“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:6-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Recently, I was praying fervently for “Jill.” In my desperation, I found myself praying for a negative consequence for ”Celeste,” a woman was a very bad influence and held great sway over “Jill.” The Holy Spirit flipped that right around and had me change my prayer. I suddenly found myself praying for “Celeste” to receive Christ. I could no longer be bitter, angry or afraid of the person for whom I’d just prayed. Those things were replaced with genuine concern and a spark of hope.

At first, my flawed thinking had told me that for “Jill” to win, “Celeste” had to lose. Love says, “We ALL win.” Love never fails. 🚦

#Love #LoveWins #FaithHopeandLove #thegreatestoftheseislove #WeAllWin #AllYiuNeedIsLive #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“When I became embittered and my innermost being was wounded, I was stupid and didn’t understand; I was an unthinking animal toward You. Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me up in glory.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73:21-24‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Your best friend died. Your spouse deserted you for someone else. You lost your home and everything in it to a fire. Where was God?

In the worst of times, when grief is an ocean as deep as the mountains are high, bitterness can threaten to drown us as we shake our fists at God because He did not spare us from the storm. Even then, when we are overcome with anger and anxiety, He is right there with us, holding our hands, navigating us through the turbulent waters. Hold tightly to Him.🚦

#InTheEyeOfTheStorm #Bitterness #Grief #Mourning #Anxiety #Anger #HoldTightlyToHim #HeIsWithYou #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

This is what the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, says to one who is despised, to one abhorred by people, to a servant of rulers: “Kings will see and stand up, and princes will bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel —and He has chosen you.”

Isaiah 49:7 HCSB

“Is it really worth it,” you ask yourself after being passed over again for that promotion. It was almost too much when you were left behind, forgotten by those you thought were your friends, but then they completely left you out the next time. These people who seemed so significant, however, are not the ones who matter because the Holy One has chosen you and said, “That one is Mine.” He has chosen you. 🚦

#SetApart #Chosen #Redeemer #HolyOne #Significant #HeHasChosenYou #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:3-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Are you waiting until you’ve got your act together, until you have your life cleaned up, until you feel worthy to come to God? STOP! On your own you can’t make yourself good enough. God loves anyway, so much he became a man to die for you. He paid the penalty for that life you are trying to clean up. It is done. It is finished. Humbly accept this merciful gift and you can walk in a whole new life—true life in Christ.

“I have come that you might have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10🚦

#AliveInChrist #Mercy #NewLife #MercifulGift #TrueLifeInChrist #StopWaiting #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant.”

Genesis 32:10 HCSB

God, in His rich mercy, has shown great kindness to each of us in that while we were still running from Him He reached down to rescue us from the pit of self-destruction. Nothing we could ever do would buy for us the immeasurable riches He freely gives. As He is kind to us, may we also demonstrate such kindness to those who can never repay the debt. 🚦

#Kindness #Gift #Rescue #Immeasurable #Faithfulness #Unworthy #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals



Let my teaching fall like rain and my word settle like dew, like gentle rain on new grass and showers on tender plants.
Deuteronomy 32:2 HCSB

Last night I was reminded of Job’s accusers, his friends who repeatedly told him his troubles were caused by his own sin and the sin of his children. Their words cut deeper than the sores covering Job’s body. Job had suddenly, overnight, lost his children, his wife, his home, his servants, his wealth and his health. No one knew why, but they assumed it was Job’s own fault. What would have been different if they had spoken healing like a balm over his hurting soul?

May our own words be gentle like an easy rain, providing refreshment to tender hearts. May we speak in tones that are pleasant gifts which brighten wounded spirits. May we always be sensitive to and compassionate toward others in situations we cannot possibly conceive.

#gentle #gentleness #kindwords #healing balm #gentlerain #gentlewords #speaklife #refreshment #compassion #sensitive #devotionals #stoplightdevotionals

“All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Jesus in Matthew 11:29-30 HCSB

A yoke is placed upon an ox or cow to train the calf. With the yoke in place, the more experienced animal carries the bulk of the load so that the younger can learn how to take instruction and to keep pace. This is a nice, gentle way to train these vital helpers.

In the same way, Jesus will train me and you patiently at a gentle pace if we willingly take His yoke so that He can carry the load, giving just the right amount. On our own the load will be too much, but when we submit those burdens to Him and agree to learn from and follow His lead, the load is way lighter.

Recently, a dear friend asked me what I was doing to to take care of myself through a difficult season, knowing there were already many prayers lifted on my behalf. “I’m being gentle with myself and in what I expect of myself.” Jesus is gentle with us, and I’m learning from Him how to be gentle with myself and with others. Truly, this is a work of the Holy Spirit, and I sincerely pray you, too, are learning to take His gentle yoke.🚦

#Yoke #TakeMyYokeUponYou #MyBurdenIsLight #Gentle #Gentleness #BeGentleWithYourself #BeGentleWithOthers #LearnFromHim #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

You are my God, and I will give You thanks. You are my God; I will exalt You. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 118:28-29 HCSB

One sure way to increase your joy each day is to start it by naming at least things for which you are truly grateful. Keeping a gratitude journal can be especially helpful for turning around negative thoughts which impede joy. When tempted to complain about picking up after your people, doing laundry, or having to go to work, you can remind yourself these things mean you have people that matter in your life, clothes to wear, and a job for earning money. You can’t be angry or bitter AND grateful at the same time. A thankful heart is not something we are born with, but it is something each of us can choose. What are you grateful for today?🚦

#givethanks #grateful #thankful #gratefulness #thankfulness #attitudeofgratitude #gratefulnessisachoice #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

Matthew 6:33 HCSB

Seek FIRST the kingdom of God. If you want to experience more joy, you must be intentional about it. Make a plan to do something the first 15 minutes of each day that will bring joy. Prayer, reading your Bible, and singing worship songs are all possible starting points. Just as important, figure out what things to stay away from that might give Satan a foothold on your day—news, social media, email, etc. When we seek Him FIRST thing in the morning we keep the perspective of His provision for and presence with us, setting the tone for the entire day. May you seek Him, and when you seek Him with all your heart you will find Him.🚦

#WiseMenStillSeekHim #Seek #FirstThingsFirst #SeekFirstTheKingdomOfGod #FirstThingInTheMorning #FirstPlace #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 NIV

You and I can transform our thinking by choosing to focus on the things that are good. Just as an Olympic runner trains his or her body to run the race to win in all types of terrain and weather, you and I can discipline our minds to be grateful and to find good in the most wretched of circumstances by keeping our eyes focused on the cross with a view to eternity.

“Authentic joy can always be recognized by the indispensable leap in faith that precedes it…Those who experience more joy don’t necessarily have more to be joyful about; they just think differently.”(Tommy Newberry, The 4:8 Principle)

Do you need to do a thought check today?🚦

#WhatsoeverThingsAreLovely #Thoughts #Thinking #TrainYourMind #Discipline #Joy #Grateful #Gratitude #FindTheGood #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals