Category: YouVersion App

Contagious Calm

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Song, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

Let Your Gentleness Be Evident to All (YouVersion Devotional by Max Lucado: “Anxious for Nothing”)

Unchecked anxiety can unleash an Enola Gay of angry outbursts, rash accusations, and fiery retaliations against those in your path who are unfortunate to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. How many people have been wounded as a result of such unbridled stress? On the other hand, how many disasters have been averted because one person decided to be calm?

It is this composure Paul is referring to when he states, “Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Philippians 4:5 NIV). The Greek word translated as gentlenessdescribes a temperament that is seasoned and mature. It envisions an attitude that is fitting to the occasion, levelheaded and tempered. The gentle reaction is one of steadiness, evenhandedness, and fairness.

Jesus promised that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33 NIV). It is as inevitable as the sun rising on a new day—as waves crashing on the shores of a beach. But what you also need to remember is that Jesus has promised to be with you in the midst of those troubles. Before Jesus departed this earth, he said to his disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20 NIV).

In fact, throughout the Bible, God repeatedly pledged to be present with his people. He was with Abram as he traveled to a new land. He was with Hagar when she fled into the wilderness, and with Isaac when he was forced to move from place to place. He was with Joshua when he faced the Canaanites, and with David when he faced the Philistines. He was with Peter in prison, and with Paul whenever and wherever he found himself in dire circumstances.

God was never watching from a distance. In fact, his very name is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” He became flesh. He became sin. He defeated the grave. And he is still with you.

Maybe you’re fighting today to keep a family together, a business afloat, or a school from going under. How you handle that fight will reveal where your trust ultimately lies. If you trust in Jesus and believe he is always with you, the byproduct of releasing the control to him will be a contagious calm that surrounds your life. This calm will allow you to see how God is working in your situation—and others will notice there is something different about you. It will bring healing to your anxiety, mature your faith, and show others that God is always faithful.

Anxiety management is like pulling stumps out of the ground. Some of your worries have deep root systems, and extracting them is hard work. But you don’t have to do it alone. Present the challenge to your Father and ask for help.

Will he solve the issue? Yes, he will. Will he solve it immediately? Maybe. Or maybe part of the test is an advanced course in patience. This much is sure: contagious calm will happen to the degree that you turn to him.

Respond

Who in your life is most impacted by the way you respond to stressful situations?

How would you define the word gentleness? Would you say your responses to others in stressful situations tend to be gentle? Why or why not?

How can knowing that God is always present in your circumstances help you to maintain a sense of contagious calm?

My Thoughts

On Election Day, I spent most of the day alone as my husband is a poll watcher. When he came home a little before eight, he was tired, but in a good way, and we talked a little while about what was going on in the election. I had been praying all day for God’s mercy and as the evening wore on and the results were coming slowly, I decided to go ahead and go to bed. I thought that I would not be able to sleep, but in my prayer, I asked God for peace and His response to my heart was, “Trust.” I woke up about three a.m. as my husband was coming to bed. It looked like President Trump would win, but I didn’t trust the Democrats not to pull a switch or find more ballots. My anxiety kicked in again, and again, God spoke to my heart, “Trust.”

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that my word for this year has been trust. I have had to trust God for some hard things, at least hard things for me. I had to drive my husband in heavy traffic back and forth to his appointments for his eye surgery. It sounds easy and normal, but not for me. I have little peripheral vision after my stroke and as a result, I have not driven much for the last ten years. But, God whispered the word “trust” to me and so I just did what I needed to do.

So many times, I have surprised myself and probably others around me with my calm spirit when inwardly I was seething with anxiety. God’s message to me has been the same in every situation, “Just trust.” I have not arrived at the place where I can say that I am not anxious about anything, but I can testify that I am calmer in situations that used to make me so anxious that I would hide from others or explode at them. So, progress, right? God is still working on me, and I am thankful that He never gives up.

Never Give Up-Josh Bates

God Is On His Throne

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

From the YouVersion Bible App: Devotional by Max Lucado, “Anxious for Nothing”

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Anxiety is a meteor shower of what-ifs. What if I don’t close the sale? What if we can’t afford braces for the kids? What if my kids have crooked teeth? What if crooked teeth keep them from having friends . . . a career . . . a spouse? Anxiety is living life in a minor key with major concerns.

