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Selah: How to Pause Amidst Life’s Overwhelming Moments

Filed Under: Bible Study, Christian living // July 14, 2023

What is the meaning of “Selah” that we find throughout the Psalms? What can be learned from David’s writing on how to pause when life is overwhelming?

Pausing amidst life's overwhelming moments. The meaning of Selah. — The art of Selah – Pausing when life overwhelms

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Some days are overwhelming. For me, the overwhelming days are not the ones where I am super busy with a lot on my plate – I thrive in chaos. The overwhelming days are the ones that I don’t have a huge structure set. I fill my time watching TV, reading books, scrolling on my phone, or just doing nothing.

At the end of the day, I find myself overwhelmed. I feel like my day had no purpose – like I accomplished nothing. Some days it is good to rest and do nothing, but some days I need to hit pause on my aimless wandering. I need to pause on the emotions that so easily come to the surface. I need to hit pause on the thoughts of worthlessness and self-doubt that are always so eager to fill space in my head.

Instead of allowing myself to sit with thoughts that are not of God, I need to pause and meditate on truth.

What The Bible Tells Us

If we look back through the Bible, we see that David – a man after God’s own heart – paused many times when writing the psalms. A simple word is used. Selah. It does not have a definite meaning. Many people think it has to do with pausing, kind of like an interlude. Others think it is a musical term, denoting that the whole orchestra stops playing, and only one instrument is used, giving that single instrument recognition. I like to think of Selah as a whole note, sometimes an uncomfortable pause, and sometimes a relaxing one, drawing the listener in for the next notes to be played.

Selah reminds me of Romans 8:26-27, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God”.

Sometimes (more often than not) when we are feeling overwhelmed and the enemy sends thoughts that are not of God, we want to pray. But in our weakness, we do not know how to pray or what to pray for. Thankfully, when Jesus ascended back into heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Even though we do not know how to pray, the Spirit is going to God on our behalf. When we pause from life and look to God, He shows up for us. He gives us peace, even when we don’t know how to ask for it.

Selah when facing death

In Psalm 3, David has just fled from his son, Absalom, who wants to see David dead (this world has always been a little messed up). David starts by writing a prayer to God, Saying:

Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.”

And then… David Pauses. We see the word Selah in the footnotes. When I imagine David in this situation, I see him thinking “Okay, this is how I feel, but I know that my feelings have lied before. God help me to focus on your truths rather than on my own insecurities.” After taking a pause, David continues:

But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.

After David made a conscious effort to pause from his own feelings, he was able to redirect his thoughts to meditate on God’s Truth. Again, he pauses. Here, I imagine David thanking God for His goodness. Yeah, David’s circumstances are not great, but he is able to rest in the knowledge that God loves Him and wants the best for Him. After another pause, David continues:

I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.

Arise, Lord!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.

David again starts off praising the LORD and reflecting on His goodness. But David is human, and his mind starts to go back to fleshly struggles. David writes that all his enemies be struck down. Here, I imagine David wondering if his will is lining up with God’s will. Sure, David has his enemies, but aren’t all people children of God? David takes another pause, again redirecting his focus onto God.

From the Lord comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.

What a powerful way to end. David is admitting that God is love, and God loves all his children. God desires a relationship with all of His children. Here, David is acknowledging that he is in a situation he does not want to be in – he is hiding from his own son. And David also acknowledges that deliverance can ONLY come from the LORD. David also concedes that all people belong to God, adding that God’s blessing is on His people. David pauses as he reflects on God’s faithfulness to him.

Selah - a whole note kind of pause when life overwhelms you. — Selah – a whole note kind of pause.

How to Pause

When the overwhelming moments of this life come, how do you pause?

Acknowledgement

First, you have to acknowledge what is overwhelming you. Lay it all before God. God already knows what is in your heart, but He wants to hear it from you, so don’t be afraid. If you want to yell at God, go ahead! It is better to address what you are feeling than to keep it inside of you and ignore God or ignore the source of your pain.

Selah

After you have brought your pain to God, pause. Give yourself a second to breathe and allow Holy Spirit to guide you back toward Him. Don’t be afraid to take a break and sit in selah.

Redirection

Once you bring to light what you are experiencing, decide in your heart that you are not going to stay in that place. Instead of remaining in the emotions that separate you from God, focus on his truths.

Here are a few to get you started.

Romans 5:5 – And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Colossians 3:12 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 – May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Meditation

Finally, Praise God for His goodness. Praise God for his unfailing love. Praise God that He never gives up on His children, but always pursues them in love. Praise God for all of His blessings to you.

The art of Selah – Pausing before God

Life can be overwhelming. But the good news is that God cares about what you are going through and has made a way to help you through it.

When life overwhelms you, be still before God. Wait on Him and His timing. Ask for His wisdom. Ask for His will to be done. Focus on His truth. Reflect on the past and remember how God has been faithful before. What He did in your past, He can do again.

Take some time out over your overwhelming day to Selah.

Praise God in the Storm: Life Learned from Joseph’s Circumstances

Filed Under: Christian living // June 30, 2023

This Bible study is all about how to praise God no matter what situation you find yourself in.

There are so many examples in Scripture of those who have chosen to continue to praise God even in the storms of life. This Bible study takes a look at the life of Joseph and how He continued to praise God in the midst of questionable circumstances.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

The Question: How do you react when tragedy strikes?

What happens when life throws you a curveball? What is your reaction when everything seems to be going according to plan, and then BAM! Something completely out of left field catches you off guard?

