If you’ve ever wondered whether other Christian women struggle in their walk with God like you do at times, today’s post will reassure you that I, for one, certainly do!

Recently I was in a situation where someone said something that rubbed me the wrong way. I was a little surprised at first and didn’t react outwardly. I just kind of sat with those words for a few minutes.

Now here’s what typically happens in circumstances like this (which could include any type of perceived hurt or injustice – maybe even directed toward my children – that gets me all worked up.) That offense gets into my mind and I go over it. and over it. and over it.

I think of what they said, and how I could have responded and how I’m going to act or what I’ll say the next time I see them. Or how I won’t say anything right now, but I’ll wait and bring it up later. Or how I won’t say anything at all, but for the next week, I’ll silently hold it against that person.

Well, that’s exactly what started to happen. My mind went into action and I began brooding over how I felt offended.

But I also began to realize that repeatedly hashing this over in my mind was not healthy. Dwelling on it was only going to make me more hurt and angry.

Out of nowhere (or so it seemed) in the midst of my hurt feelings, this passage, spoken by Jesus, came to mind. (Not in these exact words, but in my own summarized version.)

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” [Matthew 5:38-39]

No, I didn’t get a slap in the face. But the principle that spoke to me here was don’t be so quick to take offense. And beyond that, don’t seek to hurt the other person in return.

While I was provoked by what had been said, in a spirit of grace, I could choose to let it go. After all, how many times have I said or done things that offended God? Many, many times. Yet He forgives.

The Beatitudes at the beginning of Matthew 5 say blessed are the meek. Was I going to choose meekness or was I going to stand up for my own injured feelings?

I followed that up with Philippians 4:8. Allowing this hurt to fester in my mind was certainly not pure or lovely, virtuous or praiseworthy. Rather it was filling my mind with self-centered, resentful thoughts.

So did I immediately let it go? Honestly, it took me a few minutes. And it involved the realization that my human nature likes to hold a grudge and focus on my “offended-ness.” The “old man” that lives inside of me has a lot of power. But my “new man” knows the freedom I can live in if I will let it go. Otherwise, I leave room for a “root of bitterness” to take hold. [Hebrews 12:15]

However, I must have the Holy Spirit’s help, because I don’t feel strong enough to do it on my own. And I believe I had His help in this particular struggle. He reminded me of those verses to convict me that harping on what had happened was wrong.

For the rest of the day, I felt pretty good about this whole situation. I felt like I’d gained a spiritual victory.

But can you believe it? That night as I lay in bed, here came that disagreeable thought again! I had to fight it off once more.

That whole passage in Ephesians 6 which tells us we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood is so true. It’s unseen enemies that can slip in and defeat us. So we have to constantly arm ourselves with truth, righteousness, faith, and the Word of God.

I wish I could say I’ve learned my lesson, but this is a constant struggle for me. How vital it is for all of us to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ [2 Corinthians 10:5]. May we all choose to listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompting when our flesh wants to do its own thing!

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Years ago, we had a treadmill in our house. Well, it started out in the house, in a spare bedroom (pre-kids). Then it made its way to a corner of our bedroom, and finally out to the garage before we eventually sold it.

I actually like walking on a treadmill, but these days, it only happens if I have a little downtime during a hotel stay and want to fit in some exercise. And I have to admit that it can get a little monotonous. That belt is just cycling around over and over and over.

Sometimes we might feel that way about life. We get stuck in a rut, doing the same things the same way repeatedly. And we can get discouraged.

But as I was reading my Bible the other day, I found a boost of hope in Psalm 16:11.

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Here are three reasons this verse can give us hope.

1. We can rest in His guidance.

The first part of the verse says that God will show us the path of life. How thankful we are, most of all, that God has revealed to us the path to eternal life! That’s the most important one we can find. In John 14:6, Jesus tells us that He is the way to the Father, and through Him we find salvation.

Yet I believe God also shows us the path through our life here on earth. The Cambridge Bible commentary says, “‘The path of life’ is not merely a path which leads to life, but one in which life is to be found.”

Through circumstances, open and closed doors, by following principles found in His Word, by being sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading, we can trust God to show us the path in which we should walk. That’s where we’ll find the most satisfaction in this life.

We can have hope because we’re not left to figure out life on our own! God will direct us. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” ~Psalm 32:8

2. We will find joy in His presence.

As Christians, one day we will physically be in his presence in heaven forever. But even now, through prayer and the Holy Spirit that lives in us, we can experience a taste of that joy.

I would relate great joy to how I felt after FaceTiming last week with my daughter who’s away at college. It was exciting to hear that she was doing well and to catch up with what’s happening in her life.

But even that joy dims over time. A couple of days later, I wanted another update! However, in Christ’s presence, we can find joy that completely satisfies. What a thought, to be filled to capacity with joy! How that makes me want to spend more time with Him!

3. We can anticipate eternal pleasures.

I don’t know exactly what those eternal pleasures will look like. But when I think of all the pleasures we have here on earth where there is still sin and human nature to contend with, I know they must be wonderful pleasures. Earthly pleasures don’t last, but God has laid up for us an inexhaustible store of everlasting treasures.

This reminds me of Colossians 3 which is the memory passage I’m working on right now. In the first verse, we’re told to seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.

It’s easy to get discouraged if we only focus on the here and now. We have to purposely set our minds on heaven and the glories that await the children of God there. We can’t even grasp the undending delights of discovering God for eternity.

So if you need an infusion of hope today, meditate on these three truths from Psalm 16:11. God guides us, we find joy in His presence, and He offers us pleasures with him forevermore.

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Why would I be talking about change today? Because our younger daughter started 11th grade on Monday. And this weekend we’ll drop our older daughter off for her freshman year at college.

This will be a big life change for us. But whether we’re experiencing a major change or a minor one, we tend to want something comforting and familiar to hang on to. Situations like these are when all that I know about God theoretically needs to become really practical in my life.

What I believe about God colors everything. And there’s only one way to know what to believe about God and that’s by learning about Him through His Word.

Recently I started going through the Psalms and writing down characteristics of God I found there. Since I’m adjusting to change this week, I’ve chosen a few of the ones that are encouraging me to share with you.

God is omnipresent.

“Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.” ~Jeremiah 23:23-24

God is here at home with me, and He will be there, nine hours away, with our daughter. When either one of us is hurting or lonely – or happy and excited! – He will be there to guide us through all of those moments.

While I may think that my physical presence offers her protection or makes her immune to hard things, it doesn’t. But God’s presence can provide all she needs.

God is sovereign.

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” ~Isaiah 46:9-10

God knows and does what’s best. He will accomplish His purposes in our daughter’s life and in mine. Only He can write the story that will result in a life that brings glory to Him. She is in far more capable hands with Him than she is with me! All that happens to her is orchestrated by God.

God is good.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” ~Psalm 34:8

God is good. Because I know this to be true, I can trust that what happens in our daughter’s life is ultimately good…even when it looks hard from here. And I know that it’s best for me to step back and see what good things God will do in our family as we move on into the next stage of life.

God is faithful.

“Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;” ~Deuteronomy 7:9

Every promise that God has made He will keep. I won’t be as available to help our daughter as I have been in the past, but God will be faithful to her. We can both grow in our faith by learning to trust and rely on Him more.

God is our refuge.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” ~Psalm 91:1-2

In spite of knowing all that is good about our daughter leaving home, I’m going to have moments when I need a place of safety, shelter, and comfort – more in an emotional sense than a physical one. God can give me those, along with peace in the midst of these changes.

God is love.

“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” ~Jeremiah 31:3

God loves me and my daughter. As much as I love her, His love is even greater. He empathizes with my situation. After all, didn’t God make the greatest sacrifice of all when He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins? That same amazing love extends to each one of us.

What characteristic of God do you need to be reminded of today? God is so much more than I’ve listed here. He is holy, righteous, and just. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and unchanging.

Whatever trial you’re in – a broken relationship, illness, a financial burden, or just a season of life change like mine – God can meet our every need.

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We’ve all learned (hopefully long ago!) that there are plenty of things money can’t buy. I mean, I think we’d rather have money than not! But no amount of cash can purchase real love, more time, good health, lasting peace, or a host of other things.

The older I get, the more I value wisdom. Parenting teenagers has shown me more than anything else how valuable wisdom is! It’s something that’s so important to have, yet it can’t be bought.

As Christian moms, we desire Godly wisdom. But how do we know if the wisdom we have is actually Godly wisdom? I think James 3:17 defines it well.

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

I thought it might be helpful if we examined each of these characteristics a little further. If our wisdom is Godly, it will have these eight traits.

1. Pure

True wisdom lines up with what the Bible says. It doesn’t have any sinful thinking mixed in. It’s faithful to the truth found in God’s Word.

