Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

Mark 4:37-40, “But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. The he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

We all face trials that are indeed storms, whether in our own lives or in the lives of someone very close to us. So often, we feel as if we shouldn’t have to deal with any difficulties because we want peace. What is currently in your boat of fear, like the disciples had in this situation? What do you fear? How many unmet expectations were involved? What caused your fear and anxiety?

Notice Jesus was in the storm too, along with the disciples. He was in their presence. Side note, this storm was so severe it took the properties of a hurricane, so no wonder these men were frightened. The disciples thought He didn’t care because He was sleeping, so they woke Him and complained, shouting, “Don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” How did they know they were going to drown? They obviously expected the worst and panicked. Don’t we do that too when we’re in our own boat facing a storm and maybe make similar accusations toward God? Anxiety distracts us, keeps us from having a clear focus on our vertical relationship with God. It causes us to only see what is right before us – our current circumstance, which is our horizontal – the things of this world.

Jesus encouraged the disciples and showed them compassion, reminding us that His patience remains with us even when we falter. Notice He rebukes the wind and the waves, but not the disciples. Who was the creator of the wind? That is who gave the order for this storm to cease immediately which it did! Jesus does not condemn them for their lapse of faith in God’s power. He wanted them to remember what they had learned from Him. He wants the same from us.

When facing life’s storms, believers can choose to trust God’s sovereignty instead of grumbling, “God, why didn’t you give me something better?” which reflects idolatrous discontentment. The better choice is to put off fear, resist it, and trust in God’s responsibility to provide His sovereign will and His intended result: shaping us more into the image of Christ (progressive sanctification), not merely relieving our pain. Then put into practice Philippians 4:6,7, which states, “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard our hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Next time when anxiety and fear hit, ask what the cause of your fear is. Then remember, God is in this storm with you. When troubling and scary things happen remember what you’ve learned about God because He is teaching you again to rely on Him. So, ask Him, “God, what do you want me to learn out of this? Give me Your wisdom and calm this storm, because I know that You are right here with me in this boat.” The disciples’ lesson was to learn something about Him they wouldn’t have known otherwise: God is sovereign over everything that comes our way. It seems I need to learn that lesson over and over in my own life. Put your name in Mark 4:30, “Then he asked ___________, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Listen to Matthew West – Truth Be Told (Official Video).

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV, For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

What have your thoughts been about recently? Our minds never shut down, and we often keep talking to ourselves about what is going on or how we are being treated. Then our motives influence our emotions. These emotions are one way our hearts express what we crave, treasure, and serve. Our emotions reflect what our idols are – what we worship. They reveal what has captured our hearts. Paul taught that we are to take every thought captive to obey Christ in our battles. Jesus declared in Matthew 12:34b, 37, “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. . . The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

How about when you are waiting in line, and the line doesn’t move? Impatience, right? How do you react to computer problems? Perhaps fear, disgust, or outbursts come out due to receiving a poor customer service representative in your plea for the correct solution. Our frustrations and unhappiness show in our thoughts. For example, you arrive on time for an appointment and have to wait 10-15 minutes or longer for the other person to arrive, or sitting in the Doctor’s waiting room can be annoying because we have other things to get done that day as we wait. Or maybe you dwell on, as I have, “I did it again! I can’t do anything right!” Or you fall into judgmental pride, and you wonder, “How did that person ever get a driver’s license? What an idiot!” That is a common reaction here in So. California. We have all been there, caught up in our own tornado of anxiety.

But what if we stopped and ran our thoughts through Scripture’s filter and asked ourselves, “Do my thoughts honor and glorify God? Is there anything I can thank and praise God for here, as every moment of my day He has sovereignly permitted, as Romans 8:28-29 states”. We so often quote, but do we (I) live it?

Paul’s defense (2 Cor. 10) was that he was powered by divine authority. His goal and purpose were spiritual transformation to destroy strongholds of the bad fruits/roots in life, which are: idolatry, anger, quarreling, selfishness, pride, lack of self-control, envy, not trusting God, jealousy, bitterness, and not trusting God’s sovereignty and justice. And to put on instead the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, and is defined by joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, trusting God, and honoring God through our actions, thoughts, and emotions (Gal. 5:22-23).

