Tag: choices

God’s Will Be Done

On By vickleaIn Admonition, God’s blessings, Scripture, YouVersion App4 Comments

The Ultimate Guide (Daily Refresh, 11-05-25)

Have you ever faced something unexpected? Maybe it was a good surprise that brought you joy, or a heartbreaking tragedy that deeply affected your life. All of us experience moments in life that we don’t anticipate.

Even though unexpected things will happen, we still make plans and dreams for our lives. We make plans for our future—education, family, community, career, or specific relationships. But we can never fully plan for the unexpected, since we cannot know the future. We don’t even know what might happen in the next few minutes.

We learn in Scripture that God is all-knowing, which means He knows everything that will happen everywhere in the world. He has complete knowledge of every event and action that happens. More than that, He is also sovereign, which means He has ultimate authority and control in this world.

That means that even though we make our own plans, God is ultimately the one who directs our steps. He has the power to change the direction of our lives, to orchestrate details we can’t even fathom, and to guide us into what is best for us.

Take some time to think about the dreams and plans that you have for your life. Have you ever submitted those plans to God in prayer? This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make plans for your life, but rather, whatever you plan should not come before God’s plans for your life.

Take a moment to ask God to direct your steps. Ask Him to reveal any desires or plans that aren’t from Him. Submit your plans to God so that you’ll be open to following Him wherever He leads.

My Thoughts

One of the things that I used to say frequently was to not get too wrapped up in your plans because “we make plans and God laughs.” I have since changed my mind and decided that God doesn’t laugh at our plans. Rather, He gently rebukes us if we are headed in the wrong direction and then He turns us around. Sometimes, it feels as though all is going the wrong way, the way we did not plan for at all, but we have to remember that God is always, always in control.

The results of the election are a case in point. Why would God not allow a Christian woman who served honorably in the Marine Corps to be elected governor of Virginia? Why did we end up with someone who claims to be moderate but is actually so far left she is a proponent of making our state California East, with mandates about electric cars, gun control, transgenders and murder (also called abortion)? Why? The simple answer is “I don’t know.” To expound on that answer, I would add, “But God does.” He knows the future and if this election is a way to get our attention back on Him and to call attention to how ungodly we have become, how self-sufficient we are and how independent we want to be from God, then He has my attention, and I hope He has the attention of all of the God-fearing people in our nation. What other state elected to the office of attorney general a man who said he would murder someone and his children? New York City elected a socialist, someone who openly admits he is socialist and, in my opinion, lies about his respect for the Jewish people. So, all of that just points to God’s sovereignty. I never thought that Winsome Sears would be an easy winner. I voted, I prayed and then I left things up to God. Some say that God isn’t involved in politics. I am of the opinion that God is involved in everything in our lives and that includes who leads us.

The best advice in the devotional today was to go ahead and make plans, but then submit them to God. That requires a pause. We can’t make plans and then rush headlong into them, hoping that as we go God will bless them. First, we pause. That means wait for God to tell us is it’s a “go” or a “full stop” or a “not yet.” If we make plans without consulting the Lord, then we are destined for disappointment and/or failure. Yes, God in His love and mercy, allows us to carry out some of our half-baked ideas, but if they are not what is best for us, in that same love and mercy, He allows them to fail so we can turn around and go in the right direction. Our loving Heavenly Father knows what is best for us, but He also knows what is best for others and how our choices will affect them. We are not the only one in the Universe with whom God is concerned, much to our own consternation sometimes. We need to accept the fact that God sees everything, knows everything and our plans are better with His blessing beforehand rather than His reluctant permission afterwards. We may be able to steamroll past human obstacles to our plans, but God is not movable. We can’t steamroll Him or talk Him into things that aren’t good for us or even just choose to ignore Him. One way or another, He will get our attention when He wants it and we may not like the way that happens, especially if we are rebelling against His will for us.

That being said, just remember that God is not waiting to zap you and your plans so that they never come about. He just wants you to submit them to Him. Let Him add to your blueprints and see how much better the end product will be.

A Scripture that Is Hard to Share

On By vickleaIn prayer, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

Humble Confidence

At the top of John chapter 5, John explains that anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ—the prophesied Messiah—has become a child of God.

When we become children of our Heavenly Father, we not only inherit a forever kingdom and an incorruptible legacy, but we’re also granted the privilege of approaching the King of all kings. 

John said it this way: 

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As the text continues, John reiterates the fact that God loves to give us what we ask for—when it’s asked with the right motive. 

