devotion
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Catching A Vision For The Future
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A Real Chip Off The Old Block
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Gather The Girls Together!
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Costumes For Candy And To Conceal
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Nehemiah–Wash Behind Your Hears
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Does Forgiveness Equal Restored Relationship?
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example…”
Ephesians 4:32-5:1 NIVLife is so generous to give us lots of opportunities to extend forgiveness to people who hurt us. What’s the proper response to offence? Do we always have to forgive?Does forgiveness =equal= restored relationship?
If we are to follow God’s example, as this verse instructs us, then forgiveness is a must and restored relationships need to be our intent.
Sadly, I don’t think forgiveness can always lead to restored relationships, and we see that in Jesus’ relationship with the Pharisees.
Isaiah 59:2 explains that our sin is an offence to God, separating us in our relationship with Him. The more we sin and the longer we continue offending Him, the more distant our relationship with Him becomes. Forgiveness can take place in an instant when a prayer is whispered, but it takes time to rebuild a relationship with God.
Restoration happens when we take ownership of our offense and change our ways. We have to go through a process to rebuild our closeness with the Father.
The same principle needs to be applied to our earthly relationships.We must forgive others for their offenses towards us. If we don’t, it keeps us bound in bitterness. It’s healthy to learn that a restored relationship is separate from forgiveness and requires a healing process.When approaching relationship restoration, we need to consider the whole counsel of scripture.Proverbs 4:23 warns,“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (NLT).
Proverbs 22:24 cautions,
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered...”
Forgiveness + Ownership + Repentence = Restored Relationship
Sometimes you’ll need to forgive and protect yourself from unhealthy or even toxic relationships. In the best of times, forgiveness leads to a better, stronger restored relationship.
Prayer:
Father, I thank You for Your forgiveness. I ask for the grace to forgive others in my life who have hurt and offended me. I take myself out of the judge’s seat and release them to Your judgement and justice. Please help me to guard my heart, without closing it in the area of relationship restoration. May I walk in Your wholeness. In Jesus’ name, amen.- Ephesians 4:32
- Isaiah 59:2
- Proverbs 22:24–25
- Proverbs 4:23
This post was first published on January 19, 2014 and then included in my first Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
Devotion #17 – Forgiveness and Restored Relationship. The original devotion also inspired a #musicpic post called, The Forgiveness Song -
Truth God Whispered To Me On A Flight To Dallas
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV
Are you a confident flyer?
I started off pretty nervous flying… might have had something to do with the fact that my first trip involved a stint through the Rockies in a small plane. Pockets of air bounced us up and down for the whole flight.
Then came the 911 Tragedy.
My friend Staci and I were scheduled to attend Joyce Meyer’s Women’s Conference taking place just a couple weeks later. We weren’t sure planes would be flying since airports had been closed but days before our trip, it was announced they were open again.
The conference sent out emails letting girls off the hook for registration if they were concerned about flying. As I read, something rose up inside of me. I wasn’t going to allow the terrorists to terrorize me. This indignation helped defeat my flying fear!
Now, I’m a fairly confident flyer, but still pray during take-off and my flight last week to the Global Media Summit was no exception. As I prayed in my head {so people don’t think I’m crazy} a life-changing event happened. God whispered to me on a flight to Dallas!
WHAT TRUTH GOD WHISPERED TO ME ON A FLIGHT TO DALLAS
As the plane was rising into the clouds and the motors leveled off, I began thinking about how amazing it was that such a heavy piece of metal could soar above the clouds with such ease. It was at this point where I felt the Lord remind me of this week’s verse. God kept whispering, “you will soar on wings like eagles”. What an encouraging word!
EAGLE FACTS
This caused me to study a little more on eagles, so I could understand how they soar in the sky1. Unlike other birds who furiously flap their wings and can fly for shorter distances, eagles can soar for 4-6 hours, traveling up to 125 miles2 by simply opening up their wings and gliding on the wind. This is the difference between flying and soaring.3
All too often I’m like a bird flapping around getting tired, only going short distances. From now on, I want to be like an eagle and soar on the Jetstream of where the Holy Spirit is moving! This reminds me of the Word of the Lord to Zerubbabel in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”
So, let’s follow the eagle example. Don’t waste your energy flapping around. Learn from the message God whispered to me on a flight to Dallas, and simply open up your wings and soar!