Remember, God doesn’t waste anything. He uses all things to conform us to be more like Christ, called progressive sanctification. When our thoughts become more Christlike as God transforms us into a new person by changing the way we think (Romans 12:1-2), we are redeemed, and our aim is to please God rather than ourselves in learning God’s will for us.

So, the question to ask is, how am I doing at taking every thought captive to obey Christ in captivating my emotions to make me obedient to Christ? Write down verses such as Ephesians 6:13-17 (the armor of God to put on) in your journal or on 3 x 5 cards, or even in the Notes app on your cell phone. Assault errors in one’s thoughts with God’s truth from His Word. That is where the victory will come and stop those tornadoes brewing and to “always be full of the joy in the Lord (Philippians 4:4a),” by taking every thought captive to obey Christ.

Listen to Matthew West – Come Alive (Lyric Video).

Matthew 6:33: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

We all go through trials and suffering, and that is when we are tested in if we truly trust God or not, yet God’s love and protection remain steadfast. This is when we have the opportunity to ask: where and in whom do we place our ultimate sense of security? Do we really trust that God loves us and is our shield, refuge, and stronghold in times of trouble, as David wrote in gratitude for God’s justice and deliverance in Psalm 9:9, which gives us hope? Fears can creep in as Satan throws his darts of doubt and may inflict us with insults and setbacks from people we didn’t expect. Then we may give way to feelings of failure, frustration, shame, and maybe guilt. Does this sound familiar?

The tornado of anxiety can erupt if not checked by our faith in God’s sovereignty over our lives, which is essential for trusting His plan instead of trying to control everything ourselves. Scripture guides us to “put off” the bad roots in our hearts that lead us to seek self-desires. We try to work harder to control our fear, and all the “what ifs” flood into our minds. The next usual reaction is that we start to feel angry, alone, depressed, might have bitterness, resentment, pride, envy, and jealousy towards others, and seek false beliefs in coping techniques. These bad roots start to grow in our hearts, which Scripture warns us to “put off” in Galatians 5:19-21. Bad roots in our hearts produce bad fruit, leading to anxiety, frustration, and disappointment as we try to control what is God’s responsibility, such as others’ feelings, behaviors, choices, actions, and responses. We can control only our own emotions, thoughts, words, and responses, not others’.

When something troubling comes up and the future looks bleak, I’m tempted to react with those bad roots found in Gal. 5:19-21. We must ask ourselves: Whether these circumstances look bleak or hopeful and does my trust in God last only as long as the threat seems distant, or do I trust God first? So, it comes down to relinquishing control of what is God’s responsibility versus what is ours. We need to “put on” good roots/good fruits, found in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the Holy Spirit produces the kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Suffering and trials expose what is in our hearts. Adversity enhances our need for the teaching in God’s Word, as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 declares, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

What do you need right now? Talk to God, seek Him and trust in Him rather than people. Put on Philippians 4:4-7: “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say again – rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Who or what do we (I) need to seek first for any situation? It is found in Matthew 6:33: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Listen to Hope Never Fails – Zach Williams, Carrie Underwood, Lauren Daigle, & Chris Tomlin.

Philippians 4:8, “And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Anxiety is the most common and biggest struggle people deal with. When anxiety takes residence, worry and then depression normally result. Be alerted to recognizing Satan’s tactics. It is a sure sign that Satan has used his weapons of temptation to play havoc in your life with guilt, shame, frustration, and failure. He did it first with Eve in the garden, and he hasn’t stopped ever since, planting divisive seeds of doubt in our mind, will, and emotions, which is our heart. As Louie Giglio has said, “Don’t give the enemy a seat at your table.”

During my lifetime, I have only known three men who never had any problems with anxiety. One was quite well known, who was John MacArthur. He even said he and his wife, Patricia, never argued because he believed so strongly in knowing and understanding God’s sovereignty. Honestly, I find that amazing. He taught that if one wants to be free from anxiety, one’s theology needs to be grounded in God’s sovereignty and repentance and having an active trust in God’s providence. Food for thought.

Everything starts in our heart (mind, will, and emotions). We must examine our motives and think biblically all the time. We have biblical examples such as David prayed to God in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Paul taught in Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Then Peter declared in 1 Peter 5:7, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” And now look what Paul transparently wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:28, “And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” Paul carried strong compassion, empathy, and concern for the young churches, worrying about whether they would stay true to the gospel and free from false teachings and inner strife. Then in 2 Corinthians 1:8 we see that Paul experienced despair as he states, “We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God.” Note that Paul doesn’t talk about all of the details, just that they thought they were going to die and realized it was out of their control. They stopped relying on themselves and recognized that their hope was in God’s rescue (2 Cor. 1:10), which did take place.

So, the next time you feel ready to panic instead of first running to your best friend and complaining, as I have been guilty of, try praising God for His faithfulness, grace, and mercy. This shift can help one feel hopeful, reminding of His loving kindness and promises, which can bring comfort during anxiety. Then put the expected results of your burden in God’s hands.

I don’t have all the answers and fail many times. Old habits are hard to break, as anxiety is the most common struggle we all face from time to time. But work at being God-dependent and not people dependent. Transform your thinking by God’s Word; be set free, as it declares in Philippians 4:8: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Listen to Charity Gayle – I Speak Jesus (Lyrics) ft. Steven Musso.

Psalm 62:5-6, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence. For my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. ESV.

What causes you to have anxiety? We’ve all been there throughout our lifetime, and I believe that it is the most common struggle suffered. Is it your schedule of things you are responsible for getting done by a certain time frame? Is it physical stress on your body, or is it more emotional stress – or maybe both? Have you ever had someone tell lies about you and were jealous of your role? David wrote Psalm 62 when his son Absalom was throwing a rebellion against David. He had political strategy to steal the hearts of the people against David as king. 2 Samuel 15:13-14 states, “A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!” “Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.” I would say David had reason to be anxious for his life and the safety of the city’s innocent inhabitants, wouldn’t you?

David spoke to God about all the emotions he felt in this threatening situation, and it was with his own son. The band of men, along with Absalom, told lies against David, and all of them were trying to kill David. But David reaffirmed his faith in God. Prayer can release our emotional tension in anxious moments. What if, instead of running to a family member or best friend, we did what David did in Psalm 62 – waited quietly before God, prayed, and believed victory would come from God (Ps. 62:1)? David’s hope was from God, and his strong God-based foundation was built solidly upon his trust, faith, assurance, and hope in God. He called God “my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”

We say we know God is in control, but do we live it during those excruciating emotions when we are stressed out physically and emotionally? I fail at this so many times. David further declared in Psalm 62:7, “My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.” David gave gratitude and praise to God for protecting him, answering his prayer, even though it was painful to lose his son Absalom.

So, you have another new problem? Read Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” This reminds you that God’s presence is a steady source of comfort, helping you feel supported when facing challenges.

What has caused you anxiety this week? Have your next step be Psalm 37:7a, NLT: “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.” Don’t be shaken. God is in control; He is omnipresent, which means He is everywhere, and He is with you right now and loves you completely. We cannot control other people’s thoughts, desires, words, choices, actions, and responses in the outcomes of any situation. But we can control our thoughts, desires, words, choices, actions, and responses in our emotions. So, give it to God. Wait for Him to answer you. You can trust Him. Remember, when we attempt to control what is God’s responsibility, it will result in anxiety, frustration, and disappointment. Pray Psalm 62:5-6 out loud. Let that quiet your anxious heart as you read that passage and others in the book of Psalms, as David became one of the greatest hymn writers in writing out prayers to God. God used music in David’s life as he sang to God often. God knows the answer. Be encouraged. Have hope. Be an encourager.

Listen to Cece Winans – Come Jesus Come (Official Video)

Daniel 2:16-18, “Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant. Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, what had happened. He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon.”

The book of Daniel centers on the profound theme of God’s sovereignty. We can gain from the lessons in life Daniel learned which were these three things: 1) Stand by one’s convictions, which often earn deep respect from others. 2) Don’t wait until a crisis occurs to learn of the value of prayer. 3) God can use you wherever God places you. I must ask myself: how much trust in God do I have? What is the source of my ultimate security? Whether the future looks bleak or hopeful, do I really trust God, or does my trust last only as long as the threat seems distant? This is what Daniel and his three friends faced in Babylon.