Think about it this way: is a child concerned about approaching his loving parent for a snack, for a hug, for advice, or for help?

When we come to God with a similar childlike confidence—in sincerity, humility, trust, and even desperation—we can be certain that He hears us. When we submit a request, we might get a yes, we might get a no, or we might get a not yet. But regardless…

We can know that God hears us as we trust Him with our prayers.

The author of the book of Hebrews put it eloquently: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)

Whether you need wisdom, direction, or practical help, you can come boldly to our gracious God. You can come to God with your praises and doubts, opinions and concerns, thankfulness and questions. 

My Thoughts

I hate to write this because I don’t want you to misunderstand what I am saying, but I John 5:14 is one of those scriptures that I don’t like to share. For years, this particular verse was what I call the “prosperity gospel” of “Name it and claim it” fame. I am not a proponent of this particular method of trying to attract people to the Lord because I think it twists God’s Word and tries to get people to come to the Lord for the wrong reasons. On the other hand, as the writer of this devotional in the YouVersion points out, if we ask according to His will, then we can indeed expect answers. The caveat is that the answer may not be what we wanted or expected, but He will answer.

The problem I have with sharing this scripture verse is that people don’t always seek God’s will before praying and then get disappointed when He doesn’t answer. Or they don’t really want to know God’s will before their petitions because they already have a vision of what they plan to ask for. A bigger house, a powerful position or anything material is not promised in God’s Word. He says He will give us all that we need, not all that we desire. The only way to find out God’s will is to spend time with Him and His Word. The time we spend with God molds our will to be more like His and then when we pray, we can do so with confidence and expectation, knowing that what we are asking is something that God really wants to do for us. For example, God wants people to come to know Him, so we can certainly expect that praying for hearts to be open to Him is in His will. But, we also have to be aware that God is not going to make that person we pray for into some kind of responsive robot. They have to want to know Him, choose to know Him and repent. God can create situations in which the sinner comes face to fact with the reality of their sins, but He does not change their heart just because we ask for it; the sinner has to change. God has already provided the sacrifice, once for all, and He waits patiently for the sinner to come to His throne of grace. So, although we pray for salvation for a friend or loved one, once we pray this prayer that is part of God’s will, we have to accept the fact that God can do all things but He chooses to limit Himself to the individual making the correct free will choice. We cannot just “name it and claim it” because there is a lot going on in the spiritual realm that we may not be aware of.

The steps are not to see the shiny new toy and then pray that you will get one just like it. Absolutely not! We spend time with God in Bible study and reflection and then we pray according to His will that He has revealed to us in our time together. The final step is the hardest one. Then we wait, confident that God is working out His will in His time and for our good always.

Thus, with all that being said, I have difficulty sharing and telling you my thoughts about this verse since I don’t want you to take the verse out of context or misunderstand my words. Do I believe God answers prayers? Without a doubt! Do I believe that God answers every prayer just the way we expect? That answer is a firm “no” because I believe God answers prayers according to His good will, not mine and not in my established timeline.

Real Peace

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, Song, testimony1 Comment

I never really understood what God’s peace means in my life until I started having one health problem after another. My natural tendency would be to rail against the unfairness of life and to give God a stern talking to about the fact that my life was not being blessed as He promised and I expected. The problem was that I was blessed, He kept His promises, but it was my expectations that were wrong.

This quotation from C.S. Lewis explains what I discovered is absolute truth. No matter how many problems I faced, I still had God on my side, in my corner, watching my back. All of those things and more! The circumstances didn’t change, but my attitude toward them did. What could be so wrong, you may ask? I was born with asthma, a single kidney that started failing about fifteen years ago and I had a massive stroke in 2015. So, in short, I have had and still have a lot of health problems, but there has not been a single problem that I have had that God has not helped me through it. He didn’t leave me floundering after the doctors pronounced their words of wisdom over me about my conditions. Rather, God comforted me and kept whispering to me that He was right there with me.

How do I find God’s peace in the middle of my tumultuous life? I spend time in God’s Word, daily, consistently and faithfully. His promises are there, including the ones about peace. I say them over and over until they go from my mind to my heart. Then, I accept that God is in control and move on to the next thing that I have to do, with my hand in His and my life submitted to Him.

Could I choose to be bitter and angry? Of course, because we all have that choice. Instead, I choose to be thankful for each day God gives me and each new thing He shows me in His Word. Some people look at the silver lining and proclaim loudly that they see a cloud. Rather, I look at the silver lining and I am thankful for it, no matter what may follow.

