Posts with the category “be-still-devotions”

I recently underwent a liver transplant. It has been quite a journey with much waiting built in, from the testing to my diagnosis, to the monitoring of that disease’s process—waiting over twenty years...  Read More

Waiting. That’s an uncomfortable word for most of us. Several unfavorable circumstances come to mind such as waiting in line at the DMV, waiting on hold for the next available customer service agent, ...  Read More

The prophet Habakkuk isn’t one of the first people in Scripture we think of. How often do we fly past his two-page book? In fact, Scripture never names him outside of it! But popularity doesn’t equal ...  Read More

On November 10, 1999, my wife and I followed directions from Warsaw, Poland (where we lived) to the nearby town of Otwock. The last mile was through a forest, and the dirt road ended at a large, recta...  Read More

I always prayed for God’s help in learning the new language. It was not easy trying to understand American History, Math, and other subjects being taught to me in English. I struggled while doing home...  Read More

In 2016, while working in my eighth year at Houston Baptist University (now Houston Christian University), I was called into their Human Resources office. The university was making cuts, and my positi...  Read More

In Psalm 24: 4-5, David needs to know what God would have him do. Earlier, in verse 2b, he expresses that he is concerned about “his enemies.” He is at a crossroads, and he needs to know the ways and ...  Read More

My husband and I have been discussing our 2025 “word of the year.” Each year, we try and choose a word to be the theme or challenge for that year. Some past examples are “trust” and “faith.” One year,...  Read More

In 2 Chronicles 20:17, a powerful message is delivered to King Jehoshaphat along with the people of Judah: "You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salva...  Read More

Confession time: the verses that follow this passage of Scripture have always been one of my least favorite passages. Ephesians 6:10 is the lead-in to the “Armor of God” section. Images of fighting, w...  Read More

As surely as different seasons come, trials will surely come, too. Isaiah reminds us that when we pass through life’s trials, God will be with us. On the other side of these trials, growth and deepeni...  Read More

There is a quote by A.W. Tozer that has stuck with me over the years. He said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." What Tozer means is what you th...  Read More

It’s one of those weeks. Your schedule is overloaded. You’re facing several expenses you hadn’t budgeted for. A close relationship has fractured. And to make matters worse, people you trusted have tur...  Read More

We’ve all misplaced our phone or keys. It’s maddening. And they’re always lost when you’re in a hurry to leave. So, you turn your place upside down searching. You check the dryer, the bathroom, the re...  Read More

It’s hard to wait. Whether you’re a kid waiting for the excitement of Christmas or an adult waiting for a diagnosis or even a call from a child. Whatever the circumstance, waiting is hard, and sometim...  Read More

What is it about Christmas morning that enthralled you as a child? The nervousness before laying your head down to sleep? The adrenaline that hit as you woke up? The longing to know what Santa got you...  Read More

One way to discern who has authority over a situation is to observe who people ask for help. In ancient times, a king would be honored by his subjects when they came with petitions before him. It was ...  Read More

All good comes from God. Regardless of the circumstances, full dependence starts with “my soul, wait in silence” (v. 5). Matthew Henry explains that this means our soul “says nothing against what He d...  Read More

As a young boy, I was in a hurry for lots of things—like to stay up late with no curfew or to involve myself in adult activities way before they were appropriate—but nothing could compare to my impati...  Read More

Have you ever done things your own way but they didn’t turn out exactly how you had planned? You knew there was probably a better way (like praying to God for direction), yet you felt like your way wa...  Read More

Amid Hosea’s call to the Israelites, we find one of Scripture's most persistent messages: a call to return to God, anchored in love and justice. This verse reminds us of the heart of our relationship ...  Read More

Waiting on God in the face of personal hurt or after someone has wronged you can feel like one of the hardest things we are called to do as Christians. Our natural reaction is to seek justice or worse...  Read More

It took some coaxing for me to agree to see Inside Out 2. I sobbed through the first Inside Out, so I expected some tears from the sequel as well. Afterall, it’s a story exploring how our emotions imp...  Read More

Living under a roof where we and our loved ones are protected is a blessing. Being surrounded by a loving, caring community such as our church fellowship is also a blessing. But, wonderful as they are...  Read More

As children, many of us learn to hold a grudge until we get to taste the satisfaction of revenge. The older we get, the more bitter that “sweet revenge” can taste. You might wonder why, but still cont...  Read More

Have you ever watched a movie where the protagonist undergoes an intense transformation, all condensed into a short motivational montage? Flashes of sweat-drenched training. Moments of perseverance. G...  Read More

Moses and the Israelites have been on a journey through the wilderness. The Israelites managed to turn an eleven-day camping trek (Deuteronomy 1:2) into a forty-year trial. Now, they were just east of...  Read More

As a mom, it is very easy to try and be everything for everyone at all times. I also tend to take on the burdens of my children and others and easily find myself burnt out and weighed down. It is way ...  Read More

I remember hearing as a kid at church, “God and I make a majority.” As I began to study the Word on my own, I came to a more biblical conclusion: “God makes a majority!” He doesn’t need me or you. Yet...  Read More

Years ago, when I walked the Houston Marathon (yes walked; it’s a thing), there was one thing that got me and the two ladies I was walking with through those 26.2 miles. It was not thinking about the ...  Read More

In the blockbuster movie Avengers: Endgame, we see those left of Earth’s mightiest heroes facing an impossible task. Thanos, an immortal alien warrior, is using the magical Infinity Gauntlet to wipe o...  Read More

Sometimes when we read the Word of the God, we tend to focus on a section and ignore the context. Today’s verse would be easy to do that with. “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.” Easy enough—le...  Read More

From an early age, I struggled with fear so much that I earned the nickname “Worry Wart.” Fear is a powerful emotion. It can paralyze us, change our perspective, and make life seem overwhelming. In ...  Read More

In today’s verse, the Israelites are in their own critical moment: with the depths of the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s army of well over 1,800 men behind, it seems like they are in an imposs...  Read More

On February 9, 1991, a new character was introduced on Saturday Night Live: Stuart Smalley. Played by Al Franken, the sketch featured Stuart hosting a show called “Daily Affirmations with Stuart Small...  Read More

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of activity and lose sight of what truly matters. Stress, anxiety, and fear can easily consume us, leaving us feeling overwhelm...  Read More