands. But, if you lead by example, looking to Christ and working by His power, rather than your knowledge, the glory is His and in turn, others will see it. Deborah worshiped God after their victory. She knew her strength and victory came from God.

Do your best to wipe arrogance and boastfulness from your character. There is no love in those. Trade in your comforts and even your freedoms so that God's Kingdom will be exalted to all people, and so new believers can truly see what the bottom line is. Boasting and arrogance take away from that example and give Christianity a bad reputation. Do your best to live a life glorifying God and what He has done for you.

Day 117: Aligning with the Cross

Day 117

Joshua 10-12; 1 Corinthians 2

There is a different kind of perspective that mature followers gain by aligning their thoughts with the cross. The cross symbolizes so many things, like grace, love, and victory. Seeing those things and and looking at this life with the perspective of the cross changes everything.

Joshua was commanded not to fear as he battled. Many times as we go out and stand up in those battles we face, whether they are spiritual, physical, mental, etc., we can easily be crippled by our fears. Joshua was reminded over and over again not to fear. I can't say that I blame him for being so fearful, as the nations he faced were mighty, and he was beaten by less than mighty ones when Achan disobeyed. We can see that God makes anything happen, as He even made the sun stand still until Israel's enemies were overtaken. When we can look to the cross and remember the victory we have been given through Jesus, we can stand in confidence that nothing in this world can touch us. Even if we lose everything, we gain in eternity. He has defeated death itself. A cross-centered perspective gives you confidence to face whatever battle you're looking at. Remember His victory and know it exists in your life.

Recall back to when the Gibeonites misinformed Joshua so they could align with him. We read here that they were a mighty nation with very mighty men to fight. They knew they couldn't overcome the power of Israel's God. Thus, they became their servants. The Lord will fight for you. His power alone will bring nations to their knees.

As the Israelites conquered nation after nation and king after king, we need to remember that this was over a period of time (about 7 years). When we think we can overtake our battles quickly and get discouraged when it takes so long, we need to remember that it's a process. Since we live a a culture of the "get it now" mentality, we tend to forget that things take work. We need to work on getting our lives to where we want them and that takes time and experience. The same goes for spiritual growth and learning the movement of the Holy Spirit. We get to know someone by spending time, and that it also how we get to know God.

There is ultimate victory and unity at the cross. Paul indicates that Christian maturity will recognize this and all their wisdom will be driven by the cross and what Christ has done for you and for me. The conflicts that took place in the church are "foolish" as Paul states in chapter 1. There is a certain wisdom that Paul talks about here that comes from the Spirit. That wisdom comes from aligning ourselves to the cross and viewing this world and every conflict we have by asking the Spirit to guide us and seeing everything from the perspective of the cross. True maturity lies within that. We can't grant others grace if we fail to see the grace poured out on us and on them.

When we accept the invitation to allow Christ into our lives, we gain His Spirit in us to help us in guidance and seeing things the way He sees them. We can have eyes that see the things the world sees, but hearts that can see God's purpose, God's plan, God's victory, etc. We may not always fully understand, but His Spirit in us will help us to comprehend the things that happen to us a little bit better. When we can align ourselves with the reason Jesus went to the cross for us, we can begin to see the reflection of it in our lives and throughout our daily living. Allow His Spirit to show you the way, inspire you, and give you wisdom that is only from Him.

Align yourself with the purpose of the cross. Know that the foot of the cross is a level place, open to all who want it. When we can see beyond our eyes and begin to see with our hearts, we place a different kind of value on people and we can see the complete victory we have in this world, regardless of what this world believes is our victory, and regardless of what this world takes away from us. The world has nothing on the cross. 

Day 116: Forgetting God

Day 116
Psalms 49-51

We can forget many things throughout a day. Our keys, appointments, names, tasks... Yet one thing we tend to forget that has greater ramifications in our life is God. It is so easy to get caught up in day to day living, that we forget to acknowledge and honor Him. Today, as we pick up Psalms again, we'll discover some things that we tend to forget when it comes to God.

We forget that every possession in this world won't matter and ultimately, we need God in our lives. Money buys a lot of things in this world, but it does not buy the redemption that only Christ gives us. Wisdom dies, wealth is left behind, and lives without Christ ultimately die and only rot in the grave. Those who have put their trust in the Lord will be snatched from death and will experience the ultimate wealth of His Kingdom. We are to boast in God alone, as boasting in wealth and success only lasts a short time. What are things you boast about on this earth that will not matter in eternity? How can you boast in God?

