Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

~Psalm 46:10

I’m not a horseback rider. In fact, I’ve been on a horse exactly twice in my life: once as a 12-year-old, which ended in a runaway gallop that threw me, resulting in a cracked tailbone; the second time was with my husband and our two young kids on a trail ride in the mountains of NC—I clearly recall that none of us enjoyed the experience.

All that to say, I was talking with the Lord this morning about some spiritual/mental/physical battles I’m in right now, and the whole horse thing came to mind. See, I’m a control freak. A perfectionist. Those of you who can relate know full well that this character trait comes with quite a bit of negative baggage. Things like hyper-self-examination, self-judgment, self-beratement—even to self-loathing…unfortunately, these responses to not achieving perceived perfection lead only to an effort to gain even more control. Here’s where the horse thing came in. 

Trying to beat oneself into submission (that is, to control some aspect—or everything) is like holding onto the reins of a horse too tightly. Sure, pulling back tightly can slow and even stop the huge beast on which you’re riding (perceived control). But when that horse has a mind of its own, so to speak, and it’s moving how and where it wants to (my 12-year-old self can feel the terror of it all), yanking in the reins tighter and more forcefully causes that beast to thrash around, pushing back with its mighty power…revealing the fact that although you think you’re in control, you are absolutely not. In fact, your control-freak efforts are actually endangering you.

Enter the spiritual lesson. The Bible is very clear about the battles of this world (and our enemy who relentlessly prowls around seeking our destruction). We are in a war, we will have tribulation and trouble…but we must take heart, because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33)! The Word also tells us that we must cast our cares on the Lord, because He cares for us (Psalm 55:22; Isaiah 41:10; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7; . We must trust Him, leaning not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). We must surrender—let go of the reins—because He alone is Sovereign and has our good and His glory purposed for our lives (Romans 8:28). Isaiah 46:4 says, “Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have made you, and I will carry you; And I will bear you, and I will rescue you.”

Oh, what promises we have in Christ! As my pastor reminds the congregation often, “You ain’t got this.” Praise God, there is so much in my life—after walking with the Lord for nearly 30 years—that I have surrendered to Him. Facets of myself that have been gloriously and miraculously sanctified…and other areas where I daily submit and follow His lead. Except when I don’t. Sure, there is the prayer, “Lord, I give this to You—Your will, not mine.” I hand over the reins of this thing, this stronghold, this battle…and then I take them back, snatching back what I just dropped, in a futile effort to garner control over that powerful beast. Friend, there is One who has the victory! And in Him, we are also victorious. Why do we still fight for control, when He can deliver us with a Word? But even when He does not (because He won’t always deal with situations the way WE want Him to)…even if we continue to be hard-pressed on every side, we will not be crushed (2 Corinthians 4:8)—He will be with us in the fire, drawing us closer to Him.

Beloved, whatever your “thing” is, won’t you join me in handing it over to the Lord? Nothing is too much, too powerful for Him. Let’s give Him our burden and battle, and take on His yoke, because it is easy and light (Matthew 11:28-30)…let’s allow Him to fight for us (remember, He’s already won!), so we can rest.  

Lord, take the reins from me. I trust You—help me trust You in ALL things.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

~Ephesians 6:13-17

Let’s face it. The world is evil. And we have an enemy prowling around like a lion, seeking to devour us—whose intent is only to steal, kill, and destroy. Therefore, fellow believer, we must stand firm. We must be prepared for the battle…and we must fight. In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul states clearly what it means to be a follower of Christ and how to walk in Christ as a husband, wife, child, employee. Then, in chapter 6, verses 10-20, Paul instructs us how to prepare for our war against “powers, world forces of this darkness, and the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We’re given five defensive pieces of armor: the belt of Truth (Jesus—the Way, the Truth, and the Life); the breastplate of righteousness (our identity in Christ, as He exchanged His righteousness for our unrighteousness); shoes of the Gospel of peace (the gospel enables us to have peace with a Perfect and Holy God); the shield of faith (which protects us from the flaming arrows of the evil one); and the helmet of salvation(mind protection to keep away the lies of the enemy). Every piece of armor is a must-have.