2. Peaceable

True wisdom isn’t contentious or angry. We know from James 3:14, 15 that those are characteristics of earthly wisdom. Instead, Godly wisdom is willing to sacrifice – not the truth – but our own preferences and strong opinions.

3. Gentle

Does the wisdom we believe we have manifest itself in kindness? Godly wisdom is calm and rational. I would say that it always has the best interest of others at its core.

4. Approachable

The phrase originally used here is “easy to be intreated.” In other words, true wisdom isn’t stubborn or unyielding. Rather it’s characterized by meekness and patience.

5. Merciful

It should go without saying that wisdom that comes from God will be full of mercy. How blessed we are to have a merciful God! And just as He has pity and compassion on us, Godly wisdom will lead us to have the same for others. No grudges are held; instead, forgiveness is offered in abundance.

6. Fruitful

It makes sense that Godly wisdom would produce good fruit. Wisdom is generous, not selfish. Just like fruit, real wisdom is constructive, helpful, and worthwhile.

7. Impartial

True wisdom doesn’t discriminate. James already dealt with this in chapter 2, verse 9. He says that if we have respect of persons, we’re in sin. God’s wisdom applies to everyone equally, regardless of their wealth, race, gender, etc.

8. Sincere

This seems like a simple one to grasp. There’s no place in wisdom for hypocrisy. Rather, it should be transparent, without a hidden motive or agenda, not deceitful.

We need wisdom in every area of our lives. Thankfully God promises to give it to those who recognize they need it and ask for it in faith. [James 1:5]

Since I referenced parenting earlier in this post, let’s see how these eight tests could apply in a specific situation. Maybe my teenager asks to do something, and I’m not sure whether to allow it or not.

First, I look for a principle in God’s Word to give me guidance. I believe as we pray and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help, He can direct us.

Then I talk through my decision with that child calmly, whether it’s a yes or a no, allowing them to ask questions and express an opinion as long as it’s done respectfully.

And if the answer isn’t what they wanted, I can empathize, without changing what I’ve decided. I let her know that I want good things for her life. And if I’m expecting her to live up to a certain standard, I’d better be doing the same myself!

God is the author of all wisdom. If we want that wisdom, we need to fear Him [Proverbs 9:10], ask Him for wisdom [James 1:5], and believe that He will give it to us.

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I was in Starbucks recently, and after taking my order, the cashier asked for my name. I told her it was Tracey, and she asked, “Is that with an ‘-ey?”

Surprised that she guessed correctly, I told her yes, and mentioned that most people just spell it “Tracy.” Having it misspelled, especially by people who don’t know me, is not a big deal. However, it’s nice when someone does take the time to find out how to spell it right.

When it comes to the names of Bible characters, there are many we know well. Even non-church-attenders recognize names like Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jonah.

While reading the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew chapter one, I found an interesting person mentioned in verse five.  It says, “And Salmon begat Booz [Boaz] of Rachab [Rahab]; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;”

Rahab, Boaz, Ruth, and Jesse are all names with which I’m familiar. But never before had I noticed Salmon.  The more I considered this man, the more I realized what an interesting person he must have been.

Salmon married Rahab, a known harlot from the city of Jericho. She wasn’t one of his people, the children of Israel, but a foreigner.  We have no details about the circumstances surrounding their marriage. It makes me wonder what emotions, if any, were involved. Was it love, sympathy, kindness, or some sense of duty that prompted him to take this unlikely woman as his wife?

Secondly, he was the father of Boaz.  We know nothing about Salmon’s character, but we’re told a good bit about Boaz in the book of Ruth. Boaz was a “mighty man of wealth” (Ruth 2:1), one who knew the Lord and showed compassion for those in need.  He was willing to take his rightful place as kinsman-redeemer and have Ruth for his wife.  Surely he learned some of these admirable traits from his father.   Like his father, Boaz married a woman who was an outsider.

While some Christians, today and in the past, have highly recognizable names, how many countless others have stories that are not recorded in history, yet have had a great impact for the cause of Christ? 

We know about David Livingstone and Amy Carmichael, but how many missionaries are faithfully serving in foreign countries in relative anonymity? Men like Billy Graham have been well-known, yet there are plenty of wonderful preachers who have never spoken to a large crowd.

Whether it’s an elderly widow who prays unceasingly for others, a young mother who spends her days pouring into the lives of her children, or a Christian businessman who has a vibrant testimony at work, God knows all about each one of them.

