“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow — to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with Me. Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26:36-39‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Why did Jesus ask the disciples to stay near while He prayed? Could it be Jesus wanted them to learn firsthand from Him how to struggle well through fear, anxiety and sorrow by taking it to the Father. From the Savior you and I learn it’s okay to plead with God to take away the tragedy and pain. But at the end of our request must come the submission, “Not my will, but Yours, Lord,” because the Father sees the full picture. Like you and me, Jesus learned obedience through suffering, and if we are to be like Him there will be suffering and struggle. Isn’t it good to know He is with us through it?

My friend Olga told me about her visit to the Garden of Gethsemane a couple of years ago. Far from the idyllic image of the Garden of Eden, the trees at Gethsemane are gnarled and rugged, as if they, like Jesus and you and me, have had to suffer. The next time you are in the midst of a battle, imagine yourself in the Garden with Him, struggling together.🚦

Photo credit goes to my dear friend Olga Brock.

#GardenOfGethsemane #Suffering #Struggle #StruggleWell #SufferWell #GardenOfSuffering #ChristianWomen #Devotionals #DevotionalsForWomen #StoplightDevotionals

“A fool’s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.”

Proverbs 12:15

In her book “Dare to Lead,” well-known author and speaker Brené Brown tells us, “Asking for help is a power move.” How can that be? The enemy tries to trick us into thinking that asking for help is a sign of weakness; God’s Word tells us just the opposite. You see, swallowing pride to admit you don’t know everything and asking for advice from the right people is a sign of strength, and it is a good decision that leads to more good decisions. That is REAL power!🚦

#BeStrong #AskForHelp #Wisdom #WiseCounsel #PowerMove #BrenéBrown #ChristianWomen #DevotionalsForWomen #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

What does it mean to “walk by the Spirit?” The Holy Spirit is a real and powerful force given to guide those who receive Christ as their Savior. When we move in step with the Holy Spirit, seeking Him for counsel and direction as a way of life, we find the former patterns of angry outbursts, selfish ambition and immoral behavior fade into the background. The Spirit guides us into a new way of thinking, and, over time, this results in real heart and mind transformation, evidenced by by “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23)

What changes have you seen in yourself through your walk with Christ?🚦

#WalkByTheSpirit #WalkInTheSpirit #HolySpirit #FruitsOfTheSpirit #NewWayOfLiving #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“I am weary from grief; strengthen me through Your word.”

Psalm 119:28 HCSB

My friend and I were teasing with the ocean tide, chasing the tiny ripples when a large wave seemed to come out of nowhere. Fully clothed on an autumn afternoon, we tried to outrun it, but the breaker lammed us hard into the beach. Grief is like that. When one least expects it, a wave can wash over, crashing in on a otherwise happy day. An uninvited guest, grief has no concept of time, and it doesn’t check our calendars for our next available appointment.

What can you do at times like these but to cry out to the One who created you, reaching out for His word for comfort, counsel, and strength? The truest solace is found in the words of the ancients who also have walked where we walk and mourned as we mourn. May you find shelter for your weary soul in Him.🚦

#Grief #Mourning #Waves #CryToJesus #Solace #God’sWord #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“But I know my living Redeemer, and He will stand on the dust at last. I will see Him myself; my eyes will look at Him, and not as a stranger. My heart longs within me.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭19:25, 27‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

In the midst of his turmoil, as his flesh is rotting away, Job steps outside himself to say, “I KNOW my Redeemer, and He is alive. He is coming to stand up for me, to advocate my case. I can’t wait to see Him.”

Do you KNOW Jesus? In the middle of your storm are you holding on to this hope we have in Christ, or are you crying, “Why me?” Does your trial push you to seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit or to go rogue, looking for any way out?

Jesus is that way. He pleads your case before God on your behalf, defending you with His own life. HE knows YOU. HE sees YOU. HE calls you by name.🚦

#MyRedeemer #MyLivingRedeemer #Advocate #Counselor #Counsel #PleadMyCase #StandUpForMe #HeKnowsMyName #Job #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“Pray constantly.”

