The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him. Psalm 145:18 How many times has someone asked, “How are you doing?” And you reply, “I’m doing okay.” That response is a red flag for me. It signals that there is something wrong and that there is an unbalance in a person’s life. How do I know this? Because this was me last week. Someone asked, “How are you doing today, Sis Overton?” Without hesitating, I said, “I’m okay.” I wasn’t lying. I was overwhelmed with tasks and overburdened with situations that are completely out of my control. However,…
When God Speaks Has God ever spoken to you? Maybe it wasn’t an audible voice, but have you had a moment when you have received a divine word, direction, or supernatural peace from our Sovereign Lord? Every time God has spoken to me, I am left in awe of His love and constant faithfulness. A few years ago I was at the most broken place in my life. I would cry out to God, “Lord, I know that you put broken pieces together, but I feel like the pieces of my life have been ground into powder. Can you put powder together again? The Power Of Prayer It was during that time when I attended a church conference. I went through the motions—I wore a self-effacing smile and pretended my life was perfect. But, God knew my heart… and, right now, He knows yours, too. As I was praying, I felt someone’s arm wrap around me—it was my spiritual mentor. She began to pray for blessing, for open doors… for the usual. But then, her prayers shifted and she gave a message of tongues and then an interpretation. God spoke through her to give a broken, young woman insight on…
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men. 2 Corinthians 3:2 I did not think that sharing my life through writing would be so scary. Who knew that writing devotions would make my heart race? After all, they are only words on a page, right? Well, they are more than words on a page, they are pieces of my heart and fragments of my life’s story. I want people to know they are not alone in their struggle or victory. Like Paul said, “weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice, Romans 12:15.” Do you struggle with living your life as an open book? Our environment shapes the contours and ridges of our life. For me, I grew up with people telling me, “You need thicker skin, Angela.” These words echo in my ears when something touches me deeply or injures me emotionally. Years passed before I realized that there is nothing wrong with me, and that the world needs more people who feel empathy and who are sensitive. Most of us grow up feeling the pressure to paint a façade of perfection even when our lives are far from being utopian.…
“And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:10) The little voice from the back seat suddenly asked, “Is your name written in the book?” Our excursions together often proved interesting, and apparently this would be another of those times. Once I had learned that Grandma came to visit for “forty days and forty nights.” Shifting my thoughts to her question, I soon grasped what she meant. “Yes, my name is in the book” I assured her. “When was it written in the book?” she pursued. “A long…
“But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.” (Genesis 8:1, ESV) I forget things. Most of us do—some more than others. That’s why I keep a calendar on my phone, set reminder alarms, and write myself notes. Those notes may be stuck on my bathroom mirror, on my refrigerator, or placed on the kitchen counter. Life gets busy and it’s easy for things to slip my mind. I suspect many of you may have the same problem. While reading the story of Noah and the great flood, I paused when I read, “But God remembered Noah.” What! Did He forget about Noah for a while and then suddenly remember he was still on the ark? Not at all. When we explore the meaning of the Hebrew word zakar, which is used here, it means “to bring someone to mind and then act on that person’s behalf.” God, Who is infinite and all-knowing, was ready to act on Noah’s behalf. There may have been times in the 370 days Noah and his family were shut in on…
Let’s start with a few scriptures from the NKJV translation and see if you can tell what they have in common. John 4:5, 7: “So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give Me a drink.’” Mark 7:32: “Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged Him to lay His hand on him.” Mark 10:17: “Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’” Luke 23:32, 39-42: “There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ Then…