Prayer
Father… I thank You for taking the heavy load. You don’t want me to carry it. Help me not waste energy trying to do Your will in my own strength but soar on the wind of Your Spirit. In Jesus Name…Amen
[tweetthis]Don’t flap like a bird, soar like an eagle![/tweetthis]
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!- Isaiah 40:30-31
- Zechariah 4:6
- 2 Chronicles 32:7-8
- 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
EndNotes:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM2bC6qNksM Website Accessed: 2018-05-06
- https://www.quora.com/How-long-can-an-eagle-fly-without-landing-perching Website Accessed: 2018-05-06
- https://www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-flying-and-soaring Website Accessed: 2018-05-06
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, Soul Survival – Donna Reidland,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin -
{New Series} New Beginnings
This New Beginnings devotion is #2 of the 4 Part “NEW Series”. The series is a group of devotions I felt the Lord putting on my heart for the NEW YEAR. Here’s last week’s INTRO/NEW STRENGTH, I sensed Holy Spirit inspiring me to share hope and refreshing words with you.
The devos will follow along the same format as my normal #SoulH2O devotions except the last one will have a bonus post later in the week for the first week in February.
I hope these posts build up your expectation for the great things God desires to do in and through you in 2017! Praying you take hold of all He has for you this year!
Be Blessed & Refreshed,
<3 Sherry StahlNEW BEGINNINGS
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.”
Zechariah 4:10 NLT
“Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.”
Job 8:7 NLTNew Beginnings can be a scary thing. Have you ever lost a job and been forced into a new career, possibly with less pay? Ever had a relationship breakdown that left you starting over?
The culture of the business world and society we live in makes these scenarios a common occurrence. In 2012 I was remarried and wrote my first book. Talk about new beginnings with huge life changes both personally and professionally.
It seemed like my life was finally turning around. Marriage to Todd was an easy adjustment, I never knew love could be like this. I had high hopes of WATER IN THE DESERT hitting the stores and flying off the bookshelves. It didn’t happen.
The mindset of our times teach that, “If you build it, they will come” and are filled with “Get Rich Quick” schemes. So when you stick your neck out, follow God’s call and you’re not an “Overnight Success”, it makes you question if you did the right thing.
Did God really call you to start that business, marry that guy or say yes to that ministry opportunity?
Zechariah and the Israelites experienced a lot of new beginnings. They understood these questions. They felt your fear. The Israelites had started rebuilding the temple after a previous group gave up about 16 years earlier. The generation before gave up when they were harassed by the Samaritans.
God spoke to His people through Zechariah and encouraged them to keep going. They were afraid they didn’t have what it took to finish the task God called them to. God let them know that it wouldn’t get done in their strength, but it would in His.1
Today you may be facing a new beginning or have started into a new adventure and fear is screaming that you won’t make it. Learn to silence the lying enemy and those negative thoughts by quoting these two scriptures to your fear.
Prayer
Father…I thank You for being with me in every stage of my life. Help me not to fear when I’m given the opportunity for a new beginning. May I focus my attention on Your words that make clear you’re happy when we start something new. Help us to be diligent in what you’ve called us to and not give up until You prosper us in the dram you’ve given. In Jesus Name…Amen
[tweetthis]Small Beginnings lead to BIG Things when God’s involved![/tweetthis]
#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!1 Zechariah 4:6
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms,
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell -
Pruning
“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
John 15:8 NIVLast fall Todd prune the tree in our front yard and it has grown like crazy this year! The leaves are double the size that they were last year and there’s so many more of them. The branches are actually starting to droop because they’re so heavy with leaves. It’s getting overgrown and looking a little out of control. It’s time for another pruning!
In John 15 Jesus explains that God the Father is the gardener of our spiritual lives. When I read verse 8 of this chapter I get why God cuts off branches that aren’t bearing fruit. Those branches are a relief when they’re cut off, but allowing Him to prune branches that are bearing fruit is difficult, even painful. It’s hard to let things go when there’s still good fruit growing. Last year I felt God ask me to let go of a fruitful Bible Study leadership position to allow more time to travel speaking. I struggled with this decision; especially since I had a very light schedule booked, but I know my Father’s voice, so I gave my notice. Five months later I had spoken in Dallas twice, Montreal, Alberta, Burlington, Leamington, Windsor, Sarnia, Simcoe, London, Hamilton and Toronto a couple times. By July I was completely spent from all the incredible opportunities God brought my way.
Trust God’s leading in the pruning season. Understanding;
[tweetthis]”Our Father prunes not to take away, but to multiply!” ~John 15:8[/tweetthis]
Prayer
Father…As difficult as it is, I give you permission to prune anything in my life so it will bear MORE fruit! I trust your wisdom. You determine the seasons for the earth, and for my my life. Help me to follow your schedule and not fight it, so I can experience Your divine multiplication this year. In Jesus Name…Amen