“But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May You shelter them, and may those who love Your name boast about You. For You, Lord, bless the righteous one; You surround him with favor like a shield.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5:11-12‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

The Psalms often encourage us to take refuge in God, and one of the bonuses is the joy He gives us. As we repeatedly take shelter in Him, He weaves the story of His faithfulness in our lives, giving us an indescribable joy. Who are you telling about the favor He has shown to you?

“…and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”

Romans 5:2🚦

#IndescribableJoy #Refuge #BoastInTheHopeOfTheGloryOfGod

#DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:1‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

In my attempt to get home one evening after staying late at work, I made it only as far as my car before a bad storm hit. I immediately pulled under the cover of the drive thru at the bank next door and positioned my car as close as I could beside the building to protect me and Soobie2 (yes, my car has a name) from the high winds, rain, and hail. That strong, brick building was much better suited to handle the weather than was my car.

God became man to pay the penalty for all our sins so that we could have the privilege of a relationship with Him. He is a safe place to take shelter in life’s storms, and His Name is where we find refuge and victory.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous person runs into it and is safe.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬🚦

#TheNameOfTheLord #TheNameOfTheLordIsAStrongTower #Shelter #Refuge #Storm #Protection #ProtectionOfTheMostHigh #ShadowOfTheAlmighty #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals



“Lord, You have been our refuge in every generation. Before the mountains were born, before You gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, You are God.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭90:1-2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Gianna’s teenage daughter Raye Anne is brilliant, so say all the standardized tests. Scholarship offers began funneling in at the beginning of her junior year of high school. There’s this one little problem though: Raye Anne began battling depression 6 months ago. While she is getting help, her interest in turning in homework and going to class is waning. Scholarship opportunities seem to be flitting away.

What is a mom to do with all the hopes and dreams she had stored up for child when she watches one bad decision following another bad decision?

Every single day you and I have the choice of where to place our faith. We can choose to believe in the God of the universe who created this world and everything in it, or we can believe in fear and the lies and untruths the world tells. We cannot see either one, and both require faith. I’m going with God. I’m placing my faith where there is a proven, positive track record.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭HCSB‬‬🚦

When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground.

Acts 27:39 NLT

Have you ever found yourself lost, in a place you’ve never been, unable to recognize anything familiar? Sometimes this lost feeling is a physical reality, and yet at other times it is a mental state. As with Daylight Savings, it’s easy to feel discombobulated when the whole day is thrown out off by an hour difference, a new location or the processes totally changed.

No matter the craziness around you, none of these things surprise God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, You will never find yourself lost when you remain in Him. 🚦

“And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:27-28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A solid part of my growing up, formative years were spent living in a low-income neighborhood in the near south side of Fort Worth, Texas. Even in that community of mixed skin tones, the issue of racism was pervasive. Never was it more apparent, however, in multiple directions, as when busing initiatives hit in 1973, completely flipping the racial mixes in schools throughout the city. No one was really prepared for what to expect in such racially charged times. Those three middle school years were terrifying, beautiful and challenging all at once. But the take-home lesson is that there is no place for racism in Christianity. Just as we are reconciled to God through the saving work of Christ on the cross, we are each responsible for carrying out the conciliatory work amongst our sisters and brothers of all shades, origins, and physical and mental barriers.

If you are hungry for more information on this topic, follow the link below to a terrific podcast. 🚦

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/honest-conversations-heartstrong-faith/id1466623044?i=1000455906797

#Racism #TearDownThoseWalls #Let’sStartTalking #HonestConversations #Bussing #GrowingUpInTheSeventies #SouthsideFortWorth #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“How can any good come of this,” you ask, understandably, when you lose your job right before Christmas, when your spouse receives a life-threatening diagnosis, or when your daughter is arrested…again. Right now, you and I can only see the picture sitting in front of us, but it is only a single frame in a whole movie. At just the right time we will see through the master photographer’s lens with the filter of eternity.

“Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:9-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬🚦

#UnknownOutcome #SilverFrameInTheMotionPicture #FilterOfEternity #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say. I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people. My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.

Psalm 17:3-5 NLT

Resolve. The psalmist clearly indicates his deliberate intention to not sin, to stay on the straight and narrow path without swerving to the right or to the left. Like Job, the psalmist believes his unwavering faithfulness in following God’s precepts will lead to him being vindicated. Not only will he be found “not guilty” by a jury of his peers, but, in fact, he believes he will be exonerated.

Have you yourself ever maintained both this level of confidence and the unswerving, single-minded focus on a God-honoring lifestyle? We often think we have been wrongly attacked, but how often are we rightfully bold enough to step out on faith to say to God, “Yo, God, Ive done everything you asked. Please deliver me from the attacks of the enemy.” Maybe each of us should resolve to walk in a close connection with the Holy Spirit such that we would be found blameless before our accusers.🚦

#Resolve #Resolution #Intention #Determined #Blameless #Devotionals #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #StoplightDevotionals

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

Isaiah 58:6-7 NLT

Why do we often prefer to give money to an organization far away to help the poor and needy rather than to reach out ourselves to those in need into our own backyards? According to one mission organization president, when we get our hands dirty helping those right around us, it’s not neat and tidy and perfectly defined like a $25/month commitment. We don’t know where the need will end, if ever, and it’s hard to set boundaries.

Yet, this is exactly what God calls us to do–to feed the hungry, give shelter to the homeless, and clothe those who need it. And we are not to duck tail and run from our relatives who need help. We may have to forego some of our own comfort to reach out in this way and give a hand up. Yes, God calls believers out of our zones of familiarity and ease. Where do you see a need today?🚦

#Fasting #FeedTheHungry #ShelterTheHomeless #PoorAndNeedy #LeaveYourComfortZone #DoHardThings #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Have you ever asked God to take away an illness, a physical problem or a difficulty, expecting your healing as you claimed, “By his wounds we are healed?” You are not alone, as many have begged God for relief only to be disappointed and lose faith when they didn’t receive the victory they hoped for. To be sure, some DO get a physical healing, but many are left wondering “why not me?”

Whatever the infirmity that’s plagued the apostle Paul, he was never relieved of it. Instead, he learned to lean into God to be his strength when his own strength was gone. Do you need to press into God to be your strength, your hope, your help in the midst of your challenges?🚦

#Stronger #MyGraceIsSufficientForYou #MyPowerIsMadePerfectInWeakness #ByHisWoundsWeAreHealed #DevotionalsForWomen# #ChristianWomen #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your records?”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭56:8‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

The health problem that threatens your livelihood and peace of mind—He is there.

The broken relationship that still has you torn in pieces—He is there.

The financial burden that is too heavy to bare—He is there.

The God of the universe created you, loves you, and calls you His own. God is for you. You are not alone.

Do you need to reach out to Him today?🚦

#HeKnows #TearsInABottle #BrokenRelationships #FinancialBurden ##ChristianWomen #StoplightDevotionals #Devotionals