Treasured Devotions

Honesty before Jesus and Healing Walk Hand in Hand

May 15, 2017 by Aliene

She wondered if she would ever dance again. Closing her eyes, she remembered the days when she danced with a freedom that flowed from following close by her Savior. Her steps were ordered by the music he had written for her life before the beginning of time. Each note sang a tune of truth that guided her steps. It was the life she was created and redeemed to live.

But one day she failed and fell. And the music seemed to stop and her freedom before God faded away. Her failure entangled her feet (Hebrews 12:1-2). Another tune began to play in her mind. The enemy of her soul formed a new tune by twisting her sin to form notes of condemning lies. The more she paid attention to the deceptive music, the louder it grew. In shame, she began to hide from Jesus instead coming to him to get the help she needed.

What we hide cannot heal. Honesty before Jesus and healing walk hand in hand.

Can you relate to the woman in this story? I can. At times of great failure when I needed God the most, I hid instead of finding healing through the gift of confession.

It would take a season of brokenness to find this beautiful blessing: God does not desire my perfection or my righteous acts – he wants me just as I am.

Only Jesus Can Provide Healing

Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31–32)

Jesus came with the medicine of mercy and sought sinners because only he could make them well. His purpose was to bring not only forgiveness but also transformation through repentance. Only Jesus has the authority to forgive sins, and only he can heal us from our sins and transform our lives.

God wants intimacy with you, brave heart. Without authenticity, there is no intimacy. Come to him just as you are and bare your soul.
God wants to transform your heart. He’s not merely a rule maker – he’s a heart changer. Jesus died FOR your sins – AND to FREE you from them as you lay your failures at his feet.
God longs to help you find TRUE FREEDOM. Just as you would not hide an injury from a doctor – don’t hide from God what needs to heal. Only he can determine the root cause and heal you to FREE you.

Bring Your Sins to Jesus

Don’t condemn yourself for the sins you struggle with—bring them to Jesus, our Great Physician, through confession and ask him to transform you through the power of the Holy Spirit. He will heal you and set you free.

When we depend on Christ for our forgiveness and freedom from sin, we can walk away from the prison of guilt and experience his freedom and joy.

Confession also gives you the ability and understanding to forgive others more freely (Matthew 7:3). Confession ultimately yields authenticity and intimacy with God, freedom from perfectionism, and reliance on Christ to transform and restore you. (Hebrews 4:14–16).

“Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” Hebrews 4:14–16 MSG

As you bring your faults to him through confession and declare your dependence on him, he will lead you to repentance. Then trust and follow the voice of your Great Shepherd. As you abide in him, he will continually prune those branches that are not bearing fruit so that you can grow. This is a lifetime process.

Jesus knows your humanity; he recognizes your shortcomings. He is not shocked by your failures. He is not ashamed of you. He understands. When you fall and are hurting, Jesus is there to help you, not condemn you.

Recognizing your weaknesses can be one of your greatest strengths when you see it as a door to depending on Jesus.

ONWARD!

Nourish Scripture: Ruth 3:1-4:12

Take the next step by downloading Nourishing Your Heart to discover the key to connecting with God’s Word.

The Crown

May 8, 2017 by Aliene

The weight of the historic golden crown ordained with jewels settled on her head but seemed to reach into her soul. At age twenty-five, Elizabeth of Windsor would never be the same. The crown not only rested on her head but also embraced the core of her being. The princess became a queen. With this new identity, the crown would not only grace her head but would also guide her every step . . . and her destiny.

The Weight of the Crown

And as I watched the series The Crown on Netflix, I was fascinated with how the crown impacted Elizabeth’s life and decisions—it carried greater weight than even her family. One scene caught my attention in particular. After her father’s early death, as Elizabeth faced the magnitude of becoming queen at age twenty-five, her grandmother wrote these words of wisdom to her:

While you mourn your father, you must also mourn someone else. Elizabeth Mountbatten. For she has now been replaced by another person. Elizabeth Regina (Regina is Latin for queen). The two Elizabeth’s will frequently be in conflict with each other. The fact is the crown must win. Must always win. (Episode 2, Season 1, The Crown, Netflix)

Let that statement just settle in your heart a bit. The crown must win. Your new identity as queen must win. Embracing who you are over who you were must lead the way.

