We Will Trust In Thee

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." Psalm 56:3

What a comforting promise. Whatever the day, whatever the time, whatever we are going through, we can put our trust in God. It doesn't matter if we are afraid, lonely, struggling, unsure, sick, or weary, He is there for us. His unfailing love and His peace will comfort us.

Thank You, God, for all you do for us. Thank You for this beautiful promise. Thank You for the times You quiet our hearts and restore us with strength and confidence. Help us, Father, to keep our thoughts on You and Your Word. We will trust in Thee for our comfort, peace, and joy.

Love in Christ,
Tera







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Please Stay Seated And Keep Your Hands And Arms Inside The Ride

If you have ever been to Disney World, you have probably seen and read one of their safety warning signs. They are located all through the park and at the entrance of all of the rides.
So what does this have to do with a devotion?

Well, it made me think of how many times God has to remind me to "Please stay seated and keep your hands and arms inside the ride." In other words, keep your hands and arms to yourself, take them off of the situation and completely turn everything over to me. I can protect you and keep you safe if you will stay seated and let me be in control.

This is where our faith in God comes in. We believe in Him, we pray His will be done, but we can't keep our hands off of the problem. 2 Timothy 1:12 "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." He is able to handle any situation without our help as long as we totally commit it to Him and His will.

Thank you, God, for always wanting to keep us safe and protected even when we can't see the danger.

Love in Christ,
Tera

Thank Him For The Future

Do you become overwhelmed wondering what the future holds? I think all of us have had sleepless nights of fear and anxiety over the unknown.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:25,26 "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"

We are a child of God, we are valuable to Him...more valuable than the birds in the air. Being overwhelmed with worry and fear is not from Him. We need to remember He understands, He gets this thing called life, and He has authority and control over each day. Can our worrying add an extra second to our life? No. If anything it probably takes a second away. This quote from Corrie ten Boom is so accurate "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength."

Our faith and trust are in God. Enjoy today and thank Him for the future that He has planned for us.

Love in Christ,
Tera

Let It Shine

This little light of mine was a childhood song I learned many years ago in Sunday School. It is taken from the verses of Matthew 5:14-16.

As Christians, we are the little light. "Ye are the light of the world." (v.14) It is us sharing Jesus and His love and faithfulness with everyone we see.

When I was a child my favorite part of this song was,"Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine."
The Sunday School teacher would always tell us to say, No! With a shout! So that is how I learned it. Now that I am older, I know the importance of letting my light shine and my testimony being heard. 

What about you? Are you letting your light shine?

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine, 

Let it shine, 

Let it shine...

Love in Christ,
Tera

  

Through Christ

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13. The two keywords we need to see in this beautiful verse is through Christ. 

It is only through Christ that we are able to do all things. He gives us the strength, power, wisdom, understanding and the provision to do what we need to do. It is knowing Jesus Christ and having Him in the center of our lives. We can endure anything and do all things when we are entirely dependant on Christ. We "learn in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."  Philippians 4:11. This is not talking about a state in the USA this is talking about being content in our circumstances, situations at a specific time. 

Let's think back on all the things that we have gone through in our life, and I for one can tell you I could not have gone through any of those things without Jesus Christ. 

Love in Christ,

Tera 

My Cup Runneth Over

The 23rd Psalm is probably read more and recited more than any other scripture in the Bible. To me, each verse reflects God's provision for us spiritually, physically, mentally and bountifully. There is refreshment in every verse.

Psalm 23:5 talks about how God's goodness is unending. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." The cup is referring to God's blessings, His goodness, His abundant provision to and for us. I can tell you, and I am grateful how God provides in the big and little things of life.

God is so good! We are blessed people. We need to take time every day and reflect on how God has provided for our families and us. May we always give Him thanks and share with others when we have the opportunity..." my cup runneth over." 

Love in Christ,
Tera

The Prayer Of Favor

Most of you remember the book Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson published in 2000. He took the scripture of 1 Chronicles 4:9,10 and ask Christians to read, memorize and claim this prayer daily.

"And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."

The prayer that Jabez prayed was overlooked by many because it was nestled in page after page of descendants of the Bible. Jabez was not a prophet or a leader he was a man who wanted more for his life and was not going to let his name or his past define him. Jabez wanted to be loved, blessed, appreciated and watched over, so that is exactly what he prayed for.

Have you ever felt like Jabez? We just want God to bless us and to have His Hand over us. He can and He will. We can pray the prayer of favor just like Jabez. Our prayer should be with an open and sincere heart asking God to bless us, keep His Hand over us and show us His purpose for our lives.

Love in Christ,
Tera

It is HIS Peace

God, help us to be more sensitive to Your peace when we feel confused and have anxiety over "things" that are going on in our lives.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27.

The world tries to give us peace through things that are temporary, unstable and not sincere. God's peace provides us with what we need to conquer worry, fear, confusion, and anxiety.
It is HIS peace. Pure and genuine. A feeling of peace that is beyond our understanding.

Don't let the "things" of life rob you of your peace and joy. Claim this scripture instead!

