Peace Through Times Of Grief And Loss Written by Priscilla Henley on 08/25/2021 Series: Weekly Devotionals
John 14:27 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Do you have an understanding of the difference between worldly peace and peace from Jesus? Honestly, up until last week, I did not quite get it. Now I understand, and I am thankful that I do.
On August 21, 2021, my husband and I had to make a difficult decision that we did not see coming. Our precious cat Leo had a sudden decline in his health beginning at the end of July 2021. My husband and I tried to get Leo all the treatment that he needed. We prayed for him to recover. But, unfortunately, his health continued to decline, and we could not bear to see him in pain with such a poor quality of life. We decided to put our furbaby to sleep.
I have to be honest. The last several days have hurt deeply. I have shed so many tears that I began to get horrible headaches and nausea. Leo has been my companion for over 12 years. He acted as an emotional support pet for me. During the many years that I struggled with mental illness, he was always right by my side.
He brought me peace. But, little did I know there is a greater peace that is unlike the world. Worldly peace requires the absence of conflict and struggle, while Godly peace is consistent in any circumstance. Leo could not leave with me the peace he often gave me. However, when Jesus ascended into heaven, he did!
So the lesson I learned is this; though I am grieving a loss, I neither need to be troubled nor afraid. No matter what situation that I find myself in.
As believers, we have a constant flow of the peace of God through the power of The Holy Spirit who lives within us. This peace regulates our heart and mind. Even if you believe you have lost the very thing that you feel gives you the most peace. Do not be discouraged. Do not be afraid. God is and has always been there. Peace from Jesus is the greatest that you will ever know or experience.
I rejoice that I have no reason to feel like I lost my peace. God’s peace has always been with me. As I continue with my life, I will rely on the peace of God to sustain me through everything I face. I thank God for Leo, but I thank Him even more for being a faithful ever-present God. I have peace through this time of grief and loss. I pray, I read God’s Word, I worship and more!
I encourage you to do the same. Let us accept the peace that Jesus desires to give us. We will never have a reason to be troubled or afraid.
Pray this week:
Dear God,
Thank you for every person and every pet of peace that you have brought into my life. I thank you even more for your peace and comfort. What you give is true and can not be taken from me. Always fill me with a desire for you. Teach me to call on the Holy Spirit when I feel myself slipping into fear. Help me to remember your peace and all it can be in my life.
It’s Faithful Friday! I discuss how I build trust in God through journaling I go through the steps that I take to journal my worries, fears, and concerns that I ultimately trust God with. Learn how to journal your way to trusting God more.
Firm Footing In Christ Written by Priscilla Henley on 08/16/2021 Series: Weekly Devotionals
Psalm 143:10
10 Teach me to do what you want, because you are my God. Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
As believers, we all experience difficulty walking in the will of God at some point during our journey. Consider that particular transgression that you constantly try to free yourself from, but you can’t seem to stop the cycle.
In Psalm 143:10, David’s prayer is to be taught to do the will of God instead of his own. He understands that he needs God’s Spirit to lead him to “level ground.” This passage proves that doing God’s will is something we are unable to do on our own. The Holy Spirit teaches us to do the will of God. We need transformation by the renewing of our minds to have a firm footing. We cannot walk in obedience in our strength. We have to be taught, changed, and strengthened by the precious Holy Spirit.
So, let’s pray like David did to be taught to do right. The Holy Spirit is with us to guide us in a life set apart for God. Stay connected to God through prayer, reading the Word, hearing the Word, praise, and worship. Maintaining your connection will lead your life into the will of the Father if you are sincere.
Firm footing in Christ comes through the Holy Spirit.
Pray this week:
Dear God,
Just like David did, I ask you to teach me to do your perfect will. Holy Spirit lead me forward in my Christian walk. Plant my feet on level ground and transform my life. I want to do what you want at all times. I repent and stand ready to walk in your path for me.
It’s Faithful Friday! Today I discuss overcoming loneliness and seeking God in times of loneliness. I discuss how David handled his loneliness in the barren wilderness of Judah. This account is located in Psalm 63 of the Holy Bible. Enjoy the video!
Nourishing Spiritual Milk Written by Priscilla Henley on 08/09/2021 Series: Weekly Devotionals
1 Peter 2:2-3
2 'Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.'
There have been times in my journey as a believer when spiritual growth was not happening. Reflecting, I realize I wasn’t immersing myself in nourishing spiritual milk, the Word of God. Of all things, I was feeding myself with secular music lyrics, sinful storylines on reality tv, and ungodly social media posts. Garbage in, garbage out.
Have you found yourself consuming worldly content as I once did? If yes, consider how your spiritual maturity has been affected. Also, honestly ask yourself if you have been growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ.
When we become believers, we have “tasted of the Lord’s kindness,” which led us to choose salvation. We are spiritually newborns in our faith. For us to grow, we need nourishment just as physical newborn babies do.
The spiritual milk God has provided us with is His very Word. Many of us initially have such a hunger for it that we can’t get enough.
Unfortunately, when the initial excitement of our new life begins to settle, we become engrossed in our natural lives. Worldly contentment leads many of us to neglect reading the Word of God.
When this happens, we are not spiritually growing as Christians. And sadly, the lack of spiritual growth causes us to miss out on the “full experience of salvation.”
Neglecting to read the scriptures is unfortunate. For many people, it is the truth, however. I encourage you to read your Bible daily. It could be a bite-size piece of the Word from a scriptural devotional like this one or a passage of scriptures directly from the Bible. Utilizing reading plans is also helpful for journeying through the scriptures.
The bottom line is that God has given you and me a complete nutritious resource for spiritual growth. The question is, will you continue nursing on the Word of God regularly or starve yourself?
Here’s your challenge:
Get in the Word of God. Look at your schedule and prioritize reading the Bible as a daily necessity. Treat it just as you do eating three meals a day.
Your spiritual growth depends on the Lord’s Word to flourish!
Pray this week:
Dear Father God,
I want to grow as a believer. Thank you for providing me with spiritual milk to do so. Show me how to prioritize Bible reading into my day. Please help me never stop craving your precious Word.
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