June 2021 – Daily Devo Time

Daily Devotional for June 30, 2021 – Trusting God’s process…and living in the shelter of His love and protection

Psalm 91:7-16
Though a thousand fall at my side, though ten thousand are dying around me, the evil will not touch me. I will see how the wicked are punished, but I will not share it. For Jehovah is my refuge! I choose the God above all gods to shelter me. How then can evil overtake me or any plague come near? For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will steady you with their hands to keep you from stumbling against the rocks on the trail. You can safely meet a lion or step on poisonous snakes, yes, even trample them beneath your feet!

For the Lord says, “Because he loves me, I will rescue him; I will make him great because he trusts in my name. When he calls on me, I will answer; I will be with him in trouble and rescue him and honor him. I will satisfy him with a full life and give him my salvation.”

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

As I write this, hundreds of people are anxiously awaiting news of loved ones who are missing after the collapse of a high-rise condo building in Surfside, Florida. A handful of survivors have been rescued, but some 150+ people are unaccounted for several days after the incident. Actor and entertainer Bill Cosby has been released from prison on a technicality that resulted in his conviction on sexual assault against scores of women. Two dear friends and loved ones are searching for their dogs…beloved pets that have gone missing.

Many other friends and loved ones are grieving recent losses that have left them heartsick and feeling lost and empty. A prayer group I follow on Facebook is lifting an entire family who has COVID, including a 4-lb. premature newborn rushed to Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the young mother, who is now on a ventilator.

At first glance, this passage from Psalm 91 would seem to imply that those who “live right” will not have troubles. God will protect them from the dangers of an unsafe residential high rise. He will mete out justice against a man who committed such heinous assaults on innocent women. The LORD will even protect us, our children and our pets from any and all harm, danger, or disease. In truth, God doesn’t work this way. Troubles will come. This passage is meant to assure us that even in these trials and tribulations, God is with us – and answering our prayers. And we are right to call on Him continually.

Hear this…your life is not going to be trouble free. God is not going to make everything perfect for any of us. He is going to guide us and guard us…and for every heartache and difficulty we endure, God likely shielded us from a thousand more. What He does allow in our lives is always designed to strengthen our faith and trust in Him. Yes, God cares about us…and He does not desire that we grieve or suffer in any manner. God is the most loving Father we could ever imagine.

So when hardships do come, call on God to strengthen and guide you. Believe that He is with you every step of the way, shielding you in the shadow of His loving arms. Trust that because of God’s amazing care and protection, we can endure all that the devil and his agents throw at us.

Pray for miracles and favorable outcomes…believe that God is in the business of healing, protection, and giving us long, abundant, joyful lives. Thank God for the privilege of His continual presence in your life…and call on Him in every circumstance. Trust in His process…and His answers, as He cares for us perfectly.

We truly do live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods. Call on Him to be in the middle of every situation and circumstance – and thank Him for His answers. Hallelujah! Amen!

Daily Devotional for June 29, 2021 – Finding a shady place of refuge…calling on God to shield you with His wings

Psalm 91:1-6
We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods.

This I declare, that he alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. For he rescues you from every trap and protects you from the fatal plague. He will shield you with his wings! They will shelter you. His faithful promises are your armor. Now you don’t need to be afraid of the dark anymore, nor fear the dangers of the day; nor dread the plagues of darkness, nor disasters in the morning.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Now that the summer heat has arrived with a vengeance, I’ve figured out several ways to protect myself as we take our walks every other day. I wear a hat and sunscreen. I carry a bottle of water in my fanny pack. We try to walk at times of the day – and in places – where there is at least some semblance of shade.

One of our routes is on an access road alongside a nature trail near our neighborhood. Along this trek, there are several stretches where trees hang over the road and provide a nice canopy of shade. But there is a particular area that always brings me incredible peace when I walk there – in every season.

This stretch of road slopes steadily downward on one end, alongside a creek that flows over big rocks after a heavy rain (and slows to a trickle at other times). The trees arch over this roadway so thickly that this time of year, it almost seems as if you step from broad daylight into the dark of evening dusk, and the temperature drops noticeably by several degrees.

In spring, the trees burst with buds and bright green leafy sprouts. In summer, the canopy of shade is so dark that I must remove my sunglasses, and I enjoy the marked change in temperature. Fall brings a burst of color, as red, yellow and orange leaves shimmer in the sunlight. Winter has its own beauty. The trees show their barren shapes…and if we happen to have a snowfall, the quiet impressiveness of the white blanket on everything brings its own sense of peace and solitude.