I’m thankful for the reminder Salmon is to us. We know so little about him, yet he’s listed in the genealogy of Jesus. In the same way, you and I don’t need to be well-known or full of talent to fulfill our place in God’s plan.  We don’t have to score hundreds of likes on Instagram or maintain a large platform to share the message of the gospel.

There’s nothing wrong with those things if that’s where God has put us. But our task is to surrender to His will, trusting that He knows how to work in our lives what is best for His kingdom. We just need to be faithful to do what He has called us to do.

So if you think that what you’re accomplishing today is small or unimportant, be encouraged by Salmon. None of us go unnoticed by God.

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Our daughters are at a teen retreat with their church youth group this week. On Sunday afternoon, they were busy doing laundry and packing for the trip.

I’ve noticed that one of them shares my list-making gene; whenever she travels, she makes a list of all that she needs to pack ahead of time. (I actually don’t ever make a packing list, but I do make lists for almost everything else! The one I’m currently working on is what this particular daughter needs for a first-aid/medical kit for college. Exciting stuff…)

It’s so satisfying for me to check the box or cross off items on a list. And unfortunately, sometimes that’s how I feel about spiritual disciplines…things like Bible reading, prayer time, Scripture memory, etc.

It’s like, “Okay, I have to get this done, then I can move on with my day.” Perhaps subconsciously I even think, “God will like me better and bless my day more if I’ve done these certain things.”

Do you ever feel that way? Maybe it’s because my personality tends to be performance-based. I feel that I’m loved when I’m “good,” when I perform in the way that’s expected of me.

Regardless, the following paragraph really resonated with me. I read it in the book The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman.

“Practicing a spiritual discipline is not about trying to earn something, prove something, or win. Practicing a spiritual discipline is more about receiving power to live in the kingdom. It’s about being aware of the presence of God and putting myself there on purpose so that my character might be transformed. It’s about training my mind and my will to practice what my heart deeply believes…It’s about becoming the person I already am in Christ.”

Our purpose in spending time with Jesus each day is not to check a box or make us feel better about ourselves. It’s to know God better and to grow to be more like Jesus. I don’t want to look at it as a “have-to in order to get God’s favor” but a “get-to because fellowship with my Savior is sweet.”

I like that she uses the phrase “training my mind and my will.” We won’t always jump out of bed and be ready to dive right into God’s Word. But as we establish a habit of spending time with Him, it can become an integral part of our day.

But just because I have that daily habit doesn’t mean I’m a spiritual giant for the rest of the day. Sometimes I can get up from reading my Bible and praying and five minutes later I’m frustrated with my husband and annoyed with my kids and I think, “Well, what good did that do me? I’m still the same person that I was before.”

That’s when we have to remember that spiritual growth is a process. It’s just like when we bury a seed in the ground and wait and wait and wait for just a small sliver of green to poke through. Sometimes we grow very, very slowly. But if we’re allowing the Holy Spirit to cultivate our hearts, we can rest in knowing that “…He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.“

Since I read Emily’s quote last week, I’ve been trying to approach my time with the Lord a little differently. Instead of making it about me and getting it done, I want to make it about Him. It’s not a task to be accomplished, but a quieting of my heart and a seeking of what He would have me to learn about Him today.

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Photographs.

Having just finished our oldest daughter’s senior year of high school, we’ve taken lots of them over the past year. From the last first day of school in August to the reception after graduation in May, the past year is well documented on my cell phone!

We typically take pictures because we want to remember something about that moment in time. It could be the people that were there, the place where we were, what we were doing right then, or a combination of all three.

Pictures are a brief glance at that particular moment in life. And by the way, few people know what’s going on behind the smiles. Maybe it was a wonderful, memory-filled vacation…or maybe it was the one minute of the whole trip when the kids weren’t bickering back and forth!

Hopefully, we all have some spiritual memories as well, times in our lives we can look back on and say, “Thank God for how He worked in that situation.” Or “I wasn’t sure how that need was going to be met, but God was faithful.”

How often in the Old Testament we see God commanding His people to remember what He has done for them in the past. Not only was He to receive glory for His mighty acts, but it was also to encourage them for the future.

The Israelites getting ready to fight against the Canaanites and take over the Promised Land needed to remember how God had mightily redeemed them out of Egypt. That reminder of God’s power and faithfulness was to encourage them in their current struggle.

In Psalm 105, King David reminds His readers of God’s covenant with the Israelites. He takes us all the way back to Abraham, through Jacob and Joseph, and describes His deliverance of His people from Egypt.

