“Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God. I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42:5-6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Is the water you are walking through a little too deep, the current a bit stronger than you can swim? You were never meant to go it alone. God created us to need Him, and He alone is where true hope lies. When you feel discouraged, recalling the ways the Lord has been faithful to provide in the past will remind you He will be faithful again because He cares for you. Will you reach out to Him now?🚦

“Lord, I love the house where You dwell, the place where Your glory resides. My foot stands on level ground; I will praise the Lord in the assemblies.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭26:8, 12‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Whether you go on Saturday morning, Saturday night, Sunday morning or Sunday night, go and gather with God’s people to worship Him in community. Lift high His holy name, for He is worthy to be praised!🚦

#GoToChurch #TheLordsHouse #Assembly #Community #WorshipAndCommunity #Devotionals #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #StoplightDevotionals

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4:18-19 NIV

The perfect love of God drives our fear. It creates a safe space emotionally. This is the true benchmark of relationships. If you find yourself in a relationship that causes you fear and anxiety, perhaps that relationship is not firmly rooted in God. However, He who created relationship can heal and restore what is dedicated to Him. Is there a relationship you need to consecrate to God for healing? He is able.🚦

#NoFear #PerfectLoveCastsOutFear #Love #PerfectLove #LoveOfGod #Relationship #ChristianWomen #DevotionalsForWomen #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭43:3‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

We are all led by something, whether that be bad experiences, negative self-image, desire to prove ourselves, and the list goes on. If the force that is driving you does not take you to the foot of the cross, you need to do a 180 to run the other way. Truth and the light of the one true God will always shepherd you to Him and to a path of righteousness. Truth will never guide you down a road that goes against God’s commands or away from worship of Him. What is navigating your course today, and which direction are you going?🚦

#Light #SendYourLight #Truth #DwellingPlace #LeadMeToTheCross #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“Circle Zion, take her measure, count her fortress peaks, Gaze long at her sloping bulwark, climb her citadel heights— Then you can tell the next generation detail by detail the story of God, Our God forever, who guides us till the end of time.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭48:12-14‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Have you ever tried to tell a story (or joke) you’ve only heard once? To tell the generations of the amazing depth of God’s grace, the soaring height of His love, the massive breadth of His power you have to know Him well yourself. Not just ABOUT Him like a subject in school, but KNOW Him personally. Build your God-story to share with others by soaking up His Word daily, asking Him to reveal Himself and the message He has for you, and by trusting and obeying Him in good times and in bad. Over time God will write many chapters of His faithful love-in-action into the book of your life so that you will never forget one detail of His goodness.🚦

#TheStoryOfGod #CircleZion #GenerationToGeneration #TellTheNextGeneration #Generations #Devotionals #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #StoplightDevotionals

“Now then, stand here, because I am going to confront you with evidence before the Lord as to all the righteous acts performed by the Lord for you and your ancestors.”

1 Samuel 12:7 NIV

Confront. Confrontation. Two words that make many or most of us want to shrink away. Let’s face it: there is no joy in having to confront a person, nor is there joy in being confronted…or is there?

Samuel did NOT shrink back from his duty; he did the hard thing and frankly yet kindly told the Israelites the story of how they’d gotten themselves into the position they were in. He didn’t stop there but also recounted God’s graciousness and blessing upon them as a people. Samuel was open and honest while also addressing the heart issues from a position of love. The result? The Israelites came to a place of taking responsibility for their role in their mess.

When we confront those we love with tough issues we can also give the gift of genuine encouragement. Do the hard work as Samuel did, and be rewarded with knowing you can have God-given power that blesses others and builds up each other, spurring one another to love, good deeds, and responsible decisions. 🚦

#Confront #Confrontation #BuildEach otherUp #DoHardThings #Encouragement #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High.”

Psalm 107:10-11 NIV

Most have known this person: though he is not shackled in a physical prison, he lives in bondage to the chains of the god of this world. A slave of sensual lusts, the desire for money drives this person to makes foolish decisions. What does one do when someone they love blatantly rejects God and opts for corruption?

Pray— until you are all prayed up, and then pray some more. God promises His Word will not return empty. When you and I have taught and demonstrated the love of Jesus, there will be a good return on the investment.

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.””

‭‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

It’s Tuesday, but Sunday’s comin’!🚦

#Prisoner #Change #shackles #Sin #Last #Desire #Pray #PrayUntilYouAreAllPrayedUp #PrayMore #DevotionalsForWomen #Women’sDevotionals #ChristianWomen #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26:40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As Jesus was struggling with the most difficult point of His life approaching, His closest friends could not be counted upon for support. Have you been through this same heartbreak? I know a woman who lost two sons, and rather than her longtime friends rallying around to support her, she found they were anything but consoling. When her grief ran much longer and deeper than fit their comfort levels, they took off.

Recently, when my own trials were seemingly peaking, I was blessed to have a friend say to me, “Life gets messy, and I am more than willing to walk through this with you.” Others also rallied with support I never considered pray for. To get to this point, I’d had to painfully let go of others who had been good friends in order to have time to invest in iron-sharpens-iron relationships.

Do your friends push you to be the best version of yourself? Are you growing in your walk with God as a result of the people with whom you spend your time?🚦

#Struggle #RealFriends #GardenOfGethsemane #Heartbreak #LifeGetsMessy #IronSharpensIron #DevotionalsForWomen #ChristianWomen #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

Sunday, September 22, 2019

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

James 2:8-9 NIV

Recently I read an essay, “Casserole Rules,” in which the writer suggests there are unwritten rules at churches spelling out what circumstances merit the delivery of a coveted casserole to their home. It was sad to see that this woman suffered through a tragic divorce with no support for herself and kids while adjusting to this big change. No lawn mowed. No errands. No casserole. What about the Mom whose son goes to prison? Or the parent who is struggling to cope with the news their child is homosexual?

Life usually does not turn out the way we thought it would. Everyone doesn’t need a casserole, but all need to be shown compassion even when we don’t think their struggle is justified or real. Maybe the body of Christ needs to concern itself less with rules and much more with love. Let us love people well as they walk through the painful nitty gritty of life. 🚦

“And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

I once knew a man whose ambition was to be 100% self-sufficient. Of course, this was an impossible dream in modern culture, but he didn’t realize it in the folly of his youth. Though our human nature is to not want to ask for help or to have to rely on anyone, God created us for community. In fact, we are stronger together. An African proverb aptly states, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” May each of you find joy in sharing life with a tribe of loyal friends.🚦

#CordOf3Strands #Tried #Friends #LifeTogether #ChristianWomen #DevotionalsForWomen #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals