Psalm 23 in a Different Way

On October 7, 2025 By vickleaIn A Miracle Every Day by Grant Fishbook, devotional, God’s blessings, Scripture3 Comments

This is from Grant Fishbook who writes a daily devotional called “A Miracle Every Day.” If you like today’s blog, check out his site at jesus.net

From Grant’s devotional today:

No matter what you’re facing today, I’d like to give you a simple gift from Psalm 23 to remind you that you have a God who wants you to hand all of your anxiety over to Him.

“The Lord is my shepherd…” That’s relationship.

“I lack nothing…” That’s supply.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures…” That’s rest.

“He leads me beside quiet waters…” That’s relief.

“He refreshes my soul…” That’s restoration and healing.

“He guides me along the right paths…” That’s guidance.

“For his name’s sake…” That’s purpose.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley…” That’s testing.

“I will fear no evil…” That’s protection.

“For you are with me…” That’s faithfulness and presence.

“Your rod and your staff, they comfort me…” That’s discipline.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…” That’s hope.

“You anoint my head with oil…” That’s consecration, being set apart.

“My cup overflows…” That’s abundance.

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life…” That’s blessing.

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord…” That’s security.

“Forever.” That, my friend… is eternity.

(Psalm 23, NIV)

No matter what you’re facing today, God has promises that will carry you through. So don’t be anxious. Trust that you have a Good Shepherd who has provided everything you need. He told you he did in Psalm 23.

My Thoughts

Anxiety, depression and just plain old feeling beaten down by life is normal. Psalm 23 is the antidote. I especially like the hope, guidance and healing because that is what I need right now. What do you need from Psalm 23? Did this devotional touch your heart today and give you a reason to look up and say, “Thank you, God!” God already knows what I am going through and He already provided this devotional and the beautiful Psalm to help me remember that He is right here beside me. I memorized Psalm 23 as a child when I was going to Sunday school with my neighbor. I have often recited it, but today, I am meditating on it and how to apply it to my situation.

May you be blessed and feel secure in His love, my friends.

“Are You There, God?”

On January 30, 2025 By vickleaIn devotional, promises, Scripture2 Comments

Sometimes, in very dark moments, as I cry out to God, I really want to know if He is there as He has promised. I want to feel His presence. God’s answer is found in His Word.

He doesn’t say He is taking a break, resting or on the phone right now with someone else with a bigger issue. He says He is always with us.

In my devotional on Wednesday (from ALL GOD’S CREATURES: DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ANIMAL LOVERS 2024), I read a quote from Cathy Mayfield that resonated with me and my propensity to doubt. She wrote: “‘Are you there, God?’” “‘Are you breathing, My Child?’ I heard Him say.”

Since I have struggled with breathing all my life, having been born with asthma, this simple quotation really spoke to me. Every breath I take is from God, and He is as close as my next breath. I thank Him for His reassurance and His constant presence.

Not Alone in Battle

On January 3, 2025 By vickleaIn devotional, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

Sometimes, I feel as though I am all alone, fighting the battle against my own sinful nature. Today’s devotional was a welcome and humorous reminder that I am never alone. I used to watch the Popeye cartoons every Saturday morning. In spite of the fact that the show always ended the same way, I sat in front of the TV weekly to get my weekly look into heroism and true love. The answer was in a can of spinach. (Yuck!)

These days, when I am battling against temptation, I have only to call upon the name of the Lord and He is right there, reminding me of scriptures that I have memorized and testimonies from my past. God is always there and He does truly love me. We are all blessed to have a Savior as close as the next prayer and always willing to help us in our struggles.

From the YouVersion Bible App, “Daily Power, Day 9” by Craig Groeschel

I loved the old Popeye cartoons. You know, Popeye the Sailor Man? It was clear he was our hero and Brutus was his natural enemy, threatening to harm poor Olive Oil, the love of Popeye’s life. Every episode, after Brutus’ taunting and bullying, Popeye reached the point where “that’s all I can standz, and I can’t standz no more.” Out came his can of spinach, down it went, and suddenly his muscles were popping and fists were flying. Brutus didn’t stand a chance!

I’m convinced we occasionally need to choose a “Popeye moment.” When the Enemy attacks and we keep struggling, we need to “draw a line in the sand” and have a showdown. That’s all we can stand, and it’s time to change.

What fight are you facing today? Are you overworking, missing what’s most important in life? Are you battling an addiction and telling yourself it’s not that big of a deal? Are you putting off a conversation, hoping the problem will solve itself? Are you making excuses as to why you can’t drop the pounds, making jokes about it to help relieve your pain?

Maybe it’s time to stop. Make a decision. Enough is enough. It’s time to change. The good news is your strength doesn’t come from a can of spinach. Yours comes from our God. His power is available to you. His strength dwells within you. His spirit will help you do what you can’t do on your own.

Power Lift: That’s it, Lord. I’m tired of fighting temptation and giving in more times than I can count. Help me change—and help me change now!

A Poem that God Created

On January 2, 2025 By vickleaIn devotional, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

I really enjoy poetry, the rhythm of each verse, the way the words flow together to paint a beautiful picture, the different ways poems can be written. I loved the analogy in today’s devotional about being a poem created by God. We are each His masterpiece and each of us has a specific purpose to fulfill. Like poems from poets, we are meant to be in the world and help others to see the imagery that the poet was inspired to write about. God wants others to see His Son in us and He wants us to know how very much He loves us, so much that He created us to be a unique part of His creation. I am, and you are, exactly who God created us to be, a masterpiece meant to serve and love God and others.

From the YouVersion Devotional, “Daily Power, Day 8” by Craig Groeschel

I’ve seen a bumper sticker on several cars that makes me chuckle every time. It simply says, “God don’t make no junk!” (Ironically, it seems like every time I see this bumper sticker, it’s always on an old clunker.) But it’s true: when you’re in Christ, God don’t make no junk!

You are the masterpiece of God, created for the Master’s purpose. The reason it’s important for you to believe this is because when you know who you are, you’ll know what to do. Otherwise, you might be tempted to accept the labels others stick on you and settle for much less.

You are special in Christ, the Master’s creation, created for the Master’s purpose. The Greek word translated as “masterpiece” here in Ephesians 2:10 is poiema (POY-ay-muh). To be “God’s poiema” literally means to be “a work made by God.” Because we derive our English word “poem” from this word, I like to think of us as his beautiful poems.

In Christ, your life should be a poetic statement of God’s glory. The master artisan designs each of our lives to join and interlock to create a big picture, a giant living tapestry, woven of people. Sometimes, from where you’re standing, you might not be able to see where you fit. But if you can take a step back and look at it from his perspective, you can see the overall masterpiece, the perfect workmanship of God.

Power Lift: God, help me to remember that I’m your masterpiece, as unique and beautiful as a poem. I am not who others say I am but who you say I am. My identity rests in you.

Spiritual Pollution

On January 1, 2025 By vickleaIn devotional, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

From the YouVersion Devotional, “Daily Power, Day 7” by Craig Groschel

When I was growing up, it seemed like every adult I knew smoked cigarettes. I never realized the effect it had on me until I went away to college. After being away for several weeks, when I came back home, I thought, “Man, this place smells like smoke! Wow, I never noticed that before.” Then I kind of got used to it again and didn’t think about it until I got back to my dorm Sunday night.

When I walked into my dorm room, my roommate said, “Dude, get out of here! That’s rank! Where have you been—inside a chimney?”

Then it dawned on me. For the past eighteen years, I’d lived in this smoke-filled environment and didn’t realize the toll it had taken on me. I had been breathing in this secondhand smoke, this poison, and it was affecting me and I didn’t even know it.

So often our culture affects our souls the same way. We breathe in secondhand toxins that infiltrate our minds and hearts and make us sluggish. After a while we don’t realize it and are just going with the flow, doing what everyone else around us is doing, not what God wants us to do.

If you want to build a stronger relationship with Christ, you have to live apart. You have to follow his ways and not the crowd. You have to recognize the impact that those around you are having on your faith.

Power Lift: Father, thank you for calling me to a life that’s set apart from the world. Today help me see the ways I have been affected by spiritual pollution.

My Thoughts

I grew up in a household in which my mom smoked constantly. I wasn’t aware of the effect on my health until I left home and was not around smoke anymore. My asthma was definitely exacerbated by the presence of smoke, and I am still really allergic to any hint of smoke in the air around me. Thank goodness that God has taken care of me!

The smoke I was around could be seen, smelled (in the air and on my clothing) and was a real problem for my physical health. But the things that I allow into my mind and the people I associate with have an effect on my spiritual life. It is my choice to distance myself from harmful things spiritually, just as I would not stay around smoke because of the detrimental effects on my lungs. Being around people and taking part in things that do not help me grow spiritually is harms my spiritual growth. We are to be in the world but we shouldn’t do as the world does or begin to think and act as they do. I can love people without accepting their non-Biblical beliefs.

