Hey! I’m Chelsea and I started this website as a way to get closer to God through devotional time. I thought, why not share it with others? If I have questions, it’s very possible that you have questions as well. Eventually, this website will have short storiesarticles as well as devotions. I would also like to implement prayer requests and a place to share answered prayers and testimonials I can feature.
I live in Texas with my mom and our two dogs Twiggy and Bella. I’m a woman who has been through the fire many times, and the only way I came out of it was the love of God.
Until things come together, please feel free to comment your need for prayer. You have the option of telling me “Please pray, God knows.” or if you want it to be specific, you’re more than welcome to share. Praying it all comes together soon!
Matthew 5:37 NIV All you need is to simply say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
When the Holy Spirit put the word “boundaries” on my heart as a devotion, my mind immediately went to a physical intimacy context. Woweee, how pure and Christian of me right? As I’ve looked through scripture though, God showed me he has so much more for me to learn about this subject.
It’s not just about being able to say no to a man. I also wrestle with trying to balance everything out, and what needs to be a priority. I want to say yes to every invitation or request for help I receive and still have time for the things I have to do or want to do. Honestly, when I look at my calendar, there just aren’t enough hours in a day or days in a week to pull that off! It sometimes feels like I have no time to breathe. When I have to say no, there Satan is with the guilt and the idea that I have to come up with an excuse of why I’m saying no. I’ve had to wonder if I would ever know when and how to turn down activities without that guilt and explanation. Does anyone else experience this?
So, the question is, are we taking on too much? If so, how do we trust in God to help us discern what to let go of?
We are told in Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your hearts for everything you do flows from it.” As I dwell on this verse, I can see that God will give us the ability to simply say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ I want to say I completely embrace this theory but the truth is I am still learning to step out in saying ‘no’ without hesitation. I’m also still learning God’s priority and what can be dropped from my calendar of ‘yeses’.
A wise woman [my friend and writing mentor] once told me to pick a day and just rest with God. Even Jesus retreated in prayer despite the demands and needs of people. I don’t know if Jesus had a specific time or day, or if he just knew when he needed to be alone with the Lord to refresh his focus. In this day and age, it can be difficult to just pick an entire day. There is a constant streaming of needs and demands on our time. But it’s important to find time somewhere like after work, before you start your weekend chores, before the kids get up, maybe while you sip on that much needed cup of joe. Give yourself even an hour.
For me, I gave up an extra hour of sleep so I could sit in prayer with God. This has given me a much clearer head and a growing joyful heart. My next goal is to make Friday my sabbath night- a night where I simply sit with God, in his love and glory and let him just give me rest. In order to do this, I’ve got to tell him yes and something else no- really, there is no in between.
Romans 15:4 NIV For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Many believers journal which can have a huge positive impact. But what happens when the words we write down hold us captive instead of setting us free? This was my experience with journaling. For years I poured out my heart and soul onto paper. Instead of healing though, I found I was reliving pain again and again.
God, in his mercy, clearly commanded me to move forward. He called me to stop looking back and defining myself by written reminders of past hurts. Destroying twenty years of journals didn’t erase or diminish my experiences, it merely shifted my focus right to God.
Believe me when I say; journaling still carries incredible blessings. Today, I don’t journal to dwell on pain. I journal scripture and prayers. I record testimonies of God’s faithfulness, words from the Holy Spirit, and reminders of his guidance in every season.
Did you know that there are scripture verses instructing us to journal? I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that God had blessed us with the tool we call journaling. However, he never intended for it to trap us in the past and cause more harm. Journaling should be less about the wounds and more about the healer.
“Write therefore, the things that you have seen” [Revelation 1:11] “This will be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord” [Psalm 102:18] Jeremiah himself recorded God’s promises, [Jeremiah 30:2] These are just a few examples. Romans 15:4 also reminds us why we write things down- not just to teach but to give hope through endurance and encouragement.
So, I’ve learned this; God meant for journaling to be a tool of freedom, testimony and truth. Each page can become a prayer, a declaration of faith and a record of God’s goodness. Take every thought captive. You can write it down, but don’t hold onto it- Give it right to God.
Ephesians 4:29 NIV “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
If anyone exemplified the verse above, it was Charlie Kirk. He changed me with the words he spoke. How did he do that? It’s so simple. He stood on the Word of God and then shared it with everyone he came in contact with. This inspired me to continue digging deeper into my Bible and allowing the words of God to change me.
Do you remember the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me”? Well, from personal experience I can tell you they actually do. Words have the power you build you up or tear you down. Nothing helps me more than the positive words I hear and receive from friends and family. Likewise, I enjoy seeing the joy on someone’s face when I tell them something positive like how beautiful their art is, or how smart they are. You never know when a kind word will turn someone’s day around for the positive.
I want to emphasize where Paul says ‘only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” My goal in life is to follow scripture and Charlie Kirk’s example of encouraging others to know and apply God’s truth.
I read something that said the average human speaks approximately 16,000 words a day. That’s 16,000 chances for us to share God’s love, The Gospel, and words that will put joy in someone’s heart. I don’t plan to be as powerfully effective as Charlie Kirk was, but I can affect those around me. I’ve got 16,000 chances a day to make it happen and so do you.
“Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3 NIV
I don’t know about you, but I have been pretty confused about the word exaltation. I started writing these devotions because of that word. Every time I would hear it from a pastor or in a song, I always wondered what exactly it meant.
Then, as life unfolded, understanding came and the Holy Spirit said, “Write about it.” BOOM. The devotions began.
Still needing an understanding, I needed to look up the definition, so I went online. Exalt means “To lift up, to praise and\or to glorify.”
I asked myself, “how much exalting am I doing?” It’s easy to attend church on Sunday mornings and sing the songs or say the words and nod in agreement with the pastor. I wonder, what does Monday through Saturday look like?
Do we exalt our fears by letting them overpower us? What about our problems. How much more attention and focus do we give our fears and problems than we give to God?
It reminds me of fairly recent times spent in and out of hospitals and medical offices. I was sick with a mysterious disease, at the time, and trying desperately to find answers. That problem seemed too big for me but instead of focusing on God, I allowed the fear and problem to overrule me.
Sure, I prayed the prayers and sang the worship songs- with a smile even. I claimed to trust in him. However, I would be lying if I told you my focus and attention went to God. I would be lying if I said I had unshakeable faith. Instead, I fretted and googled and obsessed. I bought the lie that the diagnosis was the key to everything.
Here’s what I was missing. A magnifying glass doesn’t change the object, but it changes how we see it. Likewise, exaltation changes our perspective of God.
When the fears or anguish of every day life have us in a chokehold, the first thing we should do is immediately surrender to God and pray earnestly. Sing those songs and pray those prayers wkith tears streaming down your face! God isn’t afraid of big emotions. He does however want our focus, attention, and our whole heart.
So what are you magnifying today? Your struggles or your Savior? Pause and exalt Jesus right where you are. Declare his name! Shout with praise and worship that he is greater! Thank him for his perfect love.
“…if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 NIV
I used to take this bit of Scripture extremely serious as a child. I can remember shutting my eyes tight and thinking, “Okay Mountain…. MOVE!” I imagine that somewhere in this world, surely a mountain has shifted! I don’t know about it because I was usually left staring at South Florida palm trees. Of course as I grew up, it became obvious that faith doesn’t equal magic. As an adult believer, I struggled when I didn’t see changes in situations I prayed over. It’s only in the last year that I’ve really seen my personal mustard seed begin to grow.
The truth is, the mustard seed is one of the tiniest seeds on earth and yet, it grows into a strong tree. (Luke 13:19) This represents our faith. When our faith is placed in the limitless hands of God, we can move mountains. [Eph 3:20]
Recently, I’ve thought about people in the Bible who showed a little bit of faith- yet did big things. I found so many stories that began with a shaky yes, a hesitant step or even a simple whispered prayer. I have two favorite characters who show this kind of faith. The first one is David, a shepherd boy who, with just a sling and a stone, defeated a giant while others trembled in fear. The second one is the unnamed woman who Mark 5:25-29 reports had been bleeding for twelve years! In her desperation she thought to herself, “If I could just touch his clothes, I would be healed.” She didn’t expect a big show, she just took a little leap of faith.
Guess what? She touched his clothes and her bleeding stopped immediately. My favorite part of this is that Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.” Instead of being angry that someone had so personally touched him, he encouraged her act of faith!
I’m pretty sure I haven’t moved a literal mountain- yet- but the mountains of life that we all face daily? They seem to move all the time. Instead of closing my eyes and pretending to be a magician, I now see a mustard seed planted in my heart, and I know that God’s hands are pruning away, helping it turn into a beautiful, strong tree.