Is your heart weighed down with worry? Could you use some calm? If so, you aren’t alone. Conquering anxiety and worry requires some work on your part, but it is not God’s will that you lead a life of perpetual anxiety. God loves his children. He oversees your world. He monitors your life.

In Philippians 4:4, Paul offers what could be considered a “prescription” for anxiety and worries. Interestingly, this prescription begins with a call to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Paul used every tool in the box on this verse to get his readers’ attention. First, he uses a verb tense so they would hear, “continually, habitually rejoice!” And if the verb tense wasn’t enough, he removed the expiration date: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” And if that wasn’t enough, he repeated the command: “Again I will say, rejoice!”

But how do you obey this command? By recognizing the sovereignty of God. The most stressed-out people are control freaks. The more they try to control the world, the more they realize they cannot. Life becomes a cycle of anxiety, failure; anxiety, failure; anxiety, failure. But when you recognize heaven has an occupied throne, you allow the Lord to be in control. God then calms your fears not by removing the problem, but by revealing his divine power and presence. Your anxiety decreases as your understanding of God, your Father, increases.

The next time you fear the future, rejoice in the Lord’s sovereignty. Rejoice in what he has accomplished. Rejoice that he is able to do what you cannot do. Fill your mind with thoughts of him. Where others see the problems of the world and wring their hands, see those problems and bend your knees. Intentionally lift up your mind to thoughts about your king. Don’t get lost in your troubles. Dare to believe that good things will happen. Examine what sustains your belief, and make sure your belief in God is founded in trusting that he is in control.

Also realize that God has freed you from the guilt and quagmire of regret that may be causing you anxiety. Unresolved guilt can turn you into a person who is hiding, running, denying, and pretending. Guilt can suck the life out of your soul. But grace restores that life and allows you to trust God’s forgiveness. The result is the ability to rejoice unhindered, confident in God’s sovereignty. 

Your Father’s hands are open, so place yourself entirely in his care. As you do, you will find it is possible—yes, possible!—to be anxious for nothing.

Respond

How is rejoicing a choice? What does rejoicing in the Lord look like to you?

How would you describe your confidence in God’s control over your life? What are some ways you have seen God’s sovereign hand at work in your life?

How can spending time each day in God’s presence help you rejoice in the Lord always?

My Thoughts

I need to read this devotional every day, along with God’s Word that tells me not to worry. I wake up every morning and say thank you to God and then I proceed to worry. I worry about small things (an earache just beginning) and big things (car repairs). But God says He is on His throne and I need to let go. So, I am working on it. As a Type A Control Freak, this is not easy for me, but since it is a command, I will call on God to help me to do better about not being anxious. I am spending more time with God every day and that is helping. Do you have any secrets to letting go of worry? I don’t think that there is a “magic bullet” but I do know that there is a powerful God who is watching over me.

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Come Together with Our Differences

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

Striving Toward Unity (You Version Daily Devotional)

Almost every successful company or group in history has shared something in common: they all had a unifying mission.

As Christians, we all share the same mission. We are unified in following Christ. We’re saved by His blood (Romans 5:9) and we’re all called to make disciples in His name (Matthew 28:19).

And yet, even among Christians, there is so much division and disunity.

In Psalm 133:1, Psalmist reflects on how good it is when the people of God live together in unity. There is something powerful that happens among Christians when we are unified. 

Unity is not putting away our differences, because there would be no need to be unified if we were all the same. No, unity is coming together with our differences and striving to make much of Jesus together.

We can accomplish so much more for God’s kingdom together than we can alone. But, we must strive for unity to make that happen. Life’s better when we work together.

Take a moment to consider the people in your life who might be different from you. What steps can you take today to build a greater sense of unity with those around you? Consider a few ways that you can make Jesus famous in your life through the relationships and communities that you’re in.

My Thoughts

Well, it is finally here…the great division between the donkeys and the elephants! We went to Bible study last night and one lady commented that she could not understand how a Christian could possibly vote for Kamala, considering all she stands for that is ungodly. Without getting too deep into that topic, I agreed with her. But then I thought about it as we drove home in the heavy darkness, with only a sliver of a moon in the sky. The reason is darkness. If you choose to cloak yourself in darkness, you do not welcome light, nor can you see it. I am not saying that the other candidate is light…far from it. But I support him because his values more closely align with my Biblical worldview.