Yield means to let go, to slow down and be aware but you don’t just stop living. I have peace because I have chosen to yield to God. My number of days is in His hands. He is the One who gives me peace and He hasn’t let me down, even when I have disappointed Him with my initial reaction of rebellious demands.

I leave you with this old hymn that means a lot to me and I hope that you will listen and enjoy the lyrics and the meaning behind the words.

Peace Like a River-Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Have a blessed and peace-filled day!

God Rejoices

On By vickleaIn Admonition, promises, ScriptureLeave a comment

We have a lot of different kinds of celebrations during our lifetime. We celebrate birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and holidays like Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. Each time there is a new celebration, we enjoy the food, the fellowship with others and the general well-being that we have. One of my morning routines is to review scripture verses that I am memorizing and this morning, my focus was on Zephaniah.

Zephaniah is a very short prophetic book but it has a strong message of repentance and turning back to God. According to Biblical scholars, Zephaniah was from the lineage of Hezekiah. If you recall this king’s story, he repented and God added years to his life. Zephaniah probably served as a prophet during the time of Josiah, a time when the people were repented after the reign of the wicked king Manasseh. The storyline of the Israelites seemed to be come to God and repent, turn from God and commit sins, then repeat. Their walk with God was not a steady and committed one, depending on who their king was and how closely they followed him.

This is one of my favorite verses in Zephaniah. Personalize it and it will mean even more to you. “The Lord MY God is with ME, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in ME; in His love, He will no longer rebuke ME, but will rejoice over Me with singing.” I am not one who likes correction, but I am happy that God loves me enough to correct me and set me back on the right path when I stray. If I stay on the right path, He doesn’t need to “rebuke” or correct me, so I need to make right choices to stay on the straight and narrow and keep my focus on following the Lord. The result is amazing! God rejoices over us with singing! Can you imagine the heavenly choir all together singing a song of rejoicing because we are making right choices and delighting the Lord in going the right way? God rejoices over His children who delight Him with right choices. He gives us the ability to choose, but then He steps back and leaves our final decision to follow or to go our own way up to us. And when we choose to follow, He rejoices. Such is the great love of the Father. He is a Mighty Warrior, but He is also our Creator, our Father who loves us so much that He breaks out into song when we do what is right.

This verse shows God’s love, His character and His steadfast presence in our lives. I know that when I make a wrong choice, I can pick myself up, ask God for forgiveness and move on, with Him right there with me, cheering me on to reach for the better way, the life with Him that I strive for daily.

Choose God…choose life…choose to have God rejoice over you!

Jumping Off the Bridge

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture3 Comments

When I was growing up, during my teen years, I remember multiple times asking my mother if I could do something that all of the other kids were doing, like stay out all night with a group of boys and girls. The answer was always “no” because my mom said it wasn’t “proper.” My argument would be that everyone else was doing it. And my mom’s reply was always, “If everyone else goes ahead and jumps off a bridge into a rocky water, are you going to be foolish and do the same thing?” I didn’t think at the time that made much sense, but with many years and raising my own three children behind me, I finally understood what she was saying.

God basically tells us the same thing in His Word. He took us out of Egypt, which represents sin, so why do we keep wanting to go back there? The answer is the same as what I gave my mom: everyone else is doing it. It seems that the whole world minus the practicing Christians have decided that wrong is right and right is wrong. You can be any gender you want, you can have sexual relationships with anyone you want at anytime whether you are married or not, and you can generally do anything that makes you feel good. That is what the world teaches. But it isn’t what God says.

“You must not do” is a strong admonition to not choose to sin. The land of sin that we left behind when we chose to follow God didn’t disappear. It is still there, enticing us to join in and enjoy all of the pleasures of sexual immorality and idolatry that the world has to offer. But God says “no.”

This scripture verse is spoken to the Israelites, but God also calls His chosen people to be holy. We are to be set apart, to be different rather than joining in on the destruction of our own souls.

God repeats His admonition to be holy in the New Testament, just in case we are deceived into thinking that the Old Testament regulations don’t apply to us. God didn’t say to “try” to be holy. He said to BE HOLY. This is a daily choice we make to walk away from sin, even if everyone else seems to be doing it.