So, what mustard seed are you planting today? What small act of faith can you take?
Be shepherd of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Think of a time God blessed you with special guidance from someone else- a pastor, a friend, a small group leader… if I was a betting woman, I would certainly bet that this person or these people helped you draw closer to God and understand his word on a deeper level. Maybe they mentored you through a really difficult time in your life.
During a period of loss, heartache and confusion in my life, God did this very thing for me. That’s where Tony and Janelle come in. I’ve already written about Janelle once before, but now you get to hear a little more about her and- added bonus- hear about my other friend, Tony.
It started with God’s rescue, flowed into my willingness to attend church, and extended into a mentorship- and friendship that still stands! After losing my child, I attended the same church Janelle had invited me to countless times. I remember writing on a prayer request card- basically pouring my heart out. I needed help. You wouldn’t believe the love that was poured into me. I received cards and letters from total strangers.
Tony’s beautiful and kind wife sat next to me one day at church and verbally poured into me. I’m not sure she will ever know how present God was through her. It’s honestly because of her that I got connected to Tony. Long story short, she pointed me in his direction and a beautiful mentorship unfolded. We asked Janelle to be a part of this mentorship as well. Both Tony and Janelle sacrificed time with their families to disciple me. Not because they felt they had to, but they did it with willing and joyful hearts!
I thought I was just being counseled on how to deal with grief. My friends definitely did that but what really happened was that they taught me how to walk with God in faith, obedience, and trust. It opened the door to- finally- cracking open my Bible and reading God breathed truth.
When I decided to move away, it was with deep sadness. There was so much of my life that I was leaving behind- including Tony and Janelle. I didn’t want to give up our weekly meetings that drew me closer to the God of restoration and promise. Who would continue showing me that I was being pursued by the pursuer himself? These disciples had taken the blindfold from my eyes and shown me what walking with Christ really meant.
Tony and Janelle laughed joyfully and just reminded me that at some point in my life, God would call me to be someone else’s Tony and Janelle. I’ve thought about that off and on, still experiencing and learning. I know the time is coming and I am praying about where God will place me all the time.
Discipleship is a special blessing straight from THE shepherd. What season are you in? Is it time to be someone’s Tony and Janelle? Or do you need your own Tony and Janelle? Ask God for guidance. His answers will always amaze you.
“When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the Lord had made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water.”
Did you notice that when Moses received the ten commandments on Mount Sinai, he didn’t just go up and come right back down? Moses stayed on that mountain for at least forty days and forty nights without food and water. When the realization of this hit me, I was in awe.
I asked myself why Moses abstained from eating and drinking for such a long period of time.
Did you realize that’s the first mention of fasting in the bible? [Ex 34:28] As a result, Moses had no distractions. He was in a quiet place, his heart was positioned to God and he had no interference to keep him from hearing the voice of God.
It reminds me of when Elijah fled to the wilderness. [1 Kings 19] He had slaughtered the prophets of Baal and Jezebel was ANGRY. So angry in fact, she’d threatened his life. Frightened, Elijah left his servant in Judah and headed for the wilderness.
The very first thing Elijah did was go to God in prayer with his fear and emotions. The Lord provided him with food and rest because the journey was too much. After that, Elijah traveled forty days and forty nights and guess where he ended up? Mount Sinai [or mount Horeb.] I am left to wonder if God provided Elijah with so much food because not only was the journey long, but there would be no other food for that length of time- I mean, we’re in the wilderness right?
What I love about these passages is that God provided every time, and in the quiet he spoke. He instructed. He prepared. God doesn’t talk to us in the wind, earthquake or fire because we are busy and distracted. Hear me when I say he is always faithful and provides in every season. However, he will talk to you in the quiet stillness, when your focus is on him.
What in your life is distracting you from God? It doesn’t have to be food and water. Maybe it’s watching TV, social media, or maybe like me, you’re just living a really busy life.
Join me over the next forty days and forty nights as we just put all these distractions on the back burner. Let’s use the time we usually spend mindlessly scrolling through our phones to have solitude with the Lord where he speaks, instructs, and prepares. I can’t wait to see what he does!
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
Have you been waiting on a new career? What about a spouse? Maybe you want a child, or you’re waiting for that family or friend to wake up from the choices they’re making and find JESUS. Maybe there’s something else you’re waiting on, and I know how frustrating it is!
There is a lot of scripture about waiting. So many words of truth about what happens when we wait. When I say wait, I mean…waiting well. This isn’t just a practice in patience though. This is literally finding joy through suffering, wondering when our circumstances will change.
Several people throughout biblical history remind me of someone who waits well. Abraham waited 25 years for a son, and while maybe Sarah took matters into her own hands, Abraham waited! Paul showed amazing strength and patience during his imprisonments, and David… Oh David. An anointed king who spent years fleeing persecution in the wilderness before he ever ascended to the throne.
There was a time in my life when I was so desperate to get out of a situation that I dedicated all of my free time to driving around town in search of a place to rent on my own. I got lost in a corn field, and with tears streaming down my face I can remember punching the steering wheel of my car and cursing at God!
I recalled this event with my therapist and told her I felt like in my current waiting period, I was headed back to that corn field, my hands clenched and ready to fight the steering wheel again.
She smiled at me and said, “What if instead of asking God to get you out of something, you simply ask him to open new opportunities?”
I admit- that statement caught me off guard. Why had I never thought of it that way? I was reminded again during a women’s event at church when one of the speakers mentioned waiting well. She said that difficult situations are opportunities to see beyond our circumstances. If we look through the lens of the Father, we might see who we are able to reach with love, kindness and an invitation to know HIM.
Friends, we can smile knowing that God actually has it all worked out. Every time I have surrendered my will to his will and just allowed him to do his “ALMIGHTY THING” it has been such a magnificent experience- much better than anything I could ever have dreamed of.
Now, I would be lying if I told you that I was an expert in my practice of waiting well. This is a daily struggle and I have to continuously ask God to change my heart and my attitude. The good news is, every day is a new day to wait well.
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
It took me years to understand the verse above is talking about grief, which by definition is sadness or emotional distress following a loss. Unfortunately, we all experience grief at some point in our life.
I have faced grief many times in my life, and it’s safe to say that this deep sadness is multifaceted. One moment you feel like your breath has been completely knocked out of you. Then later, it changes to an indescribable heaviness. I can’t forget the days I didn’t have the strength to take a shower. Quirky as grief is, there are some days when you don’t even know you’re grieving.
If I told you I felt the same about each loss, I would be lying. However, God used these events in my life to draw me close.
The truth is, grieving isn’t new. Don’t you think God grieved when Cain killed Abel? And Jesus wept for Lazarus. How about when Mary, the mother of Jesus, was at the foot of the cross?
I can’t seem to find anything in scripture depicting the grief she must have felt. I can only imagine. Of course, I know the pain of losing a child. What I don’t know is how it feels to hear everyone around you taunting and mocking your child, rejoicing as he hung on a cross. Did she feel like a sword was piercing her soul? (Luke 2:55)
It was on the days that I didn’t feel like a sword was piercing my heart that I met God. I found that even in our grief, we can open our hearts to God and experience his comfort. God has many names, one of which is Jehovah Rapha; the Lord who heals.
My friends, we can call out to the God who is able and willing to heal you in your deepest despair.
Lord,
My healer and comfort, I pray for your closeness, your reassurance, and your freedom from grief. I praise the Lord who heals and I ask that you cover those who are crushed in spirit with your unconditional love and your everlasting peace.
John 15:4 NIV “Remain in me as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
Did you know that another word for abide is remain? Several versions of the bible use the word abide, while others use the word remain. Another term that is similar to the word abide is, “Hold To.” That one stuck with me. When I see those words, I envision an invisible tether keeping me connected to Jesus. When I actively use that tether, I am holding on to Jesus. When I don’t, it feels like it’s been cut.
Honestly, Jesus is the source of all life.
Every good thing we experience comes from Jesus; Love, peace, joy…the list goes on. When I feel disconnected, I am unhappy, lost and hungry for a life that can only come through Jesus.
The good news is that when we feel the tether pull like it’s going to break in two, the Lord is at the other end making sure it doesn’t. That, my friends, is what abiding is all about.
When we abide, we aren’t just having a one-time encounter with Jesus. This is an invitation directly from the Lord himself to stay connected to him every day, every minute, all the time. We do this through his Word, the Holy Spirit, community, and by serving others.
So, yea, life is a little rocky. Jesus knows his sheep are going to wander and get lost. We are going to feel that tether stretch to the point we think its breaks. But remember, the source of life is at the other end. He knows us by name, and he pulls us right back in. So… hold on.
Never Ending Praise The Lord 