For some, maybe it’s being stuck in college for another semester because you didn’t take that one fitness class freshman year. For others, maybe it’s losing your job of 15 years because we have a pandemic. Maybe it’s a miscarriage, or a parent dying. Whatever the situation is, how do you react?

A Christian’s response should be to praise God

As Christians, our response is to praise God. It’s crazy and hard, I know.

It’s easy to praise God when the good things are coming… when you are about to graduate college and you are admiring all of your hard work. Or when you just get the promotion you really wanted. But when tough times come? How do we praise God then? And how can a loving God actually ask us to praise Him? Doesn’t He know how unrealistic that is?

Well, I think God does know how hard it can be. When life doesn’t go the way we planned, our initial inclination is to have a bad mood about it. It can ruin our entire day, or even our week. But God, when He created the world, knew that you would be walking through this situation. And although He may not have planned for this particular derailment in your life, He has plans for the best in your life. Jeremiah 29:11 says that “God knows the plans he has for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

This is one of the most popular and most quoted Bible verses. But sometimes it doesn’t feel real. How can a loving God call you to something and then it falls apart? The very next verse in Jeremiah says “THEN you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all of your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12-13). So the question changes from why is God allowing you to go through something painful, to how do you seek God in the midst of pain and chaos.

Joseph’s Story

In Genesis 37-50, we find Joseph, who, through no doing of his own, was his father’s favorite. Because of decisions made generations before him, his brothers hated him (Genesis 37:3-4). After Joseph had some dreams (and bragged about them to his brothers) his brothers decide to sell him into slavery. Because of someone else’s actions, Joseph’s plans for himself come to a screeching halt. However, Joseph stuck with God.

praising God always — Are you asking the right question?

Joseph’s life can be divided into 5 main points of hardships.

1. Sold into Slavery

The first account we see of Joseph remaining faithful to God occurs right after his brothers sell him. He is sold as a slave to Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials. The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian Master. Joseph’s master saw that God was with him, and as a result, Potiphar benefited and his wealth increased. So Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his whole household.

2. Gone to Prison

After some time, Potiphar’s wife saw Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

But because Joseph was walking with God, he knew the difference between right and wrong, so he refused. This made Potiphar’s wife angry, so one day while they were alone in the house she tried again, saying ‘come to bed with me.” Again Joseph refused and ran the other direction.

So Potiphar’s wife made up a lie about Joseph, and she told her husband that Joseph was the one trying to get her in bed.

When Potiphar heard this, he threw Joseph in prison.

3. Waiting on God

But even in prison, Joseph stayed with God, and the Lord was with him. Again, in prison, the warden placed Joseph in charge of all those in the prison. Again, Joseph was elevated to a position of authority because he remained in relationship with God. Joseph chose to praise God even in prison.

After a while, Joseph met two prisoners who had dreams no one could interpret. But God used Joseph to interpret the dreams, and all Joseph asked in return was for the man to remember Joseph.

Nothing would happen for a long time. Joseph heard no news from the outside world. He felt forgotten… and he was forgotten: by the prisoner who was released, but not by God.

4. Being Elevated

After TWO full years had passed, Pharaoh, the leader of Egypt, had a dream and no one could interpret it. The cup bearer finally remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about it, and Joseph was brought before Pharaoh.

Joseph gave all the credit to God for interpreting the dream, and as a result, Joseph was again placed in charge of all Pharaoh’s palace. No one in the kingdom was greater than Joseph except for Pharaoh

5. Forgiving Others

Joseph was 30 when Pharaoh put him in charge of everything. Joseph presided over 7 good and prosperous years, storing away and getting ready for the 7 years of famine.

When the famine did come, Joseph’s own family needed to go to him to ask for grain. When Joseph saw his brothers he said to them “do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Genesis 45:5-7)

How to Praise God

Joseph stuck with God through all of these various trials that he encountered. At any point he could have easily said “life sucks, it’s not going the way I planned and I’m going to close myself off to God and others. I am going to protect myself and put up walls so that no one can do this to me again.” But… he didn’t. He kept praising God. Even when he had every right by our human standards to turn away from God, Joseph continued to praise God. There were so many times that Joseph could have given up. There were so many times that Joseph could have done what would come so naturally, and just ignore God. Not curse Him, just not acknowledge Him. But Joseph chose to do the hard thing.

How to praise God when it’s hard

Praising God isn’t always easy. Sometimes we don’t even want to want to praise God. But we make a conscious decision to say “God, you know what you are doing. Even though I don’t agree with the circumstances that I am seeing, I give it to you, God. I give you my trust, I give you my faith, I give you all of my uncertainties about you being a good father. I give you everything.”

We need to talk to God when we feel ourselves not wanting to, letting God know how we actually feel about whatever the situation is. Then we need to give it over to God. We need to let go of the control that we seek to have, and we need to praise God. We know that He has been faithful in the past, and He will be faithful again. Just as God brought Joseph through countless bad circumstances, God can bring you through yours.

Following Joseph’s example of praising God

And at the very end of Genesis, we see Joseph’s brother come up to him and throw themselves at his feet, saying “we are your slaves now”. But Joseph said to them “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).

When we give ourselves over fully to God, when we surrender our will and praise him, He draws us closer to Himself. He aligns our will with His, allowing us to bless other people we may come across. We can have peace knowing that God is in control over everything. We choose to praise Him even when we cannot see how a situation will turn out for our good. That is what it means to have faith.