Elizabeth would need to intentionally embrace this new reality and let the crown reign through her choices. Reign over her desires. Reign over her feelings. Reign over her inadequacies. Reign over her past and future. Reign over her purpose. She no longer lived for herself. The crown—her new identity—reigned in her heart.

How the Crown Relates to Our Identity

This is the very essence involved in embracing our authentic core identity, a process that is at the heart of the Christian life.

You see, brave heart, the death of Jesus Christ allows him to reign in you. When you accepted his offer of salvation, you became a queen crowned with far greater treasure than Elizabeth’s earthly crown. You are crowned with Jesus’ righteousness for a purpose beyond yourself.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. (Romans 8:17 NLT)

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

For Christ to reign in our life, his crown must reign in the core of our being. This is not selfishness or pride. This is embracing the reality of who we are in Christ.

For years, I struggled with my identity, a struggle that gave way to some unhealthy choices. Things began to improve when I understood more about authentic core identity. You too can make this shift by allowing the crown to win in your thoughts and faith and in the core of who you are.

The Battle between Our Identities

Much as the two Elizabeths would wrestle, our old and new identities battle in our heart. But Jesus fights for our heart and the battle is won as we surrender to the crown that is rightfully ours by embracing the words he writes on our heart through faith.

This is why we incorporate authentic core identity into the Respond step of the Nourish Bible Study Method.

Embracing Our Authentic Core Identity

So, what do I mean by embracing authentic core identity?

Embracing authentic core identity is agreeing in your heart by faith with God’s blueprint for your life and how he sees you.

Only by seeking your Creator can you uncover your true identity. Finding your core identity is not about frantically striving to be someone, but surrendering to God by allowing his Word to define the purpose for which you were created.

This is a precious treasure to guard by faith against outside influences…

What others say
Your circumstances
Your actions
Your past
Your feelings
How others treat you
Worldly standards

…so you can truly give to others by embracing all God has created you to be.

Part of your authentic core identity is who you are as God’s child with your life hidden in Christ. It is also the specific purpose your heavenly Father designed for you before you were born to bring him glory (Ephesians 2:10). Embracing the unique way he has made you and the spiritual gifts he has given you to support your purpose is also a part of embracing your authentic God-given identity (Romans 12:1–8; Psalm 139:13–14).

Authentic core identity is a deep topic and one I will discuss in greater detail in our podcast and video teaching message this week. Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to listen and our YouTube channel to watch.

And today, may you remember the treasure you are. Whatever happens, brave heart—hold your head high. Carry the crown in the core of your being as you embrace your identity in Christ.

ONWARD!

Nourish Scripture: Romans 8:1-17

Take the next step by downloading Nourishing Your Heart to discover the key to connecting with God’s Word in a way that transforms your life.

Holy Holdup

May 1, 2017 by Aliene

Have you ever thought of the holdups in your life as holy hedges of protection? Consider this—during holy holdups, the Holy Spirit is hovering and working on your behalf behind the scenes to build something beautiful.

This is an area where I have to continually renew my mind. But I have learned that in the resting and the waiting—those times in our lives when prayers don’t seem to be answered and we cannot see God working—the Holy Spirit hovers to bring forth a great work of God.

God Is a Master Planner

God created the world with the precision and order of a Master Planner.

Before there were plants, there had to be light to support the plants.
Before there was man, there had to be plants to nourish man.

Nothing was out of order—one step was completed before the next began. His timing was always perfect. And God hasn’t changed. Just as he was the Master Planner of creation, he is building our lives according to his divine purpose and detail.

Sometimes when the Holy Spirit is hovering, I want to hurry and take matters into my own hands—and I get out of step with the Holy Spirit. Worry and anxiety set in.

When there are holdups in my life and I don’t see God working just yet—how would my attitude change if I consider these holdups to be holy?

Each Holy Holdup Serves a Purpose

The Holy Spirit was hovering over a nothingness blob before it turned into something beautiful (Genesis 1:1). When all I see are blobs, may I remember that the Holy Spirit is hovering and has a plan to create something beautiful. When I want to run ahead of God and make things happen, may I remember that the holdup is often a hedge of protection—a gathering of carefully planned provisions from the Master Planner. Rest and trust give us salvation. Often quietness is our strength (Isaiah 30:15).