I Thessalonians 5:17 HCSB

Years ago I learned the concept of “Pray until you are all prayed up,” meaning to pray until there is nothing left to pray. Yesterday morning I knew something was not right with a person I hold dear. I knew the way we just know deep in our core. My knees hit the ground, and I cried out to God. This was not a pretty, eloquent prayer like Priscilla Shirer prays in movies. This was my own heart-wrenching yelling out to the God I know hears me no matter if I say it all perfectly. Whether I pray specific scriptures over a person or simply call out “help,’ my Creator who formed my inmost being knows every hurt and sees every tear.

I prayed until i was all prayed up…and then I prayed some more. The reward? Peace. Peace like a river washed over me. That deep abiding peace that passes all understanding assured me He would remain with me through whatever is ahead.

Whatever the difficulty you are facing, pray without ceasing. Pray until you are all prayed up… and then pray some more!🚦

#PrayWithoutCeasing #PrayConstantly #PrayUntilYouAreAllPrayedUp #PrayedUp #PeaceThatPassesAllUnderstanding #Peace #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“Since your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭8:4‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Here was Job, having lost everything—his health, his Wife, his children, his home, and on and on. Instead of comforting Job by saying, “Wow, Job. This really stinks, and I’m here for you,” Job’s friend went on to cast blame and judgment, effectively saying, “They got what they deserved.”

Has this ever happened to you? Have you been kicked when you were down? We’ve probably all done some kicking, as well. From this moment on, may not one of us add to another person’s burden in this way. May we instead be the friend who will simply be with and keep their friend’s eyes turned to the cross of Christ. 🚦

#Burden #Jobe #Joe’sChildren #BeKind #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in earthen furnace, purified seven times.”

Psalm 12:6 HCSB

David was living in a generation of deceivers, liars and people filled with pride. In an age of prolific social media presence you may have seen plenty of this yourself. Where can you and I turn in times of despair for solace that is true? The answer is found in the same place David himself took shelter from life’s storms—God’s Word. May our own words today be true and point others to Him.🚦

#WordsoftheLord #pure #refinedbyfire #purified #true #truth #devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“The Lord God said, “Since man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:22-23‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

In His mercy, God sent Adam and Eve out of the garden so that they could not eat from the tree of life and live forever separated from God by their sin. It was a necessary separation given for their own good.

Have you had a loss, a separation, you didn’t expect, and, quite frankly, you still aren’t too excited about? Just as God removed Adam and Eve from the idyllic Garden of Eden out of necessity, sometimes He sees it is necessary to remove longtime relationships, good jobs, or comfort from our lives to replace them with something far better.

Is there something or someone you’ve been holding tightly, yet still it is sliding out of your grip? Wiggle your fingers and let go of whatever you were clenching that was/is not God. He has something better for you. HE is that something!🚦

#NecessaryEndings #GardenOfEden #TreeOfLife #SeparationFromGod #SomethingBetter #HeIsSomethingBetter #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:20‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Where was God when terrorists hijacked passenger planes to strike the twin towers? Or when one student, armed with an arsenal of weapons, shot and killed fellow students at Columbine High? Or when Hitler herded Jews to their deaths as they complied, looking forward to the showers they were promised?

Where was God? He was there in the first responders who sacrificed all to save fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. He was there in young Rachel Scott who boldly proclaimed her faith, even when the gun was pointed right at her. He was there in the selfless people who risked their own lives to smuggle and hide complete strangers. God was there in the hearts of those who let Him in, just as He is now.

“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ ‭NASB‬‬🚦

#911 #TwinTowers #Columbine #Auschwitz #NeverForget #Terror #WhereWasGod #HeWasThere #HeIsHere #IWillNeverLeaveYouOrForSakeYou #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals