Category Archives: Devotions

THE GIFT OF GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE

October 15, 2024 9:08 pm , Leave a Comment ,

My heart is overflowing with compassionate prayers for the people who are experiencing tragic circumstances due to storms and other disasters. Thankfully, God’s love is being demonstrated through caring people to bring hope, healing, and restoration to the ones who were impacted by recent hurricanes.

With great hope for Christ’s second coming, I’m praying in faith as I focus on the merciful heart of God. We can rest in knowing natural disasters are NOT God’s judgment. We live in a fallen world. No one understands why horrific tragedy can exist. There are things we will never be able to understand in this life.

The Bible promises us that God’s mercy endures forever, and His grace is sufficient to carry us through every hard circumstance.

Psalm 136:1-9 (NKJV) says:

” Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.  Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.  Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever:  To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever;  To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever;  To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, For His mercy endures forever; To Him who made great lights, For His mercy endures forever—The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever;  The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endures forever.”

Psalm 103:8 (NKJV) says: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.”

When tragedies occur in our communities, we can be vessels of Christ’s love and compassion. As followers of Christ, let us arise and share the gift of God’s mercy and grace with the hurting people who have no hope. May we pray fervently for miracles to come forth amidst the despair.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your mercy and grace. Surround the hurting people in America and other countries with Your comforting presence. Draw near to those who have experienced devastation from the hurricanes and bring peace to the ones who have been deeply traumatized. Comfort those who are mourning and bring hope to the ones feeling hopeless.

Send countless workers to help with the rescue and restoration efforts. Let miracles come forth and let supernatural provision continue in the days ahead. Pour out Your Spirit in a mighty way and bring a great revival to Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and every community that’s been affected by the storms. Let Your kingdom come and let Your will be done in our world.  Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Pray boldly! 🌻

Amy

As a side note, “Ooh Child” is one of my favorite songs; it’s a remake of a song first recorded in 1970. I’m sharing the link and hoping it will brighten someone’s day. This version was recorded after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and it was dedicated to the victims of the storm.

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A PENTECOST DEVOTION: PRAISING GOD FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT

May 19, 2024 5:13 pm , Leave a Comment ,

Every day, I’m filled with gratitude for the Holy Spirit. I’m especially grateful today and I’m praising God on this Pentecost Sunday. Without the Holy Spirit it would be impossible to live the Christian life. It’s only through the power of God’s Spirit that we can live the way God designed for us to live.

Galatians 5:22-23 (TLB) says: “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” 

We know we are living by the power of the Holy Spirit when our lives are defined by the fruits of God’s Spirit. If we don’t have God’s Spirit controlling us, then there will be bad fruits in our lives. Thankfully, God’s Spirit-controlled people are able to be the most loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled people in the world as we continually allow God to fill us with His Spirit.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to do everything we’re called to do. Trying to live without the power of the Holy Spirit is like trying to fly a kite without the wind. We don’t need to struggle through life. When we need help, we can simply pray: “Holy Spirit, baptize me and help me.“

Rest in God today and know that through the power of His Spirit, we can live abundant, empowered lives.

Hallelujah.

Happy Pentecost Sunday!

🌻Amy

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LET JESUS BE YOUR JOY

August 10, 2023 2:44 pm , 2 Comments ,

Whatever you are facing today, there is joy to be discovered in Jesus. He is with you. His joy will be your strength as you stay focused on Him.

On this summer day, I can imagine Jesus whispering words of love to the ones looking for hope:

Don’t focus on your problems. Keep your eyes focused on ME. Cling to ME continually. Place your trust in Me, and I will help you. I will sustain you when you feel like giving up. Let MY joy be your strength.”

Ephesians 3:8 (AMP) says: “To me, [though I am] the very least of all the saints (God’s people), this grace [which is undeserved] was graciously given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the incomprehensible riches of Christ [that spiritual wealth which no one can fully understand].”

There are countless spiritual riches to be found in a relationship with Christ. Nothing this world has to offer can satisfy the human soul. No amount of money, no human relationship, no material possession, no accomplishment, no leadership position, no job, no amount of popularity, or anything else can compare to the joy of walking with Christ and knowing Him in a deep way.

My heart longs for every person in the world to experience the inexpressible joy of knowing Christ.

May you turn your eyes toward Jesus, choose joy, and live in the fullness of Christ’s inexhaustible riches. Let Jesus be your joy.

LORD,

Thank You for the glorious spiritual riches You have given us in Christ. Thank You for Your never-ending mercy, grace, and joy. Let us walk closely with You and know You in a deeper way each day. Let us keep our eyes focused on You and trust You to carry us through life. Help us choose joy and let gratitude flow from our hearts every moment of every day. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Enjoy Jesus! 🌻

Amy

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LET GOD’S LOVE LIFT YOUR HEART

April 13, 2023 10:36 pm , Leave a Comment ,

Nothing lifts the heart like God’s love. God has all the answers to your problems. You only need to submit to Him, humble yourself, and pray: “Help me, God.”

James 4:10 (AMP) says:

“Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].”

James 4:7-10 (The Message Bible) says:

“So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him make himself scarce. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.”

Coming to Jesus with a childlike, humble heart in an attitude of repentance is the secret to experiencing an abundant life of peace and joy.

I can imagine Jesus whispering words of love: “Don’t focus on your problems. Keep Your eyes fixed on ME and MY promises. Turn away from the things that bring destruction to your life. Surrender everything to ME and let MY love lift you up.”

LORD,

Thank You for drawing us to our knees when we need a touch from You. Thank You for lifting us up with Your amazing love. Help us surrender to Your will every moment of our lives. Help us never forget that we are nothing without You and Your Spirit. Help us walk in complete humility all the days of our lives. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Let God’s love lift you up today and every day.

 

 

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CELEBRATING & REJOICING IN THE POWER OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

April 9, 2023 12:17 am , Leave a Comment ,

Easter Sunday is a beautiful time to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. And as we grow more deeply acquainted with Christ, we realize that every day is a day to celebrate and experience the power of Christ’s resurrection.

Philippians 3:10-11 (AMP) says:

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] that if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].”

Through a deep relationship with Christ, we can experience the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Christ’s resurrection power floods our soul with joy and peace when we feel like giving up. His resurrection power heals our broken hearts when we’re hurting. His resurrection power gives us strength to endure the most painful circumstances. Christ’s resurrection power delivers us from the demons that try to destroy our lives. His power enables us to forgive and love the people who have mistreated us. There is a never-ending list of the ways we can experience the power of Christ’s resurrection.

Everybody experiences hard battles in life. Pain is an inescapable reality in this world. However, the resurrection of Christ is a reason to dance every single day. When I am facing hard and painful battles, I fall on my knees and cry out to Jesus. As I pour my heart out to the Lord, His resurrection power lifts me up and fills me with supernatural strength. Then I begin to dance in celebration of His amazing love.

May you experience Christ’s resurrection power this Easter and be filled with a great measure of joy.

Our Beloved Jesus,
With every passing day, I am in more awe of You. I will be eternally grateful for Your grace. Thank You for Your indescribable love for mankind. Thank You for being our redeemer and dying an agonizing death so that we can live eternally in Your perfect peace. Help us to surrender to Your will and experience Your resurrection power every day. Help us to always remember the pain you bore for us to be free from sin, death, condemnation, and shame. Help us live with grateful hearts and let our lives be a celebration of Your awesome gift to us. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

I hope you enjoy my all-time favorite worship song. Years ago, I danced so intensely when the song “God’s Great Dance Floor” was sung at the Easter service. The muscles in my legs hurt for a few days from dancing so hard. It was worth it though.

 

You have a reason to dance today: JESUS IS ALIVE.

Hallelujah.

 

 

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REJOICE IN GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE FOR YOU

February 14, 2023 5:48 pm , Leave a Comment ,

Years ago, I saw something that caught my attention and made me think of God’s perfect love toward us. I was driving home from doing errands. As I was making a right turn, I saw a motorcycle and a bicycle turn in front of me. At first, it struck me as really odd because the cyclist was riding so closely behind the motorcycle. But then I could see clearly what they were doing. It was a father and a daughter riding together.

The man looked to be in his forties or fifties. He was riding his motorcycle directly in front of the girl. They were so close together that it looked as though they were touching each other. The girl looked about sixteen. She had on a biker’s shirt similar to what the professionals wear. She was obviously training for a serious race, and her dad was there to help her train. It was like her father was guiding her and protecting her along the way. As I passed by, the dad was turning around to look at his daughter to make sure she was okay.