King Nebuchadnezzar was a tyrant, wondered about the future of his kingdom, and had a disturbing dream that troubled him. He demanded that his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers tell him what he dreamed and what it meant (Dan. 2:2). These men couldn’t and were ordered to be killed. Can you imagine this scenario? How could anyone have told this king what he dreamed without him telling what the dream was? Daniel went to the king and requested more time to tell him what his dream was and what it meant, which the king agreed to. This was a crisis point for Daniel. Instead of panicking, he went to his three closest dedicated to God friends, and they prayed together for God to answer. Daniel believed that God would give him wisdom, knowledge, show them His mercy, and tell him what to tell the king was his dream and its meaning. When we panic, we are confirming our lack of trust in God. However, prayer confirms hope in God.  David stopped and declared in gratitude, praise, and worship to God, acknowledging God’s sovereignty, wisdom, and power (Dan. 2:19-23), and thanked God for answering their request which God did. Then Daniel tells the king what his dream was and what it meant but first gives God the glory (verses 27-28) and states the fact that no man can reveal the king’s secret, but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets and has told Daniel what will happen in the future regarding the kings dream regarding the future. David listened to the voice of God, gave praise honor and glory to God in gratitude and thanksgiving for answering their prayers, and told the king what no other man could tell him, due to their fervent prayers to the only true God.

In Daniel 2:21, Daniel declares, “He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.” Recognizing God is in control and not our control of events gives us hope and the assurance of His sovereignty gives us peace.

When you are under stress, remember Daniel and his three friends when they prayed fervently and asked God for wisdom, knowledge, and the power of God to know what the king’s dream was and what it meant, and God abundantly answered, killing any panic mode. You may not feel highly intelligent or capable, but by the power of prayer, you can accomplish great things for God through God’s almighty, sovereign plan for your life. Don’t panic – pray.

Listen to Mix – From Everlasting (Psalm 90) Official Lyric Video.

Ephesians 4:2, “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other’s faults because of your love.” NLT

The word “always” means perpetually, incessantly, continually, and the idea of a continuous practice carried on without being abandoned. Paul taught what the character of a worthy walk was always to be. Peter taught in 1 Peter 3:15, “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”  We are always to be prepared to tell others what Christ has done in our lives. If we had that mindset, if I had that mindset, I have to ask myself: wouldn’t I “always” then be humble, gentle, patient with others, and what is Paul stating? Really? Am I always supposed to make allowances for others’ faults because of my love for them, and then guide and motivate them to do better? Yes, he is. This is biblical truth for keeping unity in the church that Paul was teaching about in having oneness in their union with Christ by faith. We in the body of Christ complement one another, and Paul wrote this letter to strengthen and encourage the church in Ephesus and neighboring local churches. Keep thinking about what we should “always” be acting as; this verse also applies to other areas of our lives where we work and serve as we are ambassadors for Christ wherever we go.

Now look at what Paul taught Christians should do in Colossians 3:12, “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” There it is again! Making allowances for each other’s faults with the requirement of remembering how much God has forgiven us. That is the key to not giving in to the temptation of anger, anxiety, and fear. If we always lived with a humble and gentle attitude towards others and were patient with their shortcomings because of our love for Christ and all He has done in our lives, “always” should be doable. It’s one thing to know the truth of the Good News of having a new life in Christ, but to live it “always” before others negates anger, anxiety, and fear, all because of having a righteous and biblical perspective. Can I always be kind, show mercy, humility, gentleness, and patience, and not be offended and not hold grudges? No, but with the Holy Spirit’s help, and by asking God to help me understand all I need to know about Him, the workings of His Spirit in my life, giving Him my worship, praise, and confessing my sins that offend Him (Ps. 139:23-24), as He knows my heart, I will get there one day at a time. How about you, which “always” do you need to work on?

Listen to Matthew West – Here And Heaven (Lyric Video).

Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” NLT

“I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.” CSB

We have a garage project going on, and we’ve gone through a stack of storage bins that have items in them, to decide what to keep and what to throw away or give to Goodwill once the project is completed. The remaining items in our storage bins are valuable, hold worthwhile memories, and serve a purpose in various ways. Many of the items are meaningful treasures to keep. Storage bins store things. Biblically speaking, our heart is where God’s Word is a treasury of what we need to keep and store in our hearts. God’s Word is our antidote to sin and our path to growing in holiness. It is not to be forgotten or ignored, but stored in our hearts, just like our storage bins, for living in obedience and having God’s guidance in our lives.