Be Ready to Step Out

On December 30, 2024 By vickleaIn devotional, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

I am not a “people person.” In fact, I am an introvert who enjoys books and interactions with people online, but I don’t enjoy going out to be among the masses of people. In fact, I was once diagnosed with agoraphobia (fear of crowded places) and was on medication and therapy as a result. I say all that because today’s devotional deals with stepping out and being with people. I cannot see Jesus just texting someone the answer to their prayer. He reached out and touched them. He spoke to them personally, listening and getting to know them and their needs. Jesus was a “people person” and if I am going to be like Jesus, I have to step out and be there for others. I am not sure how to begin, but as my father-in-law used to wisely say, “The best way to begin is just to start.”

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Daily Power, Day 5” by Craig Groeschel

Some people blame our lack of genuine community on the invention of the air conditioner. Before AC, people would sit on their front porches in the evenings and try to catch a breeze to cool off. They would wave at neighbors and visit with the ones who stopped to chat over a glass of lemonade. With air conditioning installed, people can stay inside and don’t have to interact with their neighbors.

Attaching garages to our houses didn’t help either. Instead of walking from our driveways or detached garages and exchanging greetings with neighbors along the way, we pull in, shut the door, and we’re inside our house. Fences, gated communities, answering machines, and caller ID reinforced this notion that we want to be left alone. We don’t have to interact with anyone, so we don’t. Now people interact online and through social media and really never have to interact. You can even shop online.

But Jesus always had time for other people. He talked to them, fed them, healed them, and forgave them. He often met physical needs in order to address spiritual needs. If we’re too busy even to interact with the people around us, let alone engage with their struggles, then we’re not following Christ’s example. And we’re also missing out on the blessing of loving and serving one another.

Today take the time to stop, listen, and talk with someone you see every day but rarely slow down to get to know.

Power Lift: Lord, it’s easy to make excuses about why I don’t engage with more people in my daily life. But you remind me to show your love to everyone I meet. Give me wisdom to know when to interrupt my schedule in order to bless those around me.

Atrophy or Activity?

On December 27, 2024 By vickleaIn devotional, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

First, I must start by saying that I don’t exercise a lot physically. I do a few things every morning and throughout the day to stretch my muscles and to keep my neck, knees and arms moving so I can use them. I used to do indoor walking exercises but that became too much for me. Sometimes, I do chair exercises if I am feeling particularly motivated, but basically I am a slug.

Having said all that, the more sluggish I have become physically, it seems that I have become more and more motivated to read and study God’s Word and immerse myself in its truth. My daily goal is to find out something that I didn’t know before, to get a new insight. And even though I have read the Bible through every year for at least the last fifteen years, I am still learning and still amazed at all God shows me when I spend time with Him. The Bible is definitely alive in the hearts of His people and He shows me every day some new truth to hold close to my heart and then to share with others when the time is right. Now, for today’s devotional message…

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Daily Power by Craig Groeschel,” Day 2

If I’ve learned one thing from working out, it’s what happens when I stop for a while. Usually because of injury, and sometimes when my schedule gets too busy, I’m forced to skip the gym. But I can always tell the difference when I return.

Without exercise, our muscles atrophy. They become weaker and get stiffer at the same time. Without the benefit of regular exercise, our muscles deteriorate until they can no longer support us or perform the regular functions they once maintained. To be healthy, we must keep moving, stimulating our muscles in order for them to grow stronger.

Our heart muscles work the same way, both literally and figuratively. When we’re not praying, giving, serving, and loving on a daily basis, it becomes harder and harder to feel connected to God, to relate to other people, and to feel the joy that comes from serving them.

Stone hearts don’t harden overnight. They gradually atrophy until we find ourselves with a heart as cold as granite. Regular exercise allows us to love more deeply and serve more humbly. It keeps our hearts tender and compassionate, alive and grateful.

Power Lift: Dear Lord, I want my heart to be alive and tender, not hard and cold. Even when it’s painful, help me to be sensitive to the needs of others.

Your Story

On December 26, 2024 By vickleaIn devotional, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

Since it is the day after Christmas, I am starting a new devotional and will share parts of it with you and I share my heart. Yesterday was a really good day, and not just because of presents. Rather, it was because of the presence of the Lord. I got to FaceTime with two of our three children and eight of our grandchildren. It was so much fun seeing their joyful faces as they opened gifts and expressed their appreciation to us and to each other. Plus, I got to talk to our son while he was traveling back home to Virginia from his Christmas visit to his wife’s family in Pennsylvania. I also talked to three of my four siblings and had talked with my youngest sister on her birthday on Christmas Eve. So, lots of communication with family.