How are we able to walk away in the face of constantly being bombarded with temptation? It takes a daily renewal of our mind through God’s Word and spending time with Him. How much time do we spend filling our mind with garbage from the internet and from our televisions and radios? Turning them off and focusing on God is what will help to renew our mind. Remember the adage: GIGO (garbage in, garbage out). The temptation to sin is everywhere so we have to turn away and focus on what God says, not what the world says is acceptable.

So, what is the reward for turning away from sin and walking with God? We are blessed. If we walk with the sinners, we will sin. If we keep company with those who mock God and our faith, we will be more and more tempted not to stand firm because the natural human tendency is to want to fit in. It’s a hard word, but we are to be separated from the world and its enticement to sin, not align ourselves with it. But, you say, we need to witness, to be ambassadors for Christ. That is absolutely correct! But do you recall one instance in which Jesus sinned? Of course not! He never chose to sin; He admonished others to “go and sin no more” but not once did He ever join in with their debauchery or sinful behavior. He made the same choice we have to make. We are in the world, sharing His Word with others, but we don’t join the world in making sinful choices.

God is our Lord and we have to choose to act like He is our Sovereign King in every choice that we make. The customs of today’s world are detestable and despicable, an affront to our Creator. We cannot in good conscience join in on the sinful revelry and not expect to suffer consequences and a distance from God. God doesn’t move away from us, so we should never choose to move away from Him.

Loving God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Song, Video, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

The Most Important Thing (YouVersion Bible App, Daily Devotional)

When Jesus was asked in Matthew 22 what the most important command was, He didn’t hesitate to recite Deuteronomy 6:5: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (NIV)

The starting point for all of our lives is wrapped up in loving God. We were created to love God and have a relationship with Him. We love because He first loved us! Amid everything that you have to do in life, the most important thing is that you love God with everything that you are.

If we become successful in life but don’t love God, we’ve missed the most important thing. In Deuteronomy, God instructed the Israelites to constantly keep this command in their hearts and minds. They made physical reminders to help them remember to love God in everything they did. They taught this command to their children as the foundation of all other commands in Scripture.

Take some time to consider your life. Is loving God the primary motivation? Think about how good and merciful God has been in your life. Remember that God loves you more than you could ever imagine. The best motivation to love God is to constantly remember how much He loved us first.

My Thoughts

Like many people, I find it easy to love God when things in my life are going well. But when there is a deep valley I have to cross through or obstacles in the pathway to my goal or my plan, I have a tendency to look for solace elsewhere. I pick up a book, turn on the TV or even put a Christian station on to listen to. Anything to distract me from the fact that things are not going my way, so I want to pout a little bit.

You know, if God turned away from us each time we disappointed Him, I am absolutely sure that we would not see Him much in our lives. Instead, He is always gracious, always merciful, always waiting for us to do what He has called us to do instead of what we want to do. Our desires need to line up with His. One of my devotionals this morning included this quotation: “God is always faithful, even when we are being faithless.” You might also add that God is always loving even when we are not showing love to Him. God loves the unlovable, the faithless, the broken and the sinner. So, loving God with all of my heart, soul and strength doesn’t seem much to ask when He has given so much just to have a relationship with me.

Love God, Love People-Danny Gokey

Daily Routines and God

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

Do you have a daily routine? Just about everyone does. You get up at about the same time every day, drink your coffee (or beverage of choice), eat breakfast, take a shower, get dressed and if you aren’t retired as I am, you go to work. What’s missing? Oh, yeah! God!

God does not want to just be part of your daily routine, the devotional you set aside time for every morning or the Bible reading and prayers that you offer to Him. He wants to be the center of everything you do, including your daily routine. I have my devotional each morning because that is part of my routine. But I hope that I don’t leave God behind in my den when I start my errands and get busy doing other things. I take Him with me…He is in my heart, guiding my choices and my activities, if I will let Him.

It’s more important than ever in today’s world to guard your heart. In Biblical times, the people were not assailed by technology and all of the images on screens of all kinds that are meant to tempt us away from a relationship with God. Don’t get me wrong. Technology has its place in a Christian life, but it shouldn’t be in the center of our lives, in the place that God should be occupying. And when we are using technology, we need to ask ourselves if what we are seeing or reading is for the glory of God or just to make us feel good. If Jesus were looking over your shoulder (note that as God, He is always there), what would He see and hear? Does our daily routine make it clear that the Holy Spirit resides inside us, so the ungodly things have no importance to us?