So what does that have to do with unity? We are one body…all sheep, protected and watched over by the Good Shepherd. So my prayer for today is that at the end of the day, we can all be “One Nation, Under God” not a divided nation as we have been for decades. No matter who wins the election, we all have the same purpose if we are Christ’s followers. We are to glorify Him and to pray for the people in leadership. Things will never be perfect on earth; it’s not meant to be. But we can help make things better by uniting with other believers to make the world a better place for everyone.

Unity

On By vickleaIn prayer, Scripture, YouVersion App4 Comments

This is my prayer, not just for believers but for our nation. Please enjoy this devotional from the YouVersion and join me in praying for our nation today, for unity in spite of our differences of opinion about candidates.

And without adding it to the Scripture, because that would be wrong, let me add the comment there is neither Republican nor Democrat. We believers are called to be one!

Christ Calls You to Unity and Fellowship

Key Verse

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28)

In his letter to the Galatian church, the Apostle Paul offers a glimpse of the demographics of heaven. And it looks like paradise. If there were a census in heaven, it would ask only one question: Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? Everything else is incidental.

But Paul is not necessarily talking about heaven in Galatians 3. He’s talking about the church—Christ’s followers in this world. The unity of our shared purpose far outweighs any differences in race, gender, or background. In 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, Paul uses the human body as an analogy for the church. Within the body, various parts have different features, different functions, and different ways of working. But they share a common goal—one that unites them profoundly and overrides their differences. Like the parts of the human body, Christ’s followers work together and depend on one another to accomplish Christ’s work.

The unity to which Christ calls us can serve as an example to the world. It can inspire and give hope to people who know little about Christ. Learning to embrace—and celebrate—the unique set of cultural mores, personal experiences, and God-given gifts and sensibilities that every believer brings to the work of Christ is one of the most powerful forms of outreach the church has to offer.

A lack of unity within a church can have a devastating effect on its outreach. If people look to the church and see fractious relationships, backbiting, and internal warfare, they will likely, and justifiably, chalk it up to hypocrisy. For many, it will confirm their worst suspicions about Christianity. If they see there’s nothing special about the way Christ’s followers interact with one another, they may question Christ’s ability to change lives. If, on the other hand, people see loving concern, cooperation, encouragement, accountability, and “iron-sharpening iron,” they may be inspired to investigate Christ further.

Romans 12:18 gets to the heart of the matter: “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” You may be surprised by how much doesdepend on you—that is, how much unity you can inspire simply by developing a Christlike heart for others.

The walls that separate us are much more fragile than they seem. If you take the time, effort, and risk to reach out to other believers, especially those who are different from you, you’ll find that those walls can be toppled in no time.

(Note: I added the emphasis on those two sentences.)

At 6 p.m. tonight, the night before the election, all believers everywhere are being asked to pray for the election, our nation and that we may be unified afterwards in a miraculous way. Please join me in prayer tonight, no matter what time zone you are in.

May God bless America!

Undeserved: You Version Daily Devotional

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

Undeserved

When someone hurts you or, worse, hurts somebody that you love, revenge can seem appealing. After all…

They were mean.
They were selfish.
They talked behind your back.
They broke a vital promise.
They lied about you.
They criticized you.
They ignored you.
They did the unthinkable.
They walked away.

They deserve to be punished, right? To feel some of that same pain? They deserve a consequence that will not only help them learn, but will be just as severe as the inflicted wounds.

And yet—because God sees things differently, both His standards and tactics can be surprising. And that’s why the apostle Paul, writing to the believers in Thessaloniki, said:

“See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬

Paul’s words sound a lot like Jesus’ words—to love your neighbor as yourself; to do to others what you’d like them to do to you. (See: Matthew 22:38-40)

God’s ways might not always be easy, but they can always be trusted. 

When we choose unforgiveness, hate and anxiety and bitterness will likely take root. But when we choose forgiveness (even though we might need to consider new boundaries), love and peace and reconciliation can flourish.