God is working his master plan and his timing is perfect. Thank God today for the provision, planning, protection, and divine purpose that come from a Holy Holdup!

Nourish Scripture: Genesis 1

Discover how to connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms your life. Download Nourishing Your Heart today!

Mountains Can Move

February 27, 2017 by Aliene

That overwhelming mountain before you…the one that is unsettling your soul. You don’t have to handle it on your own.

“Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘ May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.” Mark 11:22-25

The Problem with Complaining

Sometimes I get distracted and drag doubt like a dark cloud over my eyes of faith by complaining about the mountain instead of speaking to it.

Instead of addressing the mountain through prayer, I choose to just walk around it, grumbling all the way.

I may even throw a pity party and invite a friend or two along. But this never solves my problems. Instead, it adds fuel to them because it turns my focus and faith on the problem instead of Jesus.

Beware, brave heart, as you behold the mountain before you. Complaining brings doubt into the equation and never equals a good result.

Mountains Move at Prayer Parties

Reaching out for godly counsel is wise, but be careful that you don’t end up just sharing your complaints with a friend, and end up going around and around the mountain repeatedly. “But she understands me!” you may want to say. This may be true, but she can’t meet your needs. Only Jesus can do that.

Mountains move at prayer parties not pity parties. When girlfriends gather to pray, great things happen for God’s glory.

Gather your friends, pray together and watch mountains move! Who will you reach out to today?

Nourish Scripture: Mark 11:12-25

Download Nourishing Your Heart to learn how to connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms your life!

Holy Ground

February 13, 2017 by Aliene

It was holy ground—the place where God’s spoken words revealed Moses’ purpose to him. The burning bush grabbed Moses’ attention . . . but it was God’s word’s that captured his heart. Every syllable was sacred. His words were living and active. They became reality. They shaped Moses’ identity. They changed his life and would in turn change the lives of others.

Standing on Holy Ground

What is your God-given purpose?

When you seek God’s plan by approaching him through the Bible—as Moses approached God’s presence in the burning bush—you too are standing on holy ground. The Holy Spirit will reveal God’s words . . . his plan for you . . . to your heart.

Your purpose brings value to this world and glorifies God. God is the author of your story. He is the only one who can write those words on your heart.

You are a treasure. God created you to shine by reflecting his glory as you turn your heart to his.

God’s Words Are Holy

The words God whispers to your heart are holy, for they are his. Guard them. They are meant to write your story so the greatest story—the gospel of Jesus Christ—can be told by your life.

Don’t ever trample on the holy ground of your God-given purpose by giving more weight to the words of other people than to God’s.

Stay close to God by meditating on the Bible so his words are the loudest. So they drown out words from others—and even from yourself—that would contradict God’s Word or distract you from your God-given purpose. His words are a sacred trust. They are the framework for the holy ground in which seeds of the gospel may be planted for others to see Christ. Don’t argue with others or defend yourself.

The great I AM is calling you, dear friend, and that is enough.

Nourish Scripture: Exodus 3

Take the next step and download Nourishing Your Heart to discover the key to connecting with God’s Word.

Prayer is Conversation with Jesus

January 23, 2017 by Aliene

Last week we talked about how prayer is a filter that helps us determine God’s priorities so that we live with focus each day. While prayer is that and so much more, I admit I don’t take advantage of this privilege as much as I could because “religion” gets in the way. Sometimes “religion” can make prayer so confusing that we don’t enjoy one of the greatest gifts of being a child of God…coming to him in prayer.

But this is not the way God intended prayer to be.

A while ago, I ran into this blog written by Martha Fry on prayer and I knew I immediately wanted to share it with you.

Prioritizing Prayer

This year, C3 is starting off its year with a focus on prayer. I love that – don’t you. As you set into this first month of the year, make prayer a priority and find focus and direction to become the woman God created you to be.

Enjoy Martha’s blog, and don’t miss my podcast with her this week on prayer.

Some people get so confused when it comes to prayer. Who do I call on when I pray: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Lord, Christ…………

Do I pray one way or are there different ways. How do I pray for people? How do I pray for myself?

I am that “some people”. And I have gotten so caught up in believing that I have to do it right and I wasn’t sure what right was that at times I didn’t even pray until a crisis came.