I am working on guarding my heart. It is a struggle daily because of all of the little darts being thrown every time I pick up my phone to check a message or go on Facebook to answer a question from a friend. There is a reason Satan is called the prince of the power of the air, and being aware of that helps me be more aware of what I am allowing into my heart and mind. The GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) principle is not just for technology. It also works the same way for us humans. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” but what we do with God’s great creation (our minds and bodies) is our choice. Knowing that the course of my life and my relationship with God is affected by what I consume mentally, then I plan to be more consistently careful about my choices. I want God to know that He is welcome to be the center of my daily routine and to live like He is right there all the time, because He is, if I invite Him to be and make Him welcome.

Take Up Your Cross

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

I have often wondered what my cross is that the Lord wants me to take up. I have come to the conclusion that it is whatever He asks me to do, I should do it, without hesitation or question. I need to be obedient to Him and His Word, not follow my own desires. We live in a very selfish world, one in which people all seem to be trying to get to the top by climbing over other people. The temptation to “join the crowd” is always present, but we are called to rise above those temptations and take up the cross of self-sacrifice, to put others above ourselves and to love even those we think are unlovable. Jesus wants us to point others to Him, and there is no better way to do that than to be different from the selfish multitudes who are constantly demanding their own way. The cost may seem high at times, but isn’t eternity with God worth it?

The Price of Following Jesus

We know from Scripture that salvation is a free gift that Jesus gives us when we believe in Him. But just because our salvation is free—that doesn’t mean the rest of our lives with Jesus will cost us nothing as well.

Jesus says that following Him will cost us everything. This doesn’t mean that we have to earn our salvation or work for acceptance, but it does mean that following Jesus requires everything that we have.

When we become disciples of Jesus, we follow in His footsteps. We let Jesus teach and guide us. If we are serious about this, then our lives will become patterned after His life. This means that just as Jesus took up a cross and gave up everything He had, by following Jesus we must also do the same.

So what does it mean to take up a cross and follow Jesus? It means that we should be ready to give up everything for the sake of Jesus. It means denying ourselves by surrendering our own desires and plans for God’s desires and plans. Rather than focusing on ourselves, we center our lives around God’s mission in the world: loving Him and loving others as we make disciples. 

Taking up one’s cross isn’t easy, but there is nothing in this life that is better than following Jesus. While immediate pleasure often feels more desirable in the moment, it quickly fades and leaves us searching for more. No possession or position can lead to true satisfaction in life—that is found only in Jesus.

Take a moment to think about your life. Are there things that you’re holding onto that you would be hesitant to surrender to Jesus? Are there relationships that serve your own desires rather than God’s? Commit to following Jesus regardless of how difficult or challenging life might become. The cross, while painful, is temporary—abundant life with Jesus is eternal.

Change the Way You Think

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/17

I learned several things from this devotional today. It was enlightening to be reminded that what I think about is important because it leads to choices, either good ones or bad ones. My relationship with God starts every day with my quiet time and I never really thought about that being my “renewing my mind” but I am sure that is what it is now that it was brought to my attention. It’s like needing a fillip of gas when you are running on empty. You won’t get far until you fill up even if you think you are fine with the tiny little bit left in the tank. I don’t know about you, but I need to fill up my mind and heart with Jesus every morning, just to be able to start my engine and go through the day and its challenges. I don’t know what the day holds, but I do know that when my mind is filled with Jesus and I am constantly thinking, “What would Jesus think about my actions, attitude and behavior” then I am more likely to make right choices and have the day that God wants me to have.

Please pray for me today if you don’t mind. I am going to see my ophthalmologist because my vision has been blurry for almost two weeks. The doctors think it may be the meds I am on that have caused it, but I need to be checked to make sure nothing else is going on. Thank you for your faithful prayers, my friends. Have a blessed and wonderful day, keeping your eyes and mind fixed on Him.

Live with Eternity in Mind

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/13

I am an obsessive planner. I plan what will be for dinner as soon as I get up every morning. I plan my lunch as I eat breakfast. I have always been a planner, thus the success I enjoyed as a teacher. Sometimes plans don’t work out, and what I am not is a good “punter.” I don’t like to fall back and punt and change my plans. Flexibility is not a strength in me, but I do try, especially when God is working on that skill in me. I am happy that I don’t have to have a plan B on the back burner for eternity. There is one plan…live for Jesus and spend eternity with Him. That is the only plan that really matters. So, choices are made based on whether they fit into the big plan of living for Jesus. Daily life can be a challenge, with a lot of choices, but if I always keep the goal in mind, I will succeed in God’s plan for me. And that’s my one big plan!