In verse 105, we read, “Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth…”

Whatever trial you or I are in today, recalling God’s hand at work in our past will give us the faith to go on. How helpful and encouraging it can be to mindfully pause in our day with the purpose of recalling God’s faithfulness. Psalm 77:12 says, “I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.”

These thoughts were actually inspired by the song Turn Around and See written by Heather Sorenson. Here are the words to the first verse and chorus.

You followed God’s hand, but you’re not where you had planned.
You stumbled in the place you were sure that you could stand.
So you press toward the goal, giving God control,
but the path is all uphill, and it seems you’re standing still.

But turn around and see!
Look what God has done:
Redeeming ev’ry scar to the image of His Son.
The battles you have fought are the vict’ries He has bought.
Though there’re many miles to go, and the journey seems so slow,
don’t lose faith down here below.
Just turn around and see.

You can listen to the song here.

We don’t want to dwell in the past. But looking back and recalling God’s faithfulness can give us the courage we need to live today.

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Sometimes when I’m reading my Bible, a particular word will stand out. A verse I recently studied made me want to dig in and get a better understanding of the word “strange.”

As I looked at the definition, one synonym that came up was “foreign.” Last week on our Western Caribbean cruise, my family and I were in the foreign countries of Honduras and Mexico.

Almost everyone we encountered spoke English, but I was reminded of how intimidating it must be to enter a country where you can’t easily communicate with people. That would have to be frustrating and even scary!

Psalm 81:9 is the verse where the word “strange” caught my attention. God is talking to Israel, and He says,

“There shall no strange god be in thee: neither shalt thou worship any strange god.”

Sounds like a repeat of one of the ten commandments, doesn’t it?

In this case, strange means alien or false. God is referring to those gods who were worshiped by foreign nations.

God is telling the Israelites to display absolute fidelity to Jehovah. And while we may not directly be part of that group, I believe God still calls us to worship and serve Himself only.

While we likely don’t bow before a carved statue, I think we’d all agree that there are other gods that can take precedence in our lives. The typical ones we think of might be money, material possessions, fame, and power.

And while I’m certainly prone to worshiping those, I came up with a list of other gods that I think I’m more tempted by on a regular basis. See if any of these might be present in your life.

1. The god of what other people think

I started off with one that can be so easily become part of my thought process! How we or our families are perceived by others can sometimes move us in a direction we shouldn’t go.

On the other hand, we can even choose to do “good” things with a wrong motive. Maybe we serve in a particular ministry at church so that people will see us and think we’re a good Christian.

God knows our hearts, and our calling is to do what He leads us to do in a way that brings honor and glory to Him. We can fall into worshiping another “god” when we look to people for our approval and fulfillment rather than to God.

“The greatest prison people live in is the fear of what other people think.” ~David Icke

2. The god of trusting in myself

This can happen in good times or in difficult ones. We can think that we’re capable of handling whatever comes. And when we’re successful, we decide to just rely on ourselves to keep getting the job done.

But looking to God and seeking His strength and wisdom is the only way to accomplish anything.

“I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” ~John 15:5

3. The god of my own desires

If you read a few verses further in Psalm 89, you’ll see that verse 12 says, “So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.”

God goes on to detail the blessings He would have given the Israelites if they had just listened to Him and followed His commands. When we seek to align our desires with His, rather than plunge ahead on our own, we will be open to receiving those blessings He has in store for us.

This is also a good reminder to always seek God’s desires rather than insist on our own way. Psalm 106:15, also referring to the Israelites, says that God “…gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” We don’t want to pay that cost to get our own way.

4. The god of apathy

When I’m not interested in growing in my spiritual walk or unconcerned about the needs of others, this god might be present in my life.

You probably know the passage in Revelation 3 where God tells the church of Laodicea that because they are lukewarm in their works for Him, He will spit them out of His mouth. I know none of us want to be classified that way!

I love Paul’s encouragement in 1 Corinthians 9:24. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” Stay connected to God through His Word and prayer, and be enthusiastic about serving Him.

5. The god of self-righteousness

I suppose this could be called good ol’ fashioned pride. I find myself worshiping this god way too often. The Bible has plenty of verses condemning pride, but James 4:6 is one I try to remember.

“…Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.“

I don’t want God to resist me, so I have to continually remove the god of self-righteousness from my life, and see myself as one who’s been saved by grace and needs more of His grace every single day.

Do you worship any of these gods? I’m sure there are other gods in our lives that can draw us away from a full-focused worship of our Savior. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and insight to help us keep strange gods out of our lives.

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