How you can choose to praise God in the storms of your life

Hebrews 11:1 says “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” We can not always see how good will come out of the situation we are in, but we can trust that God is in control as we fix our eyes on Him (Hebrews 12:1-3). When we look to Jesus, we are not consumed by our circumstances. Since we are no longer consumed, we can choose to praise God through anything the world throws at us.

Self-love Vs. God’s love: How culture lies

Filed Under: Christian living // June 23, 2023

The term “Self-Love” has become very ingrained within our culture. It is hard to go a day without scrolling past a post on why self-love is important. And while self-love has some aspects of truth, does the cultural definition of self-love line up with God’s true definition of love?

How culture's definition of self-love misses God — Knowing the difference between self-love and God’s love helps us walk with God.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Self-Love Defined

Self-love is defined as regard (considering or thinking of, in a specific way) for one’s own well-being (the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy) and happiness (the state of feeling or showing pleasure or contentment). In other words, self-love is specifically thinking of your own comfort and feelings of happiness and pleasure.

Self-Love is Harmful

The idea of culturally defined self-love is harmful to us. The surprising thing is: it’s not new! The idea of pleasing yourself goes back to Adam and Eve being tempted with the forbidden fruit. The Bible offers many examples of why we should not live according to our own passions and desires. James writes that “temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. When sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death” (James 1:14-16).

Even Jesus spoke of following your own passions, saying that “out of the heart come evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:19).

Obviously, culturally defined self-love is not phrased in quite the same way as these verses. If it were, then its harmfulness would be easy to see, and we know that the enemy is deceptive (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Take a look at some of the self-love philosophies: “Start each day by telling yourself something positive about yourself – such as how much you love your body.” “Follow your passions.” “Live your life to reflect how you feel.” While all of these things are not inherently bad in themselves, they take the focus off of God and place it on yourself.

Again, this is not a new concept. Paul talks about placing too much emphasis on yourself. Romans 12:3 tells us to “not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Paul is not saying to belittle yourself or to have a false humility. Rather he is instructing the church to know their place in the Kingdom of God.

The Roman’s practiced this kind of self-love

The Idea of self-love was prevalent in the Roman Empire, and this is where we find Paul writing his letter. The culture back then was much the same as it is today. The Romans believed in being tolerable of others because each person owes it to themselves to pursue their own happiness. The Roman Empire was focused on pursuing all the pleasures life had to offer with little regard to consequences. So Paul reminds the church that when you are focused on yourself and your feelings, the kingdom of God loses priority in your life.

That is why, in Paul’s letters, he writes to do nothing out of selfish ambition, not looking to your own interests, but to the interest of others (Philippians 2:3-4). How can you put others above yourself when you are focused on pleasing yourself? Self-love goes against who God calls you to be. But then, if self-love is not actually loving, how do you love?

God’s Love is Pure

God’s love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13 as patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Reconciling God’s Love With Loving Yourself

Now that you know the difference between God’s love {a love that is pure} and self-love {a love that is toxic}, how do you love in the way that God intended?

First, you need to know how much God loves you. God is the standard when it comes to love. You cannot possibly love yourself unless you know how much your Creator loves you. Ephesians 1:3-14 talks about God’s love for you. How He chose you before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. Psalms 139:13 says that before you were born, God knit you together in your mother’s womb. He knows every detail of you and he loves you.

If you can learn to rest in the knowledge that God loves you fiercely, with a love that is relentless, constantly pursuing you and desiring a deeper relationship with you, you will begin to see that you do not need culturally defined self-love. You will have one that runs so much deeper. Your love for yourself will be patient and kind, bearing with your faults. It will not keep a record of your wrongs, knowing that God has forgiven them so you can too. Your love will be humble, knowing that you stand before the Creator of the universe. Your love will be whole, because you have been reconciled to the Father.

self-love vs God's love — The difference between self-love and living in God’s love.

Learning to love the way God does

Learning to love yourself as the Father loves you is the only way to truly love. It is only through God that you can grasp the concept of love. And once you know God’s love for you, it overflows from your life. God’s love causes you to love yourself and love others around you.

The way to know God’s love is to first of all pray, asking God to reveal His love to you, and second to read His word. The Bible is a love letter written for you from the one who loves you as no other ever has or ever can.

Reflect on the knowledge of God’s love for you

Have you bought into our culture’s lie of self-love? How can you spend time this week reflecting on the love that God has for you? As you go about your week, be reminded of the unsearchable and unconditional love that our Father has for you. Take time to meditate on His word.

Go now in the knowledge that the Father loves you and carries you in the palm of His hand.

How to be still before God

Filed Under: Christian living // June 16, 2023

Do you ever sit down to have your Jesus time and just find your mind is wondering and will not quiet down so that you can focus? God tells us that if we are still, He will fight for us. But in a world that is constantly focused on having the next best thing, how is it possible to actually be still? How can we sit before the throne of God? Is it possible to just focus on who He is and how great He is?

Be still before God — To be still before God is a skill that we need to learn in a world that is so busy.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

What if being still is just re-ordering our priorities and putting God first?

So often we can’t be still because we’re constantly looking for the next best thing. We have a fear of missing out as a society. But what if we realize that when we put our focus first on God, we can’t possibly miss out on anything else. Because next to God, everything else is meaningless (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Paul writes that he “considers everything worthless except for the saving grace of God” (Philippians 3:7-9).