So, what about you? Have you ever been mean? Have you been selfish? Talked behind someone’s back? Broke a vital promise? Lied, criticized, or ignored? Have you ever decided to give up and walk away?

In our unique-to-us ways, we’ve all let someone down. We’ve disregarded God’s instructions and, instead, created our own instructions. We’ve messed up.

We deserve God’s wrath but, instead, He’s offered us His unconditional love. 

Because of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, we didn’t get what we deserve. And even while hanging on that cross, breathing His last earthly breaths, He cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Jesus repaid our evil with extreme mercy, leaving us free to conquer evil with good. So today, let’s honor His sacrifice by treating others the way He treated us.

My Thoughts

All of us have sought ways to “get back” at someone who has hurt us, or even worse to do something to someone else before they can do something mean to us. That is part of our sin nature, but it isn’t attractive and it certainly doesn’t show people the Jesus living inside you. I have spent years now trying to get control of my anger against others and letting go of the hurts and bitterness that follow that quest for revenge. God is a God of love, mercy and forgiveness, not revenge. Yes, He metes out justice…but HE metes out justice. That is not my monkey, not my circus.

Reflect the Light

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

Christ Calls You to Be a Light in a Dark World

Key Verses

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14–16)

For many people, this world is a dark place. They feel lost, lonely, helpless. They need somewhere to turn for guidance and hope. Jesus understood that need, so He made provisions to counteract the darkness. He tasked His followers with providing the necessary light for the world.

That may seem like an immense challenge, especially when darkness threatens to overwhelm us. The good news is that we’re not called to generate our own light. We’re called only to reflect Christ’s light (see John 1:4). Yet even that isn’t always easy.

The temptation to hide our light—to put our lamp under a basket—can be intense at times. After all, when you let your light shine, you draw attention to yourself. You invite scrutiny. If you’re not naturally comfortable in the role of a beacon, you may find that it takes some getting used to.

You may also find that some people—those who have grown comfortable in the darkness—don’t appreciate your light. They may try to dim it by knocking you off your lampstand. You’ll need to steel yourself against accusations of hypocrisy or intolerance. You’ll need to prepare to have your past thrown in your face. You’ll need to find ways to prevent people from sowing seeds of doubt in your life.

The best way to prepare for those possibilities is to draw closer to the source of life. According to 1 John 1:5–7, when you walk with Christ, you walk in His light. When other people interact with you, they experience His light too. They may not always recognize it for what it is, but they can sense something in you that lifts the darkness.

The closer you get to the source of light, the brighter your own light will shine. You get close to Jesus by following His lead. You study His light-giving qualities in the gospels—the way He prioritized people who were hurting, the way He spoke truth to power and called out hypocrisy, the way He drew comfort and strength from time alone with His Heavenly Father, the way He used Scripture to counter His enemies.

The risks of being a light bearer are real. But so are the rewards. Your light may be the only source of illumination some people have. By reflecting Jesus’ glory and pointing the way to Him, you have the potential to change their lives forever.

To learn how the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah brought light to one of the darkest times in Israel’s history, click on this link: https://bibl.es/BringLight.

(From You Version Devotional: Who Christ Calls You to Be)

My Thoughts: The challenge is for all of us who proclaim Jesus as Lord. We have to reflect His light, even when people ridicule us or walk away. In these days of chaos and confusion, when it’s all politics all the time, don’t forget to shine your light.

Who Are We?

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

Out of This World

For thousands of years, people have gathered around campfires and peered into the night’s sky, studying the stars.  Now, thanks to telescopes and satellites and advances in modern technology, we’ve uncovered more about God’s celestial creation than ever before: diverse planets, interstellar dust, mysterious black holes, and billions of other galaxies.  What we’ve discovered, however, is not new to God. It’s the very same heavens and the very same earth that He spoke into existence at the very beginning of time. And though we’ve only scratched the surface on what’s still to be discovered, the vastness of the heavens and the brilliance of its design beckons both humility and worship.  In Psalm 8, David wrote:  “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” ‭‭ Psalm ‭8:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ The same God who hung the sun, moon, and stars in the sky also created us. He created you. It’s mystifying to think that He considers us His prized creations.  Like David, this should humble us and compel us to worship. Who are we, after all, to be loved, chosen, and redeemed—especially when we don’t deserve it? Who are we, when we consider the magnificence of our Creator, to be made in His image? Who are we that God is mindful of us? Who are we that He cares for the details of our lives? We are His people. His children. We belong to Him. So today, let’s trust in our creative, compassionate, and loving God. He is where we’ll put our confidence. He is where we’ll put our hope. (From the YouVersion Bible App Daily Devotional)

