Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

Yesterday morning two of my three dogs were going nuts barking at a couple of squirrels in a tree. While they were having a fit over those squirrels, beautiful blue birds were gracefully flying back and forth from tree to tree. I couldn’t help but wonder how much beauty and joy I miss out on when I focus on the squirrels of life and not on the cross of Christ.

Where is your gaze resting today?🚦

#FixingOurEyesOnJesus #Focus #Joy #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen

#StoplightDevotionals

“God looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭53:2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

How does one become wise? People typically seek wisdom and understanding through worldly experiences. There is an assumption that a person who is old must be wise, but age alone does not make a person wise. God’s Word tells us wisdom and understanding can be found in the one who seeks God. To seek God is to read and hear His Word, to meditate on and obey the instruction. The person who seeks and loves God with their heart, soul, mind and strength and loves their neighbor as themselves has found the path of wisdom. Are you traveling this road?🚦

#StoplightDevotionals

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Right now, in the crazy swirl of life, it’s easy to lose our perspective of who we are in Christ. There is no striving to be more so that we are loved; “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”(Ro‬ ‭8:1‬)

It may not exactly FEEL like love when we are hung out on the clothesline and beaten with a tennis racquet like a dirty rug, but God loves us so much He shares with us the deepest parts of Him. This means we share in a thimbleful of the suffering He feels when we, His people, do not believe He is who He says He is in scripture, when we “take the bull by the horns” to help God out instead of waiting on Him to show his faithfulness and magnificence in and through the tough times that His name may be glorified. Yes, we are caught in the mix between who we are and who we are becoming, “the now and the not yet,” as Amy Grant sings.

Will you take a few moments to thank God for how He is conforming you to His image and ask Him to give you more faith in Him?🚦

#TheNowAndTheNotYet #CaughtInTheMiddle #Suffering #God’sGlory #Faithfulness #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that He made with you, and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of anything He has forbidden you. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭4:23-24‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

I had a friend once whose opinion about me grew to matter so much to me that I turned this friend into a bit of an idol. She was thinner, had more money, and sported a fabulous wardrobe. And then one day, we were no longer friends, the friendship obliterated in one fell swoop. Hurtful words were spoken, leaving me stunned and surprised.

Over time I came to realize this was an example of God removing one thing or person to replace it with something much better. Bonds were strengthened with others, and these became the iron sharpens iron relationships which point me toward God instead of turning my thoughts elsewhere.

God created us for community, but our community must always point us back to Him. Do you have a community of faithful believers who do this? Do you need to seek out a small group within your church?🚦

#Community #IronSharpensIron #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #DevotionalsForWomen #Devotionals

#StoplightDevotionals



“I have great confidence in you; I have great pride in you. I am filled with encouragement; I am overcome with joy in all our afflictions.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭7:4‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

This morning, a good friend signed off her message to me with, “have an overcomer’s day!” This empowerment hung with me as I chewed on what an overcomer’s day might look like. Even in the midst of incredible difficulties, an overcomer celebrates other’s victories. Overcomers mentally conquer their trials by intentionally finding the good and rejoicing in how God is working in and through the afflictions. This is not faux confidence but is based in the promises of our position as children of the King, joint heirs with Jesus seated at His righteous right hand. He has given you everything you need to finish the battle well.

So straighten that crown, lift your chin and hold your head high as you step into your role today, remembering Whose you are. You are an overcomer!🚦

#ChildOfTheKing #JointHeirsWithJesus #SeatedAtTheRightHandOfGod #StraightenThatCrown #You’reAnOvercomer #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #Devotionals

#StoplightDevotionals

“The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.””