What the Bible Tells us about Being Still

The Bible has a lot to say when it comes to being still. Here are just a few verses that come to mind.

Hold your peace and be still

Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

The word used here for “be still” is ḥāraš (חָרַשׁ), meaning to be silent or to hold your peace.

The Lord can only fight for us if we let Him. So often we get in the way thinking we know what is best – how we can best protect ourselves – but God chose us before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). He knit us together in our mother’s womb and knows everything about us (Psalm 139:13). We need to be silent before Him and listen to what He wants to do.

Be still and let God be in control

Psalms 37:7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

The Word used here is dāmam (דָּמַם), which can be translated as “rest”. Often, we get distracted because of the things going on in the world. I mean, the world is literally going crazy right now. How could a loving God really let these things happen? We need to remember that God is in control, and we have seen time and time again the love that God has for all of His people. Even when our heart and flesh may fail, God is the strength of our heart and our portion forever (Psalm 73:26). Focus on the ways you’ve seen God work in the past. Remember that the God who did it before can do it again.

God Is Our Anchor

Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be still my soul — Being still before God means letting Him take control.

The Hebrew word used here is rāp̄â (רָפָה) meaning “to sink, let drop, relax, abandon.” We have the hope of God as an anchor for our soul (Hebrews 6:19). When we are holding onto God, we don’t need to worry about the storm we are facing because we can trust that God will keep us safe through it. Psalms 46 states that God is our refuge, strength, and help in trouble. When you realize you don’t have the strength to fight your battles, hold on to God and let Him take over.

God Will Be Served

Jeremiah 47:6 “Alas, sword of the Lord, how long till you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still.”

Here, the Hebrew word used is dāmam (דָּמַם), meaning “to be silent, to be still, to wait, and to grow dumb.” During the time that Jeremiah 47 was written, the nation had turned away from God and they no longer followed God’s law. Everyone lived to please themselves and it was no longer safe to go out in the streets. They needed to turn back to God, serve Him faithfully, and wait on the Lord. Do you need to be still and know that He is God, waiting patiently on Him to act? How can you live your life in total surrender to God and be silent before Him in order to serve Him.

God is Holy

Zechariah 2:13 “Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”

The Hebrew word used here is hāsâ (הָסָה), which means “to hold your peace or be silent before the Lord”. We need to remember our position before God when we come to him. Habakkuk 2:20 says “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” Sometimes we come before God with petitions, and sometimes we come before Him in silence, expecting and allowing Him to speak into our lives, while reflecting on his holiness.

God Commands the Wind and the Waves to be still

Mark 4:39 “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”

The Greek words used here is phimoō (φιμόω), meaning “to muzzle, to put to silence, or to hold one’s peace.” God has the ability to silence us, covering us with His peace and making us still before Him, just as Jesus was in control of the waves. We can be confident that when we go to God with storms raging all around us, He will give us peace as we follow His command to be still before Him.

Be still and know that I am God — Being still before God means learning to rest in His presence.

Real Life Application for how to be still before God

Coming before God and deciding to be still takes practice. It’s not usually something that can happen overnight. But if you set up for yourself a time to dedicate to God, knowing that you will turn off all distractions, and praying for His help, He will be faithful and help you learn to be still in His presence.

Work on understanding why God calls you to be still before Him as you go about your week. Ask yourself “what are some ways I can intentionally practice being still this week?” Do you need to set your phone aside while you have your daily quiet time with God? Do you need to not have music playing during a commute so that you can talk to God? Find some intentional and creative ways that you can slow down and minimize distractions and be still before God this week.

How to Cultivate the perfect morning routine with your Creator

Filed Under: Christian living // January 11, 2023

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Proverbs 8:17

What you do in the morning sets the tone for the entire day. Whether or not you realize it, you have a morning routine. Not having a set routine is the same as having one. You can either wander around your house aimlessly, browsing through your phone, sipping coffee, watching Netflix, OR you can plan what your ideal morning looks like. Keep reading to find your own perfect morning routine!

Do you enjoy your mornings? Keep reading to find out how you can have the perfect morning routine!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

As followers of Christ, we are called to be intentional with our time. The bible tells us to “Always be prepared to give an answer… for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). The only way you can do this is by being intentional in setting time aside for God.

One of the most famous verses for having a daily morning time with Jesus is found in Mark 1:35: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed”. This verse has a few key points for us to take with us.

Learning from Jesus

Early in the morning

Jesus started his day off early. He was intentional about getting up before the distractions of this world to pray and talk to his father. But Jesus was not alone. The bible accounts 44 times when others got up early in the morning. In fact, in Exodus, the Lord tells Moses to get up early in the morning (Exodus 8:20). And in 1 Samuel you see a group of people rising early in the morning and going out to worship the Lord (1 Samuel 1:19).

Although getting up before the distractions of this crazy life will help you to have beneficial time with Jesus, it is important to note that not every season of your life will or should look this way. There are many examples in the Bible where God tells a specific person to get up early, and there are many other places where someone decides on their own to get up early. However, there is no universal command to every believer that we must get up early to spend time with God.

God desires your heart, not your checklist.

Jesus went to a solitary place

Part of having a relationship with God means that it has to be personal. Going to church is great, and participating in small groups is even better, but God desires a personal relationship with you. Matthew 6:6 talks about being alone to pray, stating ^“when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” God cares about your heart; he wants to know you in the secret places as well as the public ones. He wants to share that with you.