While driving by them, emotions rose up in my spirit. I saw a picture of how God loves and protects us.

I could hear God’s still, small voice speaking to me in my heart.

He whispered to me so gently. “I love you with an unfailing love like a father loves His child. I go before you to mark the path that is best for you. Stay on the path with Me, and I will keep you in the shadow of My wings.”

I had tears of joy as I drove home thinking about such a beautiful picture of God’s love for us. I realized in that moment of watching the father guiding his daughter on her bike, how we don’t need to move ahead of God, outside of His protective shelter.

Isn’t that amazing to think about? God our Father is continually with us and sheltering us as long as we don’t try to sneak away from His loving guidance. The Bible says God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity (Joel 2:13). As we stay close to God, He will keep us from harm, and make us sing for joy all our days on the earth.

I am praying that you will experience the immeasurable love of God today. May His peace rest upon you, and may you always know you are His beloved daughter or son. Most of all, I pray you will bow before Him and be satisfied in His unfailing love.

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14 (NIV)

“How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36:7 (NIV)

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

If you enjoyed this post, I would love for you to subscribe to receive my posts electronically by entering your email address into the box on the right side of the blog. It says: “Subscribe to Blog via Email.” Thank you so much to those who have already subscribed.

As a side note, I wrote this devotion previously, and it was posted on the ‘Live Abundantly Now’ blog in 2013. The photo design work was created by my daughter.

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LIVING IN THE EXTRAVAGANT GRACE OF GOD

January 2, 2023 4:53 pm , 2 Comments ,

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word, “grace?”  The word evokes many thoughts in my heart. But the very first thought that grace brings to my mind is the God who created the world.

God is grace. The Bible tells us the Lord is gracious and merciful.

Psalm 103:8 says: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. ”

Joel 2:13 says: “And rend your heart and not your garments. Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving-kindness and relenting of evil.”

I consider myself to be gracious and compassionate in the way I think and act. It’s evident in the way people freely confess their sins to me. I’ve had a number of women share their secrets with me about their struggles to remain faithful in their marriages. I’ve learned so much about grace through the confessions of these ladies.

I remember a time when a woman confessed to me that she was considering leaving her husband and family to be with another man. I wept as I prayed for her and asked the Lord, “What should I say to this woman?” I knew it was very important to speak the truth in love. In these types of situations, it is so important to display the heart of God to those who don’t truly know Him. Many times we can blurt out the first thing that pops into our heads such as, Oh my goodness…are you crazy? But I sought the Lord for the words to say to the one tempted to leave her family. And Jesus gave me the perfect words filled with His grace.

Many are confused about grace. Grace is not an excuse for being disobedient—it is a reason to be completely obedient to God. His abounding grace should be what causes us to want to obey Him perfectly.

A child is much more apt to listen to a loving, gracious parent, than to one who screams at them in anger and rage. A child wants to please the loving parent. It’s the same way with the Lord. I obey God’s commands because I know how very much He loves me, and I don’t want to do anything to disturb the closeness I have with Him.

Isaiah 59:2 (Amplified Bible) says: “But your wickedness has separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”

I don’t want to be away from Jesus for even one minute, let alone one hour or a week. He has become everything to me. It’s Christ’s amazing grace that draws me to Him. I would rather have my head served on a platter than do anything that would spoil my fellowship with Jesus. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for me and for all believers to walk in unity with the Lord. My desire is for myself and others to be one with Christ and share His grace with all those we come in contact with.

On the day I talked with the woman about her temptation to leave her family, my words penetrated her heart. She heard through my voice how deeply God loved her, and that He didn’t want her to mess up her life.

I exhaled a breath that felt big enough to knock over a large building when she told me she had chosen to stay in her marriage and make things work with her husband. Many years later, they are happily married. I believe it was the grace of God displayed through my life that helped her make the right choice.

God’s love is abounding. Until the second coming of Christ, may we—His followers—continually display His extravagant grace.

Enjoy Jesus!

Amy

 

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RESTING & ENJOYING GOD’S SUMMERTIME BEAUTY

July 29, 2022 6:24 pm , Leave a Comment ,

Summertime symbolizes so many different things. It’s a time to rest and slow down. It’s a time to enjoy all the beautiful flowers that thrive in the heat. It’s a time to be still and relax in the moments of vacation days.