We forget that He is in control and that everything is His. We read that He owns all the cattle, the animals in the wild, and all that is given to us on this earth. He would not even tell us if He is hungry because He owns it all. He does not even need us, yet He chooses to use us in His plan. He cares that much for you that He wants you. What is something in your life that you feel you have no control over? Remember that He is in control of it all. This entire universe (and beyond) belongs to Him.

We forget to praise Him for our blessings and when life is going well. Life gets to be stress free during certain seasons, and it can become really easy to forget God in those times because we simply feel like we don't need Him to solve a crisis. The reality is that we need to praise Him for those blessings He has given to us and for those seasons we have to catch our breath and not worry as much about the stresses of life. He wants us to acknowledge Him in all times, and give Him glory in all times. Thank Him. Praise Him.

We forget that we need to be cleansed when we sin. I truly believe that so many things are done flippantly in our culture, and so many sins have become the "norm". Because of this looseness of our words, our actions, our hearts - we pass it off and continually offend because we are "entitled". God expects more from His people, however. He expects us to honor Him with our words, our actions and our hearts. When we wrong Him in those things, we are to approach Him, asking for forgiveness, and then striving to do better so we may glorify His name. We read about David's struggle with sin in chapter 51, and the sorrow he pours out to God, asking for cleansing and being made right in Him. What are somethings in your life that you do or say that you need to keep in check?

We forget that we have victory in Christ, and to praise Him for it. On the flip side, we can forget to move on from our sin and spend too much time wallowing in it. David states in his cry out to God, "Oh, give me back my joy again, you have broken me - now let me rejoice." We can find joy in the victory of God's forgiveness and unconditional love. David not only was selfish and stole someone else's wife, but he caused murder in the midst of it. Yet God brought him through it and used him still in His plan. We can experience victory when we say yes to Christ and allow Him to rule in our lives. He brings us joy and can right our hearts. Don't feel like you have no chance of being redeemed because He has redeemed you. Rejoice in Him and boast in His love and grace.

In the midst of living this life, don't forget the bottom line. Don't forget what you'll end up with in the end. Don't forget that He is in control. Don't forget to praise Him when life is going well. Don't forget that you need to be cleansed in Him no matter what this culture calls the "norm". Most importantly, don't forget the victory you have or could have in Christ as you pursue Him in this life, and celebrate the life to come that He has enabled us to have if we accept it. Don't forget about God in your life, no matter what season you are in.

Day 114: Victory in Death

Day 114
Joshua 4-6; Mark 16

There have been low points in each of our lives that caused us to think that all of our hopes, dreams, plans, were lost. I know I have faced those times of uncertainty and wondered what in the world God was doing in those moments. However, after I got through those times and saw the plan that God was carrying out, I grew leaps and bounds in my faith, and discovered that nothing in this world can touch the One thing that matters most to me.

The first thing that was commanded of Joshua when the people got across the Jordan River was to build a monument in remembrance of how God had delivered them to the Promised Land. I'm not sure the kind of hope Joshua carried with him in those early weeks of leading the people without Moses, but I can imagine he was a little on edge about it. When we think about the places God has brought us and the impossible things He has done in our hard situations, we can breathe a little easier the next time if we remember His power and victory in our lives.

As the people faced battling the walls of Jericho, I'm sure the plan sounded a bit ludicrous to them. Yet the people on the other side of the walls were fearful, as they had heard what the Lord had done for these people and figured that He would destroy them. Rahab and her family were the only safe ones, and they did good to obey God's will.

Is there a struggle in your life right now that you need to march around? Know that God is with you, providing for you every step of the way. He did this for the people as they entered into the Promised Land, providing food, land, victory and so much more. The key was for the people to remember that victory God had given them and use it to obey Him and remember it next time they faced a struggle. So many times we neglect to remember the victories God has handed us and fall away the next time a problem comes. We have received the best victory there is, as we read about in Mark today.

I find it intriguing that the first eyewitnesses of Jesus' resurrection were women, who weren't trusted in their testimony in that time and weren't even allowed to give it. Yet God used them to share the Good News of Jesus' resurrection. The disciples didn't even believe them or even two of His other followers, until He actually appeared before them. They were at such a loss that they had lost the hope of their Savior, so they thought. The problem was that their world vision is not like the heavenly vision, so they couldn't believe the miracle at first. How would your situation look different if you viewed it from God's point of view, rather than your own?

God's form of victory isn't the way we view victory. We cling to the things of this world - the status, the stuff, the relationships, etc. But true and eternal victory comes from trusting in God alone. When we face a time in our lives that is seemingly hopeless, we need to remember the only true Hope we have in Christ, as He will deliver us in ways that are beyond our comprehension. There is true victory in death. The death of OUR dreams, our hopes, our wants, our desires. Victory came on a cross over 2000 years ago. If God is for us, no one can stand against us.