What are you storing in your heart? I am realizing more and more the importance of memorizing God’s Word, as it is truth to be applied to any and every situation that encompasses us. It will not be forgotten or ignored, as the psalmist stated in Ps. 119:11. We are to have it hidden and treasured. When we understand, meditate on, review, and memorize Scripture, we will put God’s Word in our lives as a vital guide for everything we do. As Colossians 3:12-13 teaches, “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.” Then Paul further instructs, in verses 16-17 (and he did this while in prison), “Let the message of Christ, in all its riches, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” I have to ask myself: do I have these verses stored in my heart, especially when someone offends me and remind myself of these words of truth?

God is primarily after our hearts and is less concerned with our behavior than with our hearts, as Jesus condemned the religious leaders in Matthew 23:28: “Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.” The Pharisees and teachers of religious law were filled with greed and corruption while appearing upright and sinless. Jesus saw through their actions and saw what was stored in their hearts. They only outwardly appeared to be righteous in public (Luke 16:15).

So the question, in looking at one of our storage bins, I had to ask myself, “What am I storing in my heart as I look at this storage bin? That is the innermost place where God’s promises are stored, treasured, and kept close, from which all my actions flow – my emotions, desires, regrets, foolish words I wish I could take back, then times of pride, resentment etc. (Mark 7:20-23).

So, as I look at one of our storage bins, it reminds me to examine what is stored in my heart. How would you answer this question?

Listen to Phil Wickham, Jamie MacDonald – Flowers (with Jamie MacDonald) [official lyric video].

https://youtu.be/CfeOVWcLxP8?si=Qrf_rk8vI2JLvmvV

Luke 12:6-7, “What is the price of five sparrows – two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” NLT

Have you ever believed the lies that God has put you aside on a shelf for now, that God is not enough, and that He is not really involved in your life? Jesus used sparrows to illustrate God’s watchful care and intimate knowledge of us as His children. Heavy burdens can overcome and overwhelm us. I have been there many times. But God sees you; He sees me, and everything that is happening in the world – even to sparrows. Jesus stated in Matthew 10:29-31, “What is the price of two sparrows – one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Sparrows are very small birds and are not brightly colored. Sparrows were inexpensive in New Testament times, and always around, so they seemed unimportant. Yet sparrows were dependent upon God for their daily needs. Do you fully realize you have great value to God no matter what you can and cannot do? God’s estimate of our worth is not based on our performance, achievements, getting everything checked off on our “to-do list for the day,” or outward appearance. Yet how many times do we judge ourselves by these very things, and they then become idols when they dominate our thoughts.

 It all goes back to living the cross-centered life and preaching the gospel to ourselves every day. God showed how valuable you are to Him by sending His only Son to die for you (John 3:16). Any difficult trial or threat cannot disengage God’s love or cancel out His Spirit from within you.

Next question: Are you believing the lie that God is not really involved in your life? Jesus said in Luke 12:6-7 and Matt. 10:29-31 that we are worth much more than a sparrow and even sees when they fall to the ground. Every life, no matter how small, even the sparrows, is precious to God. No one is beyond God’s care for the details of our circumstances. We have the promise of truth in Psalm 34:15, which states, “The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.” Then read Isaiah 65:24 out loud: “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” Sometimes God’s answer is no, not yet; other times, yes. So, trust God’s sovereign will. God is more concerned with what He needs to teach us and with developing our character to become more Christ-like, is always His purpose.

How do these truths apply to the issues you are currently facing? Ask God to help you see something new about Him as you read these verses again. Ask Him to correct any lies you believe about Him or anything you misunderstand. You may not always feel God’s presence, but dear one, He is right there and cares about what you are experiencing. Ask God what He wants you to learn from the situation. Turn your focus off of “God, this is what I want.” Instead, ask God, “What do you want of me, and direct my steps according to Your Word of truth,” trusting that He will guide you in the right direction, because He is omnipotent, therefore He is able to do anything consistent with His desires as God. “Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you.” Psalm 37:5. God is enough.

Listen to Cece Winans – Goodness of God (Official Video)