On the return trek, we must climb back up the hill and into the sunlight. But as we approach, light wafts softly through the trees and illuminates the leaves and branches. It’s as if – coming and going – God is saying, “I’m here, shielding and sheltering you. Look at this beauty and splendor…it’s all to remind you Who I am and how much I love you.” The struggle of that hill reminds me that God is with me even in troubles and dangers. No matter what is happening in my life, this stretch of our route always provides me with a sense of safety and refuge – and assurance that God’s wings are shielding me even in the harshness of the heat and sunlight – or the bitter cold of winter.

My prayer is that you have a mental image of a peaceful refuge…a place of safety where you are keenly aware of God’s presence and protection. Call on this image often. Whisper to God and ask Him to come into your situation and circumstance and give you His perfect shelter and shield. Trust Him in all things. Live with the assurance that His promises are constant and solid…and we always rest in the safety of His wings. Hallelujah!

Daily Devotional for June 28, 2021 – Getting out of “Spiritual Time Out” – and truly communicating with God

Psalm 66:17-18
For I cried to him for help with praises ready on my tongue. He would not have listened if I had not confessed my sins.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

I’m watching a series on AppleTV called “Becoming You.” This program chronicles the first five years in the lives of children around the world – noting universal similarities in their growth and development. The episode I am watching now is about making friends and cultivating relationships. One of the interesting explanations was about how babies begin to be able to visually focus somewhere around the eight-week mark. By age six months, they have learned to use eye contact – and laughing – to garner positive attention. Moreover, babies bond with the person who offers them the most eye contact – parents AND other adults – and they count on the response from these people to assure them that all is well.

Think about your relationship with God. How do you get His attention? Now think about how a parent might actually ignore a toddler’s temper tantrum…or say to the child when he/she is misbehaving, “I’m not talking to you until you stop XYZ.” This doesn’t mean that the parent/adult does not love the child…or that any harm would be allowed to come to him/her. Consider it more of a “Time Out.” And when it comes to our relationship with God, some of us have been in “Time Out” by our own volition for a long, long time!

We can change this – here…now…TODAY! We can humbly petition God and confess our wrongdoings. We can pour out our heart and admit that we have not followed His will and listened to His commands. We can experience the instant relief that comes from releasing our sins to our Heavenly Father, and feeling Him draw near to us.

I don’t know about you, but I know when I have offended God, and it’s an awful feeling. I do not like being in “Spiritual Time Out”…and I bet you don’t either. I want to smile in God’s direction and feel His immediate response. I want to call on Him for whatever is on my heart and know that I have His undivided attention. I do not take this privilege lightly, so I pepper my prayers with genuine thanks, praise and appreciation. And I always ask Him to work on me…and to correct and forgive any sinful thoughts, words and actions that may have crept into my head and heart.

I am keenly focused on God, and I revel in the attention of the One who is above all others. This is the day to get out of “Time Out” and feel God’s eyes looking back at you…to sense that His ears are trained on your every plea…and to give Him praise for such amazing love and kind devotion. Hallelujah!

Daily Devotional for June 27, 2021 – Living in the shadow of God’s wings…and praising him night and day!

Psalm 63:5-8
I will sing joyful praises
and be filled with excitement
like a guest at a banquet.
I think about you
before I go to sleep,
and my thoughts turn to you
during the night.
You have helped me,
and I sing happy songs
in the shadow of your wings.
I stay close to you,
and your powerful arm
supports me.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

We got groceries today. You are probably thinking, “So what?! I get groceries every few days to a week.” Since right after the pandemic began, Greg and I have used Walmart grocery pickup in a nearby city for acquiring the bulk of our groceries. When Greg returns with the “bounty,” I always have a sense of abundance as I put away the things we purchased.

This system is not perfect. Sometimes, items are not available – or the substitutions are not to our liking. A handful of times, items were missing – and there are a few things we cannot get, because this particular store/service does not offer them. But we have learned to adapt and “make do.” And here’s the really important thing…we have not missed a single meal!

God has provided for us in countless ways each and every day, and we are incredibly grateful and give Him continual praise. I would venture to suggest that each one of us has endured some challenges – and even struggles – over the last eighteen months-plus. But here we are…still alive and putting one foot in front of the other. Let’s recognize that this is God’s doing – not our own. He is strengthening us above and beyond what we can humanly accomplish under our own power.

We rest and breathe in the shadow of God’s wings – and because of the support of His powerful arm. Let’s remember to think of Him all throughout the day – and night – and to sing happy songs of joyful praise for this amazing gift. Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for June 26, 2021 – Calling on the strength and shield of God…He will do the heavy lifting!

Psalm 55:22
Give your burdens to the Lord. He will carry them. He will not permit the godly to slip or fall.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A few days ago, a friend of ours suffered a heart attack. He is recovering well and receiving good medical care. But as our friend’s wife shared the details of what happened, she said repeatedly that it never occurred to her that her husband might die. As she described her thoughts and actions, I told her, “You were in shock. God shielded you.” My mother used to tell me that God shields us from experiencing more than we can handle in any given moment. And I have seen this happen over and again.