On a funny note, God seems to know that as humans we want others to see what should be done in the quiet of our hearts. Proverbs 27:14 says “If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.” Make sure you are courteous of your neighbors if you want to blast worship music before the sun is up.

Jesus left the house

Part of our calling as Christians is to go into all the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). You can’t share the good news of God unless you also leave the house.

Another aspect of this is to also include some kind of physical exercise into your morning routine. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 talks of our body as a temple of God. We are supposed to honor God with our bodies. One of the ways to do that is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and exercise.

Follow these steps to create your perfect morning routine with God!

How to construct your perfect morning routine

1. Find how much total time you have each morning

First, think about the time you have in the morning to devote to your perfect morning routine. Do you have 20 minutes or 2 hours before you need to leave the house and get on with your day?

2. List the things you would like to accomplish during your perfect morning routine

Once you know how much total time you have, think about how you want to split up the time. Is making breakfast part of your routine? Do you shower and do makeup every morning? What about working out?

3. Organize your morning schedule

Now that you know your time allotment and have a list of what you would like to accomplish, see how it all fits together. Perhaps you want to start the morning with a workout, followed by a shower and then time spent with God. Or maybe you want to start with your Jesus time before making breakfast. Whatever the case, list out the order that you want to follow for your morning routine.

4. Make sure your times line up

The last thing you want to do is make sure that you have not over or under-scheduled your time. Think about how much time each activity usually takes you, and then make sure that you have enough total time to fit everything in. Maybe you need to cut something out completely or dedicate more time to an activity. Whatever the case, your morning routine has more of a chance of being successful when you have a realistic goal for each piece.

5. Reevaluate your perfect morning routine often

More often than not, the first morning routine you come up with will not work out. During the first day or week you may notice that something is not working. Don’t be afraid to rearrange your routine and dedicate more or less time to make it fit you.

How to keep God first in your perfect morning routine

When setting up your routine, be mindful of how much time you have to dedicate to God each morning.

If you have 5-10 minutes to spend with God, you can start by completing a plan on the bible app (youversion). Most take a few minutes each day as they guide you though a topic in scripture.

If you have a few extra minutes, I recommend reading through the entire Bible during the year. Even though it sounds like a big task, it evens out to about 3 chapters a day and takes about 15 minutes. This is a great starting point for your morning if you are not used to doing anything consistently.

If you want to dig a little deeper and plan to spend 30-60 minutes each morning with God, you can split up your time into different components. You could start in prayer for 5-10 minutes, read scripture for 10-20, journal for 10-20, and pray or read a small devotional to finish up your time.

Tips for making your perfect morning routine stick

Think about what works for you. What are some of your goals in spending daily time with God? Ponder this as you write down a rough draft of what your time will look like. Remember that it is okay to change your routine as you figure out what works and what doesn’t work for you.

Is it realistic?

Make sure that whatever routine you decide to follow is realistic. If you want to spend an hour with God in the morning, do you have to wake up earlier? A good morning starts with a good night’s rest. Be honest with yourself with how much sleep you need each night. If you need a full eight hours to wake up feeling refreshed, make sure you can get yourself to bed in time to get your sleep and wake up for your Jesus time.

Be consistent

Now that you know the WHY of having a morning Jesus time, and you have a realistic plan to do so, make sure that you remain consistent in coming to Jesus every day. 1 Chronicles 23:30 says “they were also to stand EVERY morning to thank and praise the Lord.” Every morning requires consistency. It will be hard, but it will be worth it.

Remember, God loves you and desperately wants to have a relationship with you. God is waiting for you with open arms. It is up to you, and only you, to deepen your relationship with God.

Additional verses about rising early in the morning:

Genesis 31:55a Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them.

Exodus 16:7a and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord.

Psalm 5:3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.

Psalm 59:16 But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 88:13 But I cry to you for help, Lord;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.

Psalm 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.

Isaiah 26:9 My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.

Isaiah 33:2 Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Ezekiel 12:8 In the morning the word of the Lord came to me.

Luke 21:38 And all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.

What does your perfect morning routine with God look like? Comment below and share what works for you!

10 Amazing Promises From God to Remember When You’re Sad

Filed Under: Christian living // January 7, 2023

God loves you and desires your good. Throughout the Bible, there are countless promises from God for you – His child. All you need to do is look up toward Him and remember these promises.

Promises from God when you are sad — If you are feeling sad, turn to God! He is the comforter, and here are 10 of His promises for you!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Some days it can be really easy to focus on your situation and on all the things that are going wrong in your life. Unfortunately, this leads down a slippery slope that can lead to you feeling a little sad and maybe even helpless. When these days come, the best thing you can do is turn your focus away from everything that is going wrong and seek God.

God has given us so many wonderful promises in His word to help in your time of need. Below are 10 promises from God that you can focus on now to remember that God is in control when you are feeling blue.

1. God Promises that He is Faithful

2 Timothy 2:11-13 “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful for he cannot deny himself.”

There will never be a day when God is not faithful to you. Even in the days when your faith in God wanders, or when you’ve turned away from God for whatever reason, God is always faithful. There are so many stories of men and women in the Bible who have periods of being unfaithful to God, yet God remained faithful. The same God who was faithful to fulfil His promise to Sarah and Abraham will be faithful to you.

2. God will Never Leave You

Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

God is always beside you. You never have to worry about being alone because God is always there with you. There may be some days where you can’t feel God, but during these days you hang on to the promises that He has given to you. God says that He will never leave you nor forsake you. You have nothing to be afraid of because God goes with you.