But we also have a weapon that allows us to go on the offense: the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. God’s Word is true, unchanging, a sharp two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12)—and it’s a both a tool to sharpen our own walk and a weapon of discernment in a lying world. And God’s Word heals the brokenhearted, sheds light in darkness, gives comfort and guidance…and, most importantly, God’s Word reveals the eternity-altering path of salvation (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 10:9; 5:1; 8:1; 8:38-39). [Please note, sweet friend, that the Bible is never meant to be used to bludgeon and bloody others. It’s more like a scalpel than a machete!]

In thinking about the Bible as an offensive weapon, though, it struck me with a bit of irony (being the word girl that I am), that God’s Word is also very offensive to an unbelieving world. The Bible itself even talks about this in both the Old Testament and New! In Jeremiah, it’s written, “Behold, the word of the Lord has become for them a rebuke; They take no delight in it” (Jeremiah 6:10). And Paul writes, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). But it’s not just unbelievers who get offended. When the Word is used as a mirror or plumbline to assess our own holiness (finding ourselves falling short but seeing the “how-to’s” to progress our sanctification journey), even modern Christians can get triggered. “C’mon, those verses about sex being only for marriage are so outdated,” they say. Or, “That teaching is only relevant for that ignorant culture 2000 years ago—not our science-based, 2025 world.” In fact, whole Christian denominations are taking it upon themselves to redact entire sections of God’s Word that they find offensive so as to better suit the way they want to live. 

So, beloved, as we put on the full armor of God to stand firm, know God’s Word so you can take up this beautiful, powerful sword. It is our offensive weapon…and it will be offensive. So, like Paul, again I say, stand firm!

Lord, help me to persevere against the evil of this world, standing firm in the armor of God and wisely brandishing the sword of the Spirit.

Jesus answered them, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

~John 9:3

I absolutely love chapter 9 of John’s gospel. It is my salvation chapter—the first time I truly heard the gospel (even after hardly ever missing Mass for 30 years). The event of Jesus healing the blind man is profoundly beautiful. It speaks to the life (and eternity) transformation of faith in Jesus. We were blind and now we see! Dead, now alive in Christ! When questioned by the Pharisees, the transformed man didn’t have all the answers. He was not a seasoned apologist or theologian. He only knew that through Jesus his eyes were opened. (He did get bolder the more he was pressed, which is pretty cool.) For this man, though, it was after his healing and pressing that Jesus revealed Himself as the Son of Man—and he believed, surrendering to Jesus as Lord. We also see how his transformation affected his neighbors and parents. Just like our own salvation and sanctification is a testimony to those who knew us before Jesus…some will want what we have, some will plead ignorance and refuse to celebrate the positive changes.

But it is verse 3 in this chapter that burst off the page for me upon my most recent reading. When Jesus and His disciples initially walked by the blind man, His followers asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered them, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” 

Now, before moving on, it’s imperative to state that the Bible is clear that there are indeed consequences to our sin (Psalm 38:3; John 5:14; Galatians 6:7-8…and most of the OT!). We also must be aware that the enemy of ours—Satan—is relentlessly trying to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8) the image-bearers of God (keeping the unsaved from surrendering to Him as Lord and keeping His followers ineffective for the Kingdom). Oh, but there is another—unreasonable—reason for suffering given in verse 3 that can be hard to get our minds around: God’s glory. 

When we or a loved one (or anyone around the world impacted by this fallen world and sinful people) is struggling, we rightly cry out to God like King David, “Why, oh Lord?” and “How long, oh Lord?” And, like David, sometimes we can totally see the connection to sin…and then, there are times, like with our brother Job, that we simply don’t “get” it. Here in John, Jesus is saying, “Beloved, My thoughts are higher than your thoughts, My ways higher than yours (Isaiah 55:8-9)…this is purposeful to My glory—and You may never see it until you are glorified with Me” (Psalm 115:3; Psalm 131:1; Job).