Love in Christ,
Tera

They Are More Than Can Be Numbered

"Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are toward us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." Psalm 40:5. 

I thought it appropriate that David started this verse with the word "Many." Many means: a large number of. Synonyms: numerous, a great deal, a lot, plenty, countless, innumerable, multiple, multitude.  

Isn't that our God? Countless times He has done great things in our lives. His thoughts and His plans toward us and for us are numerous. It would be hard to declare every blessing, all of His wonderful works toward us because "they are more than can be numbered."  

As Christians, shouldn't this verse be our testimony every single day?

Love in Christ,
Tera

Sweet Hour of Prayer

When our troubles entrap us, and it seems that hurt and pain is all around us. PRAY.

God wants us to have a sweet hour of prayer with Him. He knows what we are going through, and sees our distress. The last verse of the beautiful hymn Sweet Hour of Prayer has so much truth and wisdom. All God asks is for us to seek His face, cast our care on Him, and trust His beautiful grace.

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
believe His word, and trust His grace,
I'll cast on Him my every care,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Have you had a sweet hour of prayer with God today? Trust Him and His faithfulness. He can turn our troubles into triumphs.

Love in Christ,
Tera

Long Enough

Deuteronomy 2:2,3 reads "And the Lord spake unto me, saying, Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward."

This verse is reflecting Israel's years in the wilderness. They began not trusting in God and not being obedient to Him even though He was providing daily what they needed. Life was about doing their own thing, the journey had become ho-hum, and they ended up going around in circles for 40 years!

Can we relate to this verse? Have we circled a mountain long enough? Is it time we stop doing our own thing and turn back to God, His will, His path? God wants the very best for us. He has a beautiful plan and purpose for each one of us. It is up to us to let go of the familiar and be willing to trust and obey Him for the path He has for us.

Is it time to move on?

Love in Christ,
Tera

Psalm 91:11

"For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Psalm 91:11.

How comforting is this promise? To know that those who trust in the Lord can have His protection over them 24/7! God gives us angels to watch over and protect us in difficult times, when we are facing danger and to carry us when we are weak. I believe in angels. No, I can not see them, I cannot talk to them, I just believe this promise.

We all have had times we felt His angels protecting us. What a comfort to know that when they are instructed and charged by the Lord to watch over us and to "keep thee in all thy ways" that they will. One day we will see and probably be amazed at the magnitude of times He had His angels protect and watch over us.

Thank You, God, for loving us and for this beautiful promise.

Love in Christ,
Tera

Our Life Consist of Seasons

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

No matter what we are going through or experiencing, we have to remember God orchestrates every breath we take and every event in our life. It may not be a season that we understand or even want to go through, but He is in control and has a purpose behind it.

Our life consists of seasons, and that will not change. Our strength to face and get through those seasons comes from God. We put our trust and rest in Him and His sovereignty. HE is always faithful!

Love in Christ,
Tera

Clean Feet, Loving Example

Have you ever walked down a dusty road wearing sandals? Our feet can become dirty and filthy.

In ancient times, a person entering a home would remove their sandals and wash their feet. If the homeowners were wealthy, servants would do the washing of the guest feet. Usually, this task fell to the lowest position in the home. 

There is a Bible lesson in John chapter 13:3-15 where Jesus washes the Disciples' Feet. What a loving example He taught and showed when he knelt down and washed their feet. Jesus, the Son of God, put Himself in the submissive role of a servant. "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." John 13:15

Jesus served others because that was His Father's assignment. He made sure the disciples understood the lesson of servanthood even before He went to the Cross. Jesus washed dirty feet, using the same two hands that would be nailed to the Cross the very next day.

As followers of Jesus, we should always be humble and ready to clean feet and be a loving example of service for Him.  

Love in Christ,
Tera

Challenges

Challenges. We all have them. Some of us have them daily, some now and then, and some may never have them. Please email me if you are one of the latter because I would LOVE to find out your secret of success. :)

Challenges can be in situations, people, jobs, children, parents, illness, it is anything that needs our mental and/or physical effort, and that tests our abilities. There have been times we solve one challenge, and there is another one right behind it. It is during this time we need to remember how big our God is and that He will help us overcome. Yes, we are troubled and cast down but not forsaken or destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9: "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed."

Are you facing a challenge today? Start believing in the Lord and hold to His promises and not our feelings. He will give us the ability to face whatever problem we are facing. His grace is sufficient, He will not forsake us. He is always faithful.

Love in Christ,
Tera

Take The Time To Pray

Have you ever had a person that was heavy on your heart and you took the time to pray on their behalf? This is called intercessory prayer. Not only are we an encouragement and blessing to them but we also come away blessed after praying.

The Bible is clear that all Christians are called to be intercessors. What a privilege we have to be able to pray boldly to our God with our needs and the needs of others.

Ephesians 6:18, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

Whatever we are going through, there is someone we know that is hurting, going through a trial, facing fear or the unknown, that we can lift up to the Lord in prayer. We should always be aware of others and their burdens and take the time to pray for our families, friends and all of God's people.
It will not only affect their lives, but it will affect our lives also.

Love in Christ,
Tera