Day 102: Know Him

Day 102
Psalms 44-46

There is much reason to be on the go all the time in our culture. We have places to be, people to meet, errands to run, kids to pick up, drop off, pick up again, jobs to work, meetings to attend, chores that always seem to pile up to do...the list is never ending and overwhelming at times. But when we actually take a piece of our day to "be still" and listen for God, there is a whole new dynamic and attitude in facing the day.

There are so many benefits to making Christ the center of your day and learning more and more of Who He is. We are told to "be still, and KNOW that (He) is God" in Psalm 46. You have probably heard this verse over and over, but to actually apply it is another matter. The more you spend time with someone though, the more you get to know them, the more you trust them, and the more you reflect on the times you've had together. The same goes for getting to know God.

Know His Victory - As we read in Psalm 44, we read as the writer(s) reflect on the words of their ancestors, and how they spoke of the victories that God provided them. Upon reflection, we can take a look at today's issues and remember the victories God provided for us in the past, and know He is faithful for our future. Being still and knowing His heart and His longing for good in our lives will give us a heart that trusts Him more deeply each day and through each storm we face.

Know His Attributes - The writer(s) of Psalm 45 write poetry about the attributes and character of God. We can only truly know His character when we take the time to know Him through reflection, His word, and listening for His guidance. Take some time today to write about an attribute of God and why it is amazing to you.

Be Still and Know Him
There are so many things we get by simply being still day to day and learning Who God is. We gain so much from that time and realize so many things about the realities of Who God is in our lives. We learn to rely on Him as our true security in times of the unknown.
We learn that there is truly joy in being close to God because He has given us every reason to be joyful in this life.
We learn that He is our complete protection, as we face the storms, the people who taunt us, the questions we ask ourselves in lack of confidence.
We also learn that He is a peace that passes all understanding, especially in times where being at peace is not a "natural response".

Be still and know that He is God. Your day will be faced with reassurance of Whose you are, and direction on Who to follow in times of the unknown. Open your Word. Open your heart. Open your ears. Be still and know Who your God is in a world of chaos and busyness.

Day 96: Fear to Faith

Day 96
Numbers 29-31; Mark 5:21-43

"You don't want to relive it, but you can't live without it." This was a quote (slightly paraphrased, I bet) that summed up my feelings exactly from a speaker named Melissa Wall, whom I had heard on a retreat. We face terrifying circumstances, yet when we look back at the power that those times placed in our lives to the picture of God, we couldn't imagine how our faith would be without those times. I've been there and I know the faith that those times build, though they are traumatizing. Today, we'll have the opportunity to read about the fears turned to faith from Biblical times.

The festivals were a form of worship for the people to God. They brought sacrifices, like animals and harvests to the Lord, to display their worship to Him. Today, when we give something of value to God, we too display worship to Him. Most ideally, we would give our complete loyalty and faith to Him, allowing Him to provide in our lives more powerfully than we could ever imagine. It is sure hard to let go, however. We fear God won't provide or that He won't give us what we want. However, the truth is if we truly give Him our full lives, He will provide far beyond our expectations. God always knows what we need and when. We just get in the way a lot.

I can't even imagine the thoughts and questions that went through Moses' head every step of the way of his journey. This time, God tells him that before he dies, he must rally the troops to go into battle against the Midianites. I don't know about you, but I would have asked God some questions. "Is this how I will die?" "Are you sure we'll win?" Etc... But Moses, being around the block a few times with God on his side now, obeys and they go to war and win huge. After the war, they divide up their bounty, giving God His share. It is one thing to earn bragging rights in a competition, but to actually give God the glory for all you have earned and that has been given to you is another thing.

What has God given you victory over in terms of your fears that you need to thank Him for? Do you give Him the glory when you tell others about your accomplishments and victories?

The scene that plays out with Jesus in this Mark reading is quite beautiful. Picture the noise and the crowds that invaded as Jesus got off the boat. In the midst of this crowd, comes a man, who is a synagogue leader, named Jairus, who fervently pleads with Jesus to come and heal his very sick daughter. Now, a synagogue leader was much like that of a religious leader - the ones who were trying to nail Jesus to the cross. The humility this man had to find to come to Jesus must have been something great. His fear was set aside, so he could go and ask Jesus to heal his little girl.