Not only does God shield and protect us…He shoulders the big burdens. There have no doubt been moments in your life when you felt like life was all too much…that you could not possibly bear what was happening to you – or you could not take a single thing more. Maybe that is the case for you this very day. The GOOD NEWS is that God will carry your burdens. He will not allow you to be overcome, even though it may feel like this is happening for a time.

I would not tell you this if I did not believe it. In fact, I have firsthand knowledge of God’s protection and “shield.” Romans 12:12 says, “Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always.” Call on God to help you with your burdens. Ask Him to shield you, confident that He is already doing this. Be patient – and give Him room to work.

A lot of people are hurting and struggling right now. They need the hope and promise of God’s continual protection and care. Perhaps you are one of them. Don’t hesitate to ask God to take your burdens. He will shoulder the heavier load and shield you from more than you can bear. For this we give Him all glory and praise. Hallelujah! Amen!

Daily Devotional for June 25, 2021 – Prayer is good medicine – are you getting your daily dose?

Psalm 55:16-17
But I will call upon the Lord to save me—and he will. I will pray morning, noon, and night, pleading aloud with God; and he will hear and answer.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

When my grandmother Polly still lived at home, I would go over each week and set out her medications in daily compartments. She had three color coded plastic containers with daily compartments…something like white for breakfast, blue for lunch, and pink for dinner. I put the proper pills for each day of the week in the appropriately marked boxes and set them on her dining room table. She knew that three times a day, she was to open the correct box and take the pills inside.

You and I have all kinds of routines in our lives. Sometimes, we set alarms to remind us of them (such as when to take a pill). But we do it! So why can’t we do this with prayer? Why can’t we make such an important use of our time an established habit – even if we have to set an alarm – and spend a few minutes talking to God? I’m not suggesting that we get so rote with our prayers that they become meaningless…or that we literally have to pray at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Additionally, I don’t mean to imply that spontaneous prayer is unnecessary. There are plenty of times when we need to stop and pray in that very moment.

My point is that prayer works…and we probably don’t pray often enough! We are smart human beings. We can attach our prayers to other rituals of our day. Pray while you brush your teeth…take your walk…shower…or whatever works for you. But make daily conversations with God a habit you never break. God is listening. He wants us to call on Him, and He will hear and answer.

Don’t let a single day go by without talking to God – and hearing what He has to say in return. Consider this practice as critical as taking the pills in your daily compartments. We wouldn’t dream of missing those, so why are we treating the best “medicine” in the world any differently?!

Daily Devotional for June 24, 2021 – God may not give us everything on our “list,” but He will give us everything we need!

Psalm 5:1-3
O Lord, hear me praying; listen to my plea, O God my King, for I will never pray to anyone but you. Each morning I will look to you in heaven and lay my requests before you, praying earnestly.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Our nephew, Nathan, visited us yesterday and today. After we said our night-time prayers, Nathan was rattling off all he planned to do today, and he said, “Debbie, I know we will get to do all of it, because when you prayed, you asked God to give us a good day and help us do all the fun things.” I reminded Nathan that when we pray, God decides what is best for us, and this is how He answers. So if God thought we should get to do EVERYTHING on his list, this would happen. If not, God would choose what He felt was best for us. Nathan’s face fell, but I’m pretty sure God thought we should do it all…and then some! Nathan’s mother has already texted to say he is “passed out cold” and apparently had a good time! Something tells me that his Aunt Debbie and Uncle Greg may have an early evening, as well!

We are right to lay our requests before God, whether we do this in the morning, evening, or both – and many times in between. But we must remember that God answers according to His perfect plans, not ours. When we pray with this understanding, we never lack. We may wish God had given us XYZ – or allowed certain situations and circumstances to play out differently. But as we grow in our faith and learn to trust God enough to say, “Your will, not mine” – and mean it – we are never truly disappointed with God’s responses, which are right on time and perfect in every way.

Some of us are “fixers” by nature, so we find it hard to say, “This is in God’s hands” – and leave it there. But the more you practice this…the more you converse with God and trust His responses…the easier you will find it becomes to rest in His answers and rely on His timing. I am sometimes impatient and wish that God would move more quickly. But in many instances, I’ve seen how His timing was important…and I am learning to trust Him even more in all instances – and to begin each morning with an earnest request for Him to handle the details of my day.

Spend time each day in prayer, and trust God’s responses. He is waiting to hear your every petition – and answer perfectly. We must acknowledge God’ sovereignty – and His tenacious love and care for us – and keep calling on Him with complete faith in His responses. You may not “get everything on the list,” but God will always give you everything you truly need. Hallelujah!

Daily Devotional for June 23, 2021 – Hello, God…are you there?