Oh, sweet friend, what joy it is to wrap our small minds around this concept—a concept that can truly only be grasped through the Holy Spirit living in us. (Ever try to share with an unbeliever that a particular suffering could be for God’s ultimate glory alone? The typical response is something to the effect of, “Well, that’s not a God that I want to believe in”—I know we’ve all heard it.) But we must rest in this truth! If we are continuing in a sinful pattern that is reaping consequences, we must turn (repent) and follow after the Lord’s ways. But if our suffering has no human rhyme or reason, we must trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). We can question God—of course! We can cry out to Him in our frustration and anger—He knows it already and wants to hear it from our own mouths! And then, we trust. We trust that God is Sovereign and Providential. Everything He does—everything—is for His glory…and ultimately our good. Even if we don’t see it until we’re face to face with the Lord. His “why” is always perfect.

Lord, even as I question the suffering of my loved ones—or even my own—may I land firmly on a trust in Your perfect will that is always for Your glory.

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more He bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before Him. 

John 8:7b-9

Although there is some conjecture that this event in John’s gospel was added later to the manuscripts, the account of the woman caught in adultery has a wealth of spiritual truths. For me, these verses, along with Luke 7:36-50, have been integral lessons pushing back on my judgmental flesh, reminding me that I have been forgiven much—so I must love much. That I am a sinner too, deserving of God’s justice (no matter how I, or the world, try to “scale” sins)…but for the grace of Jesus, I get mercy and not justice.

In fact, almost two decades ago, as part of my tattoo testimony in response to a life crisis that only the Lord could bring me through, I have “grace” and “mercy” permanently written on my wrists. The point is to constantly remind me to extend to others the grace and mercy (and forgiveness and love) that God has extended to me. But these words were actually my second choice of ink. My initial thought was a simple three-word reminder from the adulterous woman’s story: Drop the rock. 

To be completely transparent, my Christian walk has tended to lean a little more “truth” than “grace”—which can be dangerous and pharisaical. (As a short analysis, I believe this is because I came to Christ after years of New Age philosophy, where Satan loves to take a smidge of God’s truth and twist it enough to deeply deceive…so I can be extremely protective of what God actually said versus tricky or even “creative” variations. There’s a lot to say here, but it’s a digression for another time.) Praise the Lord, as I’ve gotten older in my faith—and am part of a church body that beautifully and authentically embraces God’s Word and God’s desire for “all” to know Him—my truth-and-grace ratio is continually coming more and more into balance. 

Again, there’s so much in John’s adulterous woman account to teach, convict, and change us. But it was a little phrase within verse 9 that the Holy Spirit used as a sweet reminder about the Christian sanctification journey: “beginning with the older ones.” Oh, friend, there’s a lot about getting older that is not fun, for sure…but our maturity in Christ—our becoming more and more like Him as we get closer to Home—is wonderfully miraculous. And a bit ironic. See, it should be true that the longer we walk with the Lord, the more we put on the qualities of Christ and take off our fleshly qualities. The Apostle Paul has a lot to say about this in his epistles. But it’s also true that we will recognize our sins much quicker…and be much more frustrated about sinning! Again, see Paul’s lament in Romans 7 as to this accelerating dilemma. 

Aren’t you so thankful for this? See, as long as we’re in this fallen body of ours walking through this fallen world, we will all fall short. But we are, in fact, moving “from glory to glory” by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)! So, while we may still pick up a rock now and then, poised to throw it at a “sinner” who we perceive as “more sinful” than us, may we quickly drop it and walk away in repentance. And, beloved, let’s never forget that we were spared the fatal pelting of rocks we deserved…and that, instead of God dropping them, He allowed His Son to take the blows on our behalf. 

Oh, Lord, forgive me for picking up rocks as if I am judge, jury, and executioner. Remind me how You took the rocks for me, and keep my hands open to extend love, grace, and mercy to others. 

Seek the LORD while He may found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

~Isaiah 55:6-7

Reading the Old Testament prophets (major or minor) can be confusing, complicated, and overwhelming. To me, understanding these prophesies in the context of the nation of Israel, as well as their pointing to Jesus, requires intense study by way of theologians, commentary, and the Holy Spirit Himself! But then I come to particular chapters of Isaiah, and I am overjoyed in seeing clearly the message of salvation and our beautiful Messiah. 

In the opening chapter, verse 18, for instance, Isaiah proclaims, “’Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool’.” Then there is the terrible and stunning chapter 53, which describes in prophetic detail the suffering of our Savior and His satisfaction of the wrath that belongs to you and me. 

So, as the headlines of this evil and broken world continue to pummel my soul with Davidic questions like, “How long, oh Lord?”, it’s easy to get discouraged. And it can be hard to keep one’s eyes on the Sovereignty and Goodness of our God. But then I open my Bible to Isaiah chapter 55, where the precious promise of God’s grace poured out in a refreshing Gospel reminder. 

Here, Isaiah starts by asking why we’re trying to satisfy our soul with the things of this world—we hunger and thirst but chase things that cannot quench our deep needs. No, he says—there is a free gift of God that is yours for the asking! Seek the Lord—call upon Him in your desperation. Forsake your wicked ways and repent—turn back to God. When we recognize that there is no way we can buy, earn, or achieve God’s standard on our own and so surrender to Him, He completely pardons us. (A pardon! Think about this in our modern legal terms! A guilty, convicted criminal is fully forgiven and freed—as if he or she never committed the crime at all. Oh, sweet friend, how amazing is our pardon from the Living God?!) When we call on the Lord in the recognition of our sin and unworthiness, and then surrender to Him, we receive the righteousness of Christ (the suffering Servant of Isaiah 53). And as an extra bonus to exclaim how mind-blowing this free gift of salvation actually is, Isaiah goes right into saying, “And you know what? It is impossible for our puny brains to fathom this abundant compassion, mercy, and grace” (vs. 8-9).

Are you tired and thirsty? Seeking satisfaction from the things of this world? Are you frustrated by the headlines of darkness that make you question whether there is a light that can overcome it? Beloved, from before time began, there has been a plan of Victory! Jesus, the Second Person of the Godhead, came to earth as a Man to suffer the penalty for all who call on His Name, overcoming sin and death. He is the Light that makes all darkness flee. He is the Bread of Life, the Living Water that fully satisfies the “God-shaped hole” in your soul. Won’t you invite Him in and accept His free gift of grace?

Oh, sweet Jesus, thank You for exchanging my sin and wretchedness for Your righteousness—forever changing me and my eternity. Thank You for Your Word that, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 shouts of Your redemptive plan.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

~Romans 8:13

I recently heard a great analogy from a pastor visiting our church. The overarching theme was for believers to truly live the John 10:10 abundant life by being crucified with Christ and dying to self (Galatians 2:20). The teaching wove together Old and New Testament truths and was chock-full of challenging nuggets and visual comparisons. It was one of his examples from nature—specifically regarding dandelions—that got my mind spinning to expand upon and share his brief reference. 

Although we’re likely all familiar with this ubiquitous weed, I first had to dive into learning more about the properties of dandelions. Allow me to elaborate:

1. The bright yellow flowering head looks attractive (and is).
2. The stems are hollow.
3. The taproots are long and hinder other plants from growing.
4. They compete with and crowd out desired plants.
5. They are not only fast-growing, but they’re relentless—pushing their way through even the tiniest sidewalk cracks.
6. When the roots are superficially cut, they actually clone, so they quickly multiply.

Are bells and whistles going off for your spirit? Sounds an awful lot like sin, doesn’t it? Attractive on the surface, it’s only full of hollow promises for satisfaction. Fleshly activity competes for attention over the spiritual, hindering godly fruit from being realized. When a crack in our spiritual armor is found, sin pushes through oh so tenaciously. And just as overgrowth of dandelions can destroy a lawn, the final outgrowth of sin is death (James 1:15). (Each of these warrants its own devo!)

But let’s examine factoid #6: Managing dandelions is not an option. If you’ve got a yard where dandelions spring up, you know that the easiest way to get rid of them is to simply mow over them. The resulting lawn looks green and lush and healthy—from the observing eye. A day or so later, they pop back up. Often multiplied. See, dandelions must be uprooted or destroyed at the root level to really be rid of them. 

Beloved, the same is true with the sin in our lives! This is where the pastor used dandelions as one of his many examples of dying to self. See, too often we clip away the outward activity or habits that sprout up from our old sin nature. We can even make ourselves look tidy and “weedless” to our family, friends, and church. But those entrenched sins will rear their ugly heads again unless we kill them. Although we’re made free—a new creation—in Christ, we will be sinning until we’re glorified, so we’ve got to be diligent in uprooting what once controlled us. But we don’t (cannot) do this in our own power. We must yield to the Holy Spirit living in us to be the sin slayer. 

This growing freedom from sin comes only with our surrender—which requires our death to self, as we’re crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6-7). And every day is a day of death for us who follow Jesus (Luke 14:27)…because only then can the Holy Spirit serve as our personal spiritual pesticide, killing in us what’s intended to kill us.

Lord, today may I die to self a little more, so that Christ in me can free me from any sin that still enslaves me.

Where there is no vision, the people are out of control, But how blessed is he who keeps the law. 

~Proverbs 29:18

Almost three years ago, I experienced a torn retina in my right eye. It was terrifying, but the Lord moved in a big way during that time—miraculously, really—to change my spiritual life. Sadly, the eye surgeries that followed also permanently changed my vision. See, in addition to the torn retina repair, I had to get a vitrectomy, which drains the vitreous fluid to rid it of debris to clear my vision. I share all that to say that since the vitrectomy procedure, my right eye has steadily becoming more nearsighted…while my left eye has remained farsighted. (In other words, prior to the tear, I could see far away just fine but needed reading glasses like most people in my age group.) Now, however, my left eye sees clearly at a distance, yet I cannot read with it, and my right eye sees clearly to read, but everything beyond six feet is a blur.

There’s a name for this phenomenon: monovision. One can actually function this way because the brain adjusts accordingly as you focus close in or far away. It’s super weird. And although my brain does adjust to my wonky eyes, I often feel a bit like that emoji with the spinning eyeballs. Actually, many people correct their eyes (via contact lenses or laser surgery) to create monovision, so they won’t have to wear bifocals or switch from readers to “seers” to look near then far. 

This thought of monovision struck me in terms of the way we believers are called to live our lives. We must keep a focus on heaven—we are citizens of that Great Monarchy after all and subject to the King of kings. Everything we do, we’re to do as unto the Lord. Our perspective is meant to be from our position as the victorious and redeemed in Christ. This is like the eye that can clearly see far away to what is yet ahead. And at the same time, we’re to live in this world—to shine our light into the darkness, living like Christ and becoming more like Him daily as we journey back Home. This requirement for righteous activity (in response to our righteousness in Christ, not to earn it) equates to seeing close-up—what’s right in front of us.

Beloved, in walking through this fallen, broken world as saved (yet still broken) people, we must keep an eye heavenward in the knowledge of God’s Sovereignty and our ultimate destination. This vision gives us a peace and contentment no matter our circumstances. Yet we are also called to see the broken people around us, focusing on pointing others to Christ and doing our part in the Lord’s redemptive plan. We’re to “one another” one another, in love, grace, mercy, and service.

So, what about you? Is your focus only on what the world cares about, trying to satisfy yourself in what your flesh and pride desire (solely nearsighted)? Or are you, as it’s been said, “so heavenly focused that your no earthly good” (that is, too farsighted)? Let’s be encouraged to a monovisioned life! Just as our brain adjusts to see clearly at different distances, so the Holy Spirit will give us the clarity to be in this world and not of it…keeping a dual perspective as one rescued and on the rescue team. 

Lord, may I never lose my vision for either my heavenly identity in Christ OR my earthly purpose to glorify You. But let me live with a view for both.