If this wasn't enough, a woman strived to make it to touch Jesus' robe. This woman had many things against her. She was a woman, which in this day didn't earn a ton of respect. She was considered unclean as she had been bleeding for twelve years, as it was law for the unclean to be apart from the community in the allotted time to get clean. Yet this woman thought, "if only I can touch His robes." As she did, Jesus knew it. He turned around, asking who had touched Him as the crowds continued to push up against Him. He knew this was an intentional, faith-filled touch, however. I also truly believe that Jesus knew who touched Him, but wanted the faith and the story to come alive not only in the midst of the crowd, but in the heart of that woman, who fearfully makes herself known. But Jesus, reassures her of her faith, and tells her she is well. Her fear turns to faith, and a wonderful testimony of what Christ has done for her.

Meanwhile, message is sent from Jairus' home that his daughter had passed, yet Jesus still wants to go, saying some very important words to Jairus: "Don't be afraid. Just have faith." How many times a day do you need to hear those words? When Jesus arrives, He tells the little girl to get up. How relevant is this statement - "Little girl, get up." I think we fear too much to move. We fear too much to have faith. We error on the side of "impossible" rather than "possible", even when we are told that with Christ all things are possible. I'm not saying He will raise your loved one from the dead here on earth, but He sure can raise them up in a much greater place that this earth.

What fears do you need to lay at the feet of Jesus? How can you be reassured by His amazing power to lead your fear into great faith? Come to Jesus with faith that He will move in your life in mighty ways, even if it isn't in a way you want. Have faith that He will use you in your inabilities. Have faith to serve Him in singleness. Have faith to allow Him to give and take away. Have faith to keep on looking to Him despite the fears you have. Have faith that even if you don't get something from Him, what He does give you is enough. Have faith that He is enough. Turn your fears to faith with Jesus, and give Him the glory for the victories you celebrate. 

Day 80: Worthy Battles

Day 80
Numbers 1-2; 1 Thessalonians 2

I have always been one that shied from conflict. I hated getting people worked up and getting people angry with me. Conflict and fighting have always been things that I avoid most. While I have that "peace-keeping" thing down, I have to remind myself that conflicts are not bad - in fact, they help us grow in our knowledge and view of the world outside of our bubbles. What you do with that conflict is where you get into trouble. I have learned, however, that there is one battle that is always worthy of fighting, and that is the spreading of the Good News to all people.

Numbers opens up to a feel of military organization. God directs the people on how to organize and takes a census of how many people there are per tribe. While I must admit, Numbers isn't my favorite book in the Bible, I can see how it had to be used to organize so many people. The Israelites had faced hardships and frustration, but as we enter into Numbers, we see a shift in the dynamics, as the prepare for battle. I firmly believes that God uses those frustrations and conflicts in our lives to teach us and grow us into facing bigger battles ahead.

One thing you notice about the tribes, is that God ordered them to camp around the Tabernacle, which stood in the center of the camp. This is very symbolic and meaningful as we look at our own lives and consider if we are in fact keeping Christ at the center of everything we do. If we fight alongside Christ, we do not fight in vain. However, if we go about doing our own thing without Christ in the center, we may find ourselves fighting against Him, and we will be fighting that battle forever.

The people of Thessolonica are no different. We read about the suffering that they endured as they formed their lives in Christ. Paul reminds them that it is important to please God, and not people. I personally struggle with this. I find approval from people more than I try to find it in Christ, and that leads to trouble. People change, God never changes. For Paul, sharing the Good News was a battle in Thessolonica. They had to work hard as they proclaimed it. They continued to walk alongside the people, to share something that was of Christ, and not of man. You can sense Paul's relief when he states that the people took the message and ran with it. Though the battle to share the Good News was just that for Paul and the people of Thessolonica, as we read about the persecution they endured, the people knew that it was a battle worthy of all they had.

Do you fight battles against God or with God alongside you? Living in the Word and proclaiming our allegiance to Christ can sure seem hard at times. We as a country are very blessed to be able to worship openly and freely, while there are so many others that aren't so friendly with Christ and worshiping Him openly. The battle to proclaim the Good News, however, is one that should be top of our list as Christ-followers. It is the Hope of the world and the Light in the darkness that can cover this world. Share it. Fight for it.

Day 39- Victory

Day 39

Psalm 20-22

We read David's powerful words to His God, as he celebrates victory over his enemies thanks to God's hand. The power portrayed in David's words give us a glimpse of the God we serve and have by our sides. It is interesting in Psalm 22 where it foreshadows to Jesus' death. David's life felt hopeless, much like that time for Jesus and His disciples, but as you know, victory was the moral of the story, and it can be your story too. 

Have you celebrated the victories God has given you? Whether they are big or small victories, they are worthy of praising Him for them. With the rest of your quiet time, reflect on the victories God has given you. Celebrate and praise Him for them! If you're in a rut, pray for God's victory. Trust in Him to show you a marvelous light through it all!