The best thing that happened is after years of praying, my brothers talked to each other, cordially and with love and hope for the future. They had not talked for over seven years, and I have been praying for reconciliation the entire time, but I must confess that I didn’t have a lot of faith for it because I know my brothers well. Anyway, it happened and that was like the best Christmas gift ever!

I want God to write into my story that I tried to be a peacemaker. That is a goal for me, to bring people together and not apart. There is too much division in this world of ours and I don’t want to be a part of that. I want to help people see their commonalities and to build a relationship on them.

Now, onto the devotional…

From the You Version Bible App Devotional, “Daily Power by Craig Groeschel, Day 1”

One small decision today could have a big impact on tomorrow. Chances are you can think of something right now that you know God would love to include in your story. Just consider what might happen if you remember to floss tonight or work out tomorrow morning or attend church this Sunday or spend some special time with someone you love.

It doesn’t always take a long time to see big differences in your life. What story do you believe God wants you to tell five or ten years from now? What does God want you to want? Jot down your thoughts about what you believe God wants for your future. Your ideas don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to commit to what you write just yet. Just capture on paper the first thoughts that come to mind.

Based on what you believe God wants you to want, what discipline do you need to start doing to head toward where God wants you to go? Choose one thing. You’ll be tempted to pick three, four, or even ten, but don’t. Whatever you do, pick just one thing. Because if you pick more than one, you likely won’t achieve any of them. But if you select just one, you absolutely can start writing the story God wants you to write.

Power Lift: Show me how you want me to grow this year, God. Give me your wisdom and discernment to know how to focus my habits, choices, and routines on one area of change.

If we are keeping in step with the Spirit, we are in step with what God wants for our lives. Sometimes, I think I have totally missed the Holy Spirit, and then something happens and I know that He is watching me and urging me to “come on and get with the program.” God is writing my story and I know that I am not what He wants me to be yet but neither am I what I was.

Police or Ambulance

On September 17, 2024 By vickleaIn devotional, ScriptureLeave a comment

When you come upon the scene of an accident, you will usually find two groups of helpers there: the police and the ambulance. They have totally different jobs. The police are there to investigate and uphold the law, to find out who is at fault and to hold them accountable. The ambulance is there to find out who is hurt, where they are hurting, how serious their injuries are and to transport the injured to the hospital if necessary.

When you come upon a person who is not saved, are you the policeman or the paramedic? By that I mean, are you there to investigate their sin and condemn them, letting them know in no uncertain terms that they are headed for hell? Or are you there to find out what is hurting them and to help them to feel better in whatever way you can? Think about that for a minute.

Many of us, including me at times, meet hurting people and instead of offering them the love of Jesus, we tend to hit them upside the head with the Bible that we profess to believe in. We want them to change, right now, and if it takes berating to get them to the point of confession and repentance, then that is what we use. We are being a policeman for their hurting souls, and that is not what the sinner needs in order to change. I don’t think that condemning a person with our judgment about their wrongdoing is going to change anyone’s heart. We aren’t put on the earth to investigate the evil in it; we are here to help people change so that good wins and not evil.

I had a Bible study group last night and this was one of our discussions as we read and pondered the first chapter of Romans. Is that how Jesus approached sinners? He confronted their sins and demanded that they change? No. With the exception of the Pharisees whom He did confront and call out for sin, Jesus went to every sinner with compassion and love. He understood their weaknesses and wanted to help them know forgiveness, grace and the strength to overcome that only comes from God. Jesus was like a paramedic, if you will, assessing the need and offering whatever is needed to make the person whole again. He takes people from their place of pain to the hospital of forgiveness and acceptance where they can be made whole again.

I want to be the paramedic, not the policeman. God didn’t give me a badge to carry around and let everyone know I’m an authority that they need to listen to. After all, I don’t have all of the answers anyway since I am a sinner saved by grace, just like the person I am trying to share with. Rather, He gives me the cross and reminds me and the person I am speaking to that it’s all about sacrifice and God’s great love. Yes, people are committing some atrocious sins, but that doesn’t mean that it’s up to me to tell them how awful they are. What is up to me is to show them and tell them about God’s love for them, even while they are sinning. God doesn’t categorize sins as “great sin, lesser sin.” ALL have sinned and all sins are the same to God because they separate mankind whom He loves from the Creator that made them and wants a relationship with them.

The gospel rides along with us wherever we go and brings the good news to all who will hear and believe it. So, let’s ride in the ambulance, not the police car. Let’s remember that the gospel has power all by itself when we apply it correctly, with a heart of love and not one of condemnation and judgment.

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