God Has You in the Palm of His Hand

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Song, YouVersion App3 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/18910/day/3

We all know that life sometimes gets difficult, but God wants each of us to look to Him. We are not supposed to hold tightly to our possessions or the people we cherish. When we go before the Lord, our hands should be open, letting go of all that could hold us back from giving everything to God. He has each of us, holding us in the palm of His mighty hand, and we can rest assured of His love and that He will work to fulfill His purpose for us.

Shalom-Legacy Worship

He’s Got the WholWorld in His Hands

Get Near to God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

Today’s devotional was all about getting close to God and resting in His presence. I have always had a tendency to have my entire day planned out. From the time I wake up each morning, my mind is racing with the schedule for the day and how to get everything done. God is calling me to rest in His presence. It’s not in being busy that I will find Him; it is in the quiet moments that I spend resting in His presence. Recently, I have been spending what I consider some quality time with God each morning. I am doing a Bible study on prayers in the Bible. As I find a prayer in my reading, I am writing it down and really thinking about what the person was praying. I am also starting to intentionally memorize scripture verses again. I kept making the excuse that my brain will not allow me to remember verses, but I found that when I actually focus and try, that is not true. My goal is a verse per week. Not a lot, I know, but for me, it’s a good start. I am also finding myself to be eager to get to my Bible study each morning. The Bible didn’t change…I did! I want that time with God as much as I want a drink of water when I am thirsty. Some mornings with medical appointments are hectic, but I just cannot start my day without my God time. And it’s not a “hurry up and get it done so I can do other things” kind of time. The time with God is a time of peace and relaxation for me, a time of reflection, a real quiet time where I can talk to God and then listen for Him to talk to me. I want my time with the Lord to be a dedicated time just for us to talk like friends. He already knows my heart; I desire to know His and the only way to do that is to get close to Him.

Here is the devotional I did today that started me on this blog post today:

www.bible.com/reading-plans/18910/day/2

Isn’t this what we all desire…for God’s presence to go with us throughout the day and for His rest to be a part of our lives?

Open My Eyes to See God Clearly

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Song, YouVersion App2 Comments

This is from my devotional today on the YouVersion:

You Are My Beloved Child  

The Father says, “Before you were ever a thought, I knew every detail of your design. From the number of hairs on your head to the number of days in your life, I have made you for My pleasure and delight. More numerous than the sands on the shore, are My thoughts of love towards you. You are My beloved child, and I’m proud to call you Mine.”

You are a child of God! Many people have grown up in families with fathers that weren’t active, others have grown up with phenomenal fathers, or maybe fathers that weren’t present at all. This piece of our story often becomes the lens through which we see our heavenly Father.

How do you envision your Abba Father?

Allison Fowler says, “The heart is the lens through which we see God. If we refuse to forgive, our bitterness and resentment become the dirt that clouds our ability to see Him clearly.” So invite the Lord to sweep your heart of false beliefs of His character that may have formed from your upbringing or challenges you may have faced. Let the reality of His character settle deep within you: God’s character is the embodiment of perfection, kindness, and love; it is without blemish, flaw, or stain.

Take a few moments, close your eyes, and reflect on God’s stunning nature. Healing oil from heaven is flooding into your heart right now, removing cloudiness, and opening the eyes of your heart. Listen to your Father’s voice as He whispers truth into your spirit, and receive His lavish love that is swelling in His heart for you. The Father says, “You are My beloved child.”

My Thoughts

As I read the devotional today, I was reminded of how much love I felt from my father when I was young and how I felt as though he had abandoned me later in my life, when he turned to drugs. I am thankful that I have a Heavenly Father who has no hesitation about loving me, and He is with me all the time. There is nothing I can do to make God love me more or less. His love is always perfect, and just what I need.

Open the Eyes of My Heart-Paul Baloche