When I think of all my summertime memories, I think of lying in a hammock with a good book. I think of picnics and watermelons.

I think of jumping in the refreshing, cool water after a jog. I think of crossing the finish line at the Peachtree Road Race. I think of fireworks on the Fourth of July. I think of catching fireflies in a jar and playing ‘hide-and-seek’ with the kids when they were growing up.

I think of camping and walking on the beach at dusk. I think of romance. I think of candlelight dinners on the porch. I think of the sweetness of fresh blueberries and the sunflowers coming into full bloom.

I have countless memories of summer days. But most of all, summertime reminds me of Jesus. He draws us into rest. He calls us to slow down and find refreshment in Him. He gives us more excitement than a fireworks show and carries us through to the finish line when we’re struggling to carry on. He makes life beautiful in the same way that summertime brings forth vibrant flowers.

Christ brings perfect rest to the soul and beckons us to lean into Him when we’re weary.

On this beautiful summer day, I can imagine Jesus whispering: “Come to Me and find what your soul is longing for. Come and find rest in your spirit and mind. I am here waiting to embrace you with My love.”

Are you enjoying the rest that comes from leaning into Christ? I pray you will enjoy all the beauty of summer and experience the sweetness of God’s unwavering love.

🌻🌻🌻

If you enjoyed this post, I would love for you to subscribe to receive my posts electronically by entering your email address into the box on the right side of the blog. It says: “Subscribe to Blog via Email.” Thank you so much to those who have already subscribed.

This post is a revised piece that I wrote and posted previously.

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CHOOSE JOY & LIVE FULLY EVERY DAY

May 13, 2022 2:36 pm , 2 Comments ,

Are you enduring hardships at this moment? I want to encourage you to look away from the cares of this world and keep your focus on Jesus.

While seeking to know God’s heart, I learned that true joy is birthed through a close relationship with Christ. My life is proof that it is possible to have immense joy while experiencing hard things. It was during the most excruciating season that I found the most intense joy.

Jesus is joy.

Whatever you are facing today, there is joy to be discovered in Jesus. He is with you. He will reveal His love to you in unimaginable ways if you seek Him with all your heart.

Press toward God like never before, and you will find immeasurable joy in Jesus.

On this beautiful day, I can imagine Jesus whispering words of love to the world:

“Don’t look to the left or to the right. Look straight ahead. Keep your eyes fixed on ME. I will sustain you. Know that I am for you. If I am for you then you don’t need to worry. Let the joy you find in ME carry you.”

May you turn your eyes toward Jesus and bask in His love. I hope you will choose joy and live fully every day.


If you enjoyed this post, I would love for you to subscribe to receive my posts electronically by entering your email address into the box on the right side of the blog. It says: “Subscribe to Blog via Email.” Thank you so much to those who have already subscribed. 
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CHRIST IS RISEN!

April 17, 2022 9:50 am , Leave a Comment ,

Years ago, I was pondering what I thought Jesus would want to say to us at Easter time, and these words flooded into my heart:

“I am risen! Celebrate My resurrection. Come live fully in Me every moment of every day. Don’t give one thought to the difficulties of life on the earth. You can rest in knowing these are light and momentary troubles compared to the glory of HEAVEN. Keep your eyes fixed on Me and on eternal things not seen. As you live in Me, you will rise up on eagles’ wings and soar continually. Don’t be afraid of anything I ask you to do. Simply obey Me. Live in the fullness of My joy. Shout to the world of My goodness. Glorify My name so that those in need of Me will know the truth of who I am. Let this day be a day of new beginnings—a day to rejoice in My perfect love for you. My heart longs for you, My beloved bride. I am coming back for you and will live with you for all eternity. Come with Me to high places and never stop singing praises over all you have found in the gift of the cross.”

I pray that you are inspired to trust Jesus more in the coming days. May your soul be refreshed as you celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

Happy Easter!

Amy 🌻🌻🌻

If you enjoyed this post, I would love for you to subscribe to receive my posts electronically by entering your email address into the box on the right side of the blog. It says: “Subscribe to Blog via Email.” Thank you so much to those who have already subscribed.

This post is a shortened piece that I posted previously.

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