3. God Chose You

Ephesians 1:4-5 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

Some days it may feel as if no one wants you, or that no one chooses to be with you. When you are feeling unworthy, remember that God chose you before the creation of the world. But more than that, God chose you to be Holy and Blameless in His sight. He made a way (through Jesus Christ) so that you can have a relationship with Him because of His great love for you.

4. You Are God’s Handiwork

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

If you are wondering what your purpose in this life is, remember that God created you as His handiwork. His very being is interwoven in your DNA. You were created to do all that God prepared in advance for you to do. Before you were born and had any inclination of what your passions are, God knew them and he made a way that you could use what you love to bring Him glory.

5. God Says You are Enough

Psalms 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

So often it is easy to get caught up in all of the things you’ve done wrong. But don’t let this attitude stop you from having a relationship with God and clinging to Him. God loves you so much that he separated you from your sins – as far as the East is from the West. Cling to the Father who is faithful in removing your faults. Listen to what He says about you, not what the world says about you.

What promises from God do you need — Is there a promise from God that you need to hang onto? One that you need to be constantly reminding yourself of

6. God Promises His Grace is Sufficient

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

During the times that you feel you have to hustle to get everything done, and even then you are still not good enough, remember that God’s grace covers you. You don’t have to worry about being better and working harder than everyone else because God is faithful. If He calls you to something, He will finish the work that He has started. Rest in the knowledge that God’s grace is sufficient for all your needs.

7. You Will Not Be Consumed

Lamentations 3:22-23 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Some days feel overwhelming. It may feel like you’re stuck in a fast-moving river and the stream is pulling you along and there is no way to get out. During these days, take hold of God and remember that if you cling to Him, you will not be consumed. He will sustain your every need.

8. God Knows Every Part of You

Psalms 139:13-16 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

When you’re feeling as if no one really knows you, remember that God knows every part of you and He still loves you! Don’t be afraid to open up to others about the struggles you are facing. God will be faithful and bring people into your life to help you, but you must be willing to reach out to them and be humble, open, and transparent. Ask your faithful creator for help in doing this.

9. God Keeps His Promises

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

So you know God’s promise but it’s taking forever for it to come about. Remember that God’s timing is not the same as ours, but He is always faithful. He reveals His promise at just the right time. Cling to God and spend time with Him as you wait for Him to fulfill His promise.

10. God Promises to be with You

Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

When you are feeling alone, remember that God is with you. Not only that, but He loves you and he takes delight in you! Draw near to God and partake in His presence. Remember that God desires to have a relationship with you and He is always with you.

Applying the Knowledge of the Promises of God

Now that you know some of God’s promises, find ways to remind yourself of them throughout the day. Write them on sticky notes and place them on your mirror. Write them on your wrist so that you constantly see them. Place them in your textbooks to give you peace when you study. Find ways to remind yourself of the promises and goodness of God.

Anytime you are feeling blue, remember that God is faithful and He loves you. He desires for you to be full of joy. God did not give you a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment (2 Timothy 1:7). Cling to God and remind yourself of His goodness. Focus on the promises of God and who He is, and you will be amazed that he replaces your sadness with joy.

How to Pray the Lord’s Prayer Over Your Life

Filed Under: Christian living // November 11, 2022

Have you ever wondered HOW to pray? I’m sure you already knew that you should pray, but that’s the easy part. How to pray is where it gets tough. It sure is a good thing Jesus left instructions in the Lord’s Prayer, saying “This, then, is how you should pray:

‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’”

Matthew 6:9-13

But what does this prayer really mean, and why should you pray it (other than the fact that Jesus told you to)?

The Lord’s prayer, explained: everything you need to know about how to pray the Lord’s prayer

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Beginning the Lord’s prayer

The context of scripture matters. When you pray the Lord’s Prayer, you need to remember the reason Jesus instructed His followers to pray this prayer in the first place.

This prayer takes place in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, and Jesus is instructing a crowd on how to pray. The first thing to note is that Jesus was instructing a large crowd… AKA you. Jesus was talking to everyone from day laborers, to mothers, to the rich and wealthy. He did not discriminate against those who came to hear Him teach. He had a place for everyone who wanted to hear. Jesus was talking to those who were hungry to hear His words. He was talking to those who already believed He was the Christ. He was also talking to those who would never believe that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Jesus calls you to pray the Lord’s prayer

More importantly, Jesus was speaking to you. He had your days planned out before the creation of the world. He knew you would have the questions, the doubts, and the uncertainties BEFORE you were born. And guess what, He welcomes those because it can be through those questions that you draw near to Him. Then He can draw near to you. Because of this, Jesus gave you the Lord’s prayer so that you can talk to God even when you don’t know what to say.

This, then, is how you should pray

Before Jesus even instructs His followers on how to pray, He tells them how not to pray. He says “Don’t be like those who have lengthy prayers in order to sound right with me. Their hearts are actually far from me. For even though you, my child, are looking to the outward appearance, to the thing you can see, I am looking at your heart. I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I desire a heart that is humble and loves me, not one that is proud with the knowledge they have stored up for themselves” (Paraphrased).

Jesus desires a personal relationship with you. That is why he says not to be like those who seem like they know all the right things to say. That is why Jesus instructs us on how to pray. He knows that we become self-conscious in front of our Creator God. He knows that you long to say all the right things with the right Spirit, but you don’t know where to start.

Jesus gives you the words to say as a building block to grow in your relationship with Him – just as you have the Holy Spirit to intercede for you through wordless groans when you don’t know how to pray or what to say.

So Jesus begins… (the famous Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father in heaven

OUR Father… In the same way that God wants a personal relationship with you, God wants a communal relationship with you as well. Not only are you supposed to gather together with other believers to encourage one another, but you are also supposed to acknowledge the Trinity when you pray. OUR father. Here is Jesus praying with us, saying God is both your father and mine. When you pray OUR Father, you are also inviting Jesus and the Holy Spirit in as well.

God is your Father (in Greek, father is pater), so when you pray “our Father” you are praying to the creator, upholder, and ruler of the stars, earth, and moon. God is also the creator, preserver, guardian, and protector of all rational and intelligent beings, both angels and mankind.

But perhaps, most importantly, when you are praying to your Father, you are praying as someone who (through Christ) has an intimate relationship with God. So when you pray “Our Father in heaven” remember that God desires an individual and communal relationship with you. Remember that God is a good father, who loves you and protects you, and has reconciled you to Him.

Hallowed be your name

When you say that God’s name is hallowed, you are saying that is it Holy, set apart, and Sanctified. The Greek word used here is hagiazo, which also means to purify “by expiation, freeing you from the guilt of sin, and by internal renewing us the soul.” When you pray hallowed be your name, you are not only saying that He is Holy and set apart, but you are also thanking God for cleansing you and forgiving you of your sins.

The Greek word for name is onoma and it encompasses everything which the name covers, meaning every thought or feeling that is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering that name.

So when you pray “hallowed be your name” you are giving glory to God for being Holy, and you are reflecting on His goodness.

Your kingdom come

God’s kingdom… One of my favorite sayings is: “If it doesn’t matter for eternity, does it really matter at all.” This always brings arguments and offenses into perspective as I am reminded that my purpose is to give glory to God and lead others into His kingdom.

God’s kingdom is here and now. Jesus made that clear many times as he walked on the earth, saying “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come” (Matthew 4:17). If God’s kingdom is already here, then why did Jesus tell you to pray for it to come? Jesus said this so that you could prepare your heart and mind for the kingdom. Jesus said this as a way of helping yourself check your motives and perspective throughout the day.

Come, in Greek, is erchomai. One of the definitions of erchomai is to be established and to become know.

When you pray “your kingdom come” pray that your perspective can change so that you are focused on God’s kingdom. Pray that God can set His throne in your heart to be established, and your life can reflect His goodness so that He can become known.

Your will be done

A popular question is “How do you know God’s will for your life?” Well, it’s simple. Go to the Bible. God lays out His will, saying: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Part of that renewal is going to the Bible and spending time with God to grow in your relationship with Him.

Ephesians 1:5 says that God predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. Remember, God chose you before the creation of the world to be Holy and blameless in His sight. The Bible says that God does not want anyone to perish, so we know that part of God’s will is that everyone will come to repentance through Jesus Christ.

When you pray for God’s will to be done, start with this understanding. God wills for everyone to be in relationship with Him, starting with you.

On earth as it is in heaven

Here, you are praying that God’s will be done on earth, just as it is in heaven. In heaven, everyone will be praising God and worshiping Him together. Isaiah 6:3 gives a glimpse of heaven when the seraphim worship, saying “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” When you pray that it is on earth as it is in heaven, you are praying that you learn to worship as you will in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread

So often, it is easy to worry about tomorrow. But Jesus reminds His followers that the sparrows do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Jesus asks “are you not more valuable than they? So why do you worry about tomorrow?” Jesus is saying not to worry about tomorrow, for today had enough trouble of its own.

When the Israelites were wandering in the desert for 40 years, God sent manna (also known as bread) down for them each day, and His only command was that they only take enough for the day, because tomorrow He would provide again. But many of the Israelites decided to keep some overnight, in case they were not given manna the next day. And the manna that they saved up rotted because they did not keep God’s command. God will provide. Think of all the times that God provided for you in the past and reflect on that as you pray this section of the prayer.

Jesus is also known as the bread of life. So when you pray for your daily bread, you are also praying that Jesus goes with you throughout your day.
And forgive us our debts

And Forgive us our debts

This one seems pretty self-explanatory. We like it when others forgive our wrongs. But take a moment to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus dying on a cross to take your sins upon Himself in order that God might forgive you. When you pray for God to forgive you for your debts, remember the one who took it upon Himself to pay for you.

As we also have forgiven our debtors

This is the only statement in the prayer that Jesus tells His followers to do something. Here, in the middle of a daily prayer, Jesus tells you to forgive anyone who has offended you. Whether that offense was put on you by someone else, or you picked it up, Jesus tells you to lay it down and forgive.

And lead us not into temptation

This is an interesting thing to pray because James says “when tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

So why would Jesus tell you to pray this? It is a way of asking God for wisdom to lead you around situations in which you could be tempted. You can either place yourself in situations where temptations abound and it is easy to get caught up in them, or you can remove yourself from the situation altogether, making it easy to flee from the temptation. When you pray for God to deliver you from temptation, you are asking God to help you keep clear of harmful situations as you keep your eyes on Him.

But deliver us from the evil one

One of the ways to be delivered from the evil one is to be in constant communion with the Father. Peter talks about the evil one as a “roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” When you are praying for deliverance, it could be both future tense and present tense. You pray to be delivered in the future as a way of safeguarding yourself. You admit to God that you are not perfect, but He is, and you will need help when situations arise to know what to do. But you also pray in the middle of a situation as soon as you know that the lion has you in His mouth. God is faithful. He will rescue you from any situation if you reach out to Him with a heart of repentance.

Let’s review the Lord’s Prayer

When you pray:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one”

Stop and reflect on the different lines in the Lord’s prayer. Reflect on all of the ways that God has been faithful in the past. Remind yourself of the greatness and majesty of God. Forgive those who you have something against, and safeguard yourself so that you can stand firm in your walk with God.

How and when can you pray the Lord’s prayer this week?

How to pray God’s blessing over your life

Filed Under: Christian living // October 20, 2022

Have you ever wondered how to pray God’s blessing over your life? God deeply desires to bless you and He even gives a template of what to pray in the Old Testament.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

The Aaronic Blessing

The Aaronic Blessing has become very popular following Kari Jobe’s release of The Blessing. But the Blessing is not new, in fact, it has been around since the Bible was written. We can find the original benediction in Numbers 6:24-26, where the Lord tells Moses to instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the Israelites. They were to say:

The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.

This passage used to be widely known among Christians. Pastors would say it after Sunday sermons, devotionals would have it as part of the daily reading, and parents would pray it over their children. But for some reason, it seemed to drift away until the song was written and it was popularized again (God has a way of making His promises known to us).

God’s Blessing is important to pray because it reminds you of the truth of who God is and who you are in Him. In Christ, you have so much value. As you go through your day, it becomes easy to feel unimportant and worthless, hurried along by the currents of life, but God values us. God desires to give us every promise He said in The Blessing. Although you cannot claim those promises unless you remember the Blessing throughout your day.

The Lord's Blessing — How are the blessings of God displayed in your life?

Here is a breakdown of the six Promises in God’s blessing:

The Lord Bless You.

The Hebrew word used here is barak, meaning to bless, or to kneel down. A blessing is a favor or a gift given to someone from the Lord. So in a word picture, you can see God kneeling down before you and offering you His gifts.

The Lord Keep You.

The Hebrew word used here is Shamar, meaning to keep and preserve. To preserve means to keep something in its original state. Your original state came when God created you before the beginning of the world to be Holy and Blameless in His Sight (Ephesians 3). When God preserves you, He is working to bring you back into that close relationship with him.

Shamar also means to guard and protect, by hedging in with thorns. It was a common practice for those tending sheep to make an encasement out of thorns so that no predator could get in to harm the sheep. In the same way, God is going on all sides of you and stopping harm from coming to you.

The Lord Make His face Shine Upon You.

The Hebrew words used here are Paniym or.

Paniym Means “face” or “countenance”. It is also translated as “presence”. Here, the Lord is saying that His presence will go with you. This is the same word that is used in Genesis when Adam and Eve were in the garden after they had sinned and eaten the fruit that they were told not to eat. Adam and Eve heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and they hid from the presence of the Lord God. (Genesis 3:8). This verse is saying that God is walking beside you.

Or means “Shine” or “illuminate.” God’s presence is lighting the way for you. Psalm 119:105 says “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” God’s presence lights the way for you so that you do not stumble.

The Lord Be Gracious To You.

The Hebrew word used here is hanan, meaning gracious, or mercy. This promise says that the Lord will be courteous, kind, and pleasant, showing divine grace to you. It also says that the Lord will show compassion and forgiveness when it is within His power to condemn you for your sins (separation from Christ).

The Lord Turn His Face Toward You.

The Hebrew words used here are nasa paniym. Again, paniym is face or presence while nasa is to bear, carry, support, and endure. So while God is being present with you, he is carrying your burdens. Psalms 55:22 says to “Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

The Lord Give You Peace.

Peace is something we all desire.

The Hebrew word used here is shalom, meaning peace, prosperity, or completeness. It is also used to signify friendship with God. Shalom is to restore what has been lost or taken by making something whole again. God desires to restore you. God’s blessing for you includes a peace that surpasses all understanding, no matter what circumstances you face.

A deeper understanding of God’s blessing

Now that you know some of the Hebrew behind this passage, you can come to a more full picture of the Aaronic Blessing, and how God desires to bless you.

YHWH (the LORD) will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection.

The LORD, YHWY, will illuminate the wholeness of his being toward you bringing order and he will give you comfort and sustenance.

YHWH (the LORD) will lift up his wholeness of being and look upon you and he will set in place all you need to be whole and complete.

Praying God’s Blessing

As you pray this Blessing, pause over each phrase and allow the truth of God to sink in. Thank God for His continued goodness and faithfulness in your life.

Pray this Blessing at the beginning of your devotions to open yourself up to God’s truth and what He wants to speak to you as you read His word.

You can also pray this Blessing at the end of your devotions as a benediction, reflecting on God’s attributes, and who God has called you to be in Him.

Furthermore, you can pray this Blessing as you go about your day. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to pray continually. Praying the Blessing throughout your day will help you to be focused on God. By focusing on God, you ensure that the worries and deceitfulness of life do not choke out what you hear (Matthew 13). Isaiah 26:3 says that “God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in Him.” God’s blessing for you is that you will find completeness in Him. That you will go to Him and find your joy and strength for the day.

Remembering God’s Blessing

The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.

Think about God’s blessing as you go about your week. Write it down where you can see it and be reminded of His love for you. Rest in the peace of knowing that no matter what you go through, God will always be there with you.