Psalm 34:17
Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,
ready to rescue you.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

Have you ever called someone on the phone, and while talking, you forgot what you were going to say? Or maybe you became emotional and unable to speak for a few minutes. Sometimes, when we are talking, there is a period of silence…and we may even wonder aloud if the other person is still on the line…”Are you there?”

There are times in our lives when we can’t verbalize our thoughts while talking to God, for any number of reasons. And perhaps you have felt this way – even today. The Bible tells us that when words won’t come…when we cannot express what is on our heart, God hears our “groans” and utterances. And surely, when we are crying for help – even in our own heads and hearts – God is listening and will rescue us.

If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot string together what you would consider a “decent prayer,” simply whisper, “Come, Lord Jesus” or “God, help me.” Sit quietly with God and just say, “I need you.” He is always there…and He will answer perfectly. Wait for His response, which will surely arrive and meet you right where you are. This is a great assurance…the hope we have in our Heavenly Father that He is always ready to rescue us and meet our needs with perfection.

Regardless of how you call on God today, make the call, and trust His answers. Hallelujah! Amen!

Daily Devotional for June 22, 2021 – Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!

Psalm 23:1-6
Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!

He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me new strength. He helps me do what honors him the most.

Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.

You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow!

Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The 23rd Psalm is a great example of how the same verses in God’s word can speak to us in different ways, depending on the day – or “season” in our lives. I have used this passage as the basis for a funeral eulogy. I have shared these words to encourage others – or to bear witness to God’s unending devotion and faithful love and care of us. And today, these same verses spoke to my present “season” – and how God is hearing my prayers.

Tomorrow, my niece and I will sign papers to sell the home my parents built in 1959, when I was two years old – and my sister, Suzanne was not quite to her first birthday. We will also sign the papers to close my sister’s estate, following her sudden death last November. The journey to get to this point has had “meadows and streams” – and trips through the “valley of death.”

We have remembered with fondness the delicious food and fellowship shared on my parents’ property…and it comforts us to think that a new family might enjoy many happy times of their own. We have poured through “trash and treasures” – and looked at countless files and photographs that remind us of those who are already feasting at God’s table in Heaven, where we will join them someday.

Even as we have worked through challenges and heartaches in the last year, we have hope, because we have the Lord as our Shepherd. Truly, we have everything we need. We will be calling on Him continually to bless us…to help our hearts to heal…and to sustain us with happy memories in the days ahead. God’s goodness and unfailing kindness are with us in great abundance. I see this everywhere I look, and I am truly grateful. I am particularly humbled and thankful for God’s promise of a “forever home” with Him someday.

So this day, I pray for God’s presence and peace. I ask Him to bring joy and happy memories to the forefront…and to sustain me in the low moments. I thank God that I can come to Him with everything – and trust Him to guide me perfectly along meadows and streams – and through dark valleys – with incomparable sustenance and protection. I trust God to guide and guard the next chapter of my life…and all the “seasons” yet to come, until it is my turn to take a seat at the Heavenly table.

My prayer is that you will also trust God with everything…talk to Him often…and live with unwavering hope for your future, both earthly and heavenly. Because the Lord is my Shepherd, we really do have everything we need! Hallelujah!

Daily Devotional for June 21, 2021 – A private audience with God…He always takes our “call”

Psalm 18:6
In my distress I screamed to the Lord for his help. And he heard me from heaven; my cry reached his ears.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

In a few days, Nathan is going to visit us for a sleepover. He has counted the days until he could come and spend the night with us – and have our undivided attention. Timothy, Zola and Nathan love to visit us anytime they get a chance, whether collectively or by themselves. But we all enjoy the “one-on-one” times with the children, where they have a “private audience” with us – and vice versa.

Perhaps you have said of someone you know or love, “I would like to have just a few minutes alone with him/her, without the distractions or interruptions of other people in the mix.” This is the privilege we enjoy with God. When we call to Him, God drops everything to speak with us…individually and unencumbered. We are the only person in the room, as far as God is concerned. We have His undivided attention.

I don’t know how God does it…but I know this is true. Other translations of this verse refer to “heaven” as God “coming out of His temple.” In other words, when we call on the name of the LORD, He stops what He is doing and pays full attention to us. Think of it as answering your door when someone knocks, and you greet them and step outside on your front steps to address that person. He/she has your full attention in that moment. And when we call on God, we have His complete consideration – for as long as we want/need.

In a world filled with distractions and “noise,” this is incredibly comforting to me. I imagine the “din” of prayers reaching Heaven each second as truly deafening. Yet GOD is able to discern each and every voice…to stop what He is doing and hear you, me and others individually – and with incessant and undivided attention.

God is never too busy…He is always “at Home.” God has all the time in the world for you and me. God always, always takes our call – and He’s waiting to hear from you even now! Hallelujah!

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