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭6:22-27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Has anyone ever spoken a blessing over you? How did you feel? And did this person know your habit of sin and still ask God to bless you? How much more grateful and loved you felt! Go say a prayer of blessing over someone you think least deserves it. Not only will this bless them, but it will bless you to realize how much you have been given when you deserve nothing. Aren’t you glad God does not give us what we deserve?🚦

#ThePriestlyBlessing #TheLordBlessYouAndKeepYou #TheLordMakeHisFaceShineOnYou #TheBlessing #SpeakLove #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen

#StoplightDevotionals

“And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment — so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:27-28‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Priests used to go in to the temple to offer a blood sacrifice to ask forgiveness for the sin of the people each year. Can you even imagine if Jesus had to suffer and die over and over in order for our sin to be forgiven? Praise God, His grace poured out on the cross one time is a sufficient covering for all our sin—past, present and future! And the most exciting thing ever is that one day He is returning to set up His kingdom and overthrow the powers of darkness in the world. What a glorious day!🚦

#OneDayHe’sComing #He’sComingBack #Messiah #OneTimeForAll

#StoplightDevotionals #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen#

“God, You have heard my vows; You have given a heritage to those who fear Your name.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭61:5‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Maybe you come from a family of Christians living out their faith. If yes, hallelujah! What a gift! If, like many of us, this does not describe your upbringing, be encouraged in this: our Heavenly Father has already provided you with a godly Christian heritage! The moment you asked to receive the gift of forgiveness and set your heart on walking through life in a different way, the Father provided you with your own godly heritage:

Hebrews 11 tells us:

Vs 4 “By faith Abel…”

Vs 5 “By faith Enoch…”

Vs 7 “By faith Noah…”

Vs 8 “By faith Abraham…”

Vs 11 “By faith Sarah…”

Vs 20 “By faith Isaac…”

Vs 21 “By faith Jacob…”

Vs22 “By faith Joseph…”

Vs 23 “By faith Moses…”

Vs 29 “By faith [the Israelites]…”

Vs 31 By faith Rahab…”

Vs 32-38 tells of more amazing feats by men and women of faith who left behind their pasts to seek what is better ahead. Your heritage is the best ever, and many godly men and women who have gone before you are cheering you on in your race!

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭HCSB🚦

#Heritage #FamilyOfGod #RunTheRace #Endurance #CloudOfWitnesses #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #Devotionals

#StoplightDevotionals

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

This week I was battling with a recurring negative thought that was stealing my joy and rendering me semi-functional, at best. A dear friend struggling through her own rough season recognized the issue of my shattered dreams. She helped me with the process of letting go of how I’d thought things could have been so that God could replace the old hopes and dreams with new, better ones.

Perhaps you, too, need to release your failed plans and spend time in prayer and studying God’s Word while you wait on Him for the new one He has for you.🚦

#GoodNews #DoNotBeConformed #BeTransformed #RenewingOfYourMind #RenewYourMind #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #Devotionals

#StoplightDevotionals

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:4-5 NASB‬‬

I’ve talked at other times about the first verse in this passage—about how the path of righteousness will take us through the valley of the shadow of death. But what does the banquet on this road look like?

As a person who loves table settings, I picture a beautifully set, long table with gorgeous linens and fine china. (I’ll stop at those vague details.) But in the last few weeks God has shown me the beautiful faces of friends and family who bring their best dishes, heirloom silver and lovingly crafted foods. Then they sit down with me and speak heartfelt prayers of protection, healing and comfort. Then they clean up after the meal!😉

Do you know someone needing this? Here is just one example of what it looks like, sent in the form of a private message:

“I can only imagine the strain both mental and physical.

Hey if u need anything…Anything at all let me know.

To tired 2 cook….. say “Jill” I just can’t tonight… I’ll whip something up…Cleaning seem overwhelming…. call me I’ll help.

Seriously…anything u need.”

Maybe you can “only” pray, or “just” cook, or “only” be with…this is enough. The banquet table has many chairs, and each one is to be filled by a different guest who brings their unique dish to this dinner of life. 🚦

#TheBanquetTableOfJesusChrist #JustDoIt #ValleyOfTheShadowOfDeath #InThePresenceOfMyEnemies #YouPrepareATableBeforeMe #WomenHelpingWomen #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen#

#StoplightDevotionals