But praying is like having a conversation with God. And if I think about my conversations with Matt I have to realize no two conversations are the same. Some of my conversations with Matt are planned, like a date night. Sometimes they are very intentional because I have something I need to talk to him about. Sometimes they are off the cuff. Sometimes they are sad and full of emotion. Sometimes they are a little heated. Sometimes they are funny and we just joke around and laugh, but one thing is for sure we talk a lot.

I cannot say it is everyday because when we travel there are days we don’t talk, but even when we don’t talk I have talked to Matt so much I have thoughts like, if Matt were here this is what he would say.

This is how our time with God should be. Our conversations shouldn’t always be the same. We need planned, intentional, off the cuff, emotional, heated, funny, confessing times with God, just to name a few ways we should talk to Him.

Want more? You can read more about prayer in Martha’s blog.

Nourish Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

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Quiet Strength

January 16, 2017 by Aliene

Rosa Parks grew up on a humble farm in rural Alabama just outside Montgomery with her mother and grandparents. Rosa was raised in a world that treated African-Americans like second-class citizens. But she learned from the Bible to be courageous in the face of injustice and hatred.

Rosa may have grown up in humble means, but she had the luxury of learning about her Savior, Jesus. Her grandparents gave her the greatest legacy we can give to the next generation—a firm foundation of faith and trust in God.

In Quiet Strength, Rosa Parks talks about the foundation of her faith.

“Every day before supper and before we went to services on Sundays,” Parks says, “my grandmother would read the Bible to me, and my grandfather would pray. We even had devotions before going to pick cotton in the fields. Prayer and the Bible,” she recalls, “became a part of my everyday thoughts and beliefs. I learned to put my trust in God and to seek Him as my strength.” 1

Her Faith in the Lord

Everything Rosa did flowed out of her faith.

“I’d like for [readers] to know that I had a very spiritual background and that I believe in church and my faith and that has helped to give me the strength and courage to live as I did.”2

Christianity that requires courage instead of Christianity that demands comfort calls us to stand in the strength that only God can provide.

Strength always comes from a source. Quiet strength comes only from God himself. To plug into God’s power, we must pause and pull into his presence daily.

The Difference between Quiet Strength and Worldly Power

Quiet strength, God’s all-surpassing power, is different from worldly power.

Worldly power is outward control, dependent on other people and things, and it focuses on self.
Quiet strength is the inner strength of a woman led confidently by God to walk in love and live for his glory no matter what circumstances she faces.

Love is the most powerful force, and that is what God’s power is all about.

It was that quiet strength that would carry Rosa bravely through the events that took place on December 1, 1955.

How Rosa Demonstrated Quiet Strength

After a long day at work, Rosa boarded the bus that would carry her home. Buses were segregated at that time, so Rosa made her way to the front row of the “colored” section in the back of the bus. At the next stop, Rosa and three African-American men were asked to give up their seats to a white man because no seats were available in their section in the front of the bus. The men got up, but Rosa refused to vacate her seat.

Rosa had grown weary from the injustices shown toward people because of the color of their skin. Although she had not planned to resist the law that day, her decision to remain in her seat led to her arrest—and would change the destiny of our nation.

Sometimes quiet strength means saying no to others so you can say yes to God.

Rosa’s refusal to give up her seat set in motion a series of events that would transform the laws regulating racial justice. A 381-day bus boycott in Montgomery led to a ruling in 1956 by the Supreme Court declaring that racial segregation on buses was unconstitutional. Rosa had submitted to arrest, giving up her freedom so others could be free, but she had not been afraid.

“Since I have always been a strong believer in God,” she says, “I knew that He was with me, and only He could get me through the next step.”3

I just love that, don’t you?

On this day when we remember Martin Luther King, may we also remember the many women who also walked with quiet strength to stand with Jesus against injustice ….and may we resolve to do the same.

Nourish Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Download Nourishing Your Heart to discover how to connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms the way you live.

Sources:

1. Charles Colson, “The Woman on the Bus: The Faith of Rosa Parks,” BreakPoint Commentary #90625, June 25, 1999. Leadership U: www.leaderu.com/critical/colson-parks.html (February 2011). Quotes from Rosa Parks, Quiet Strength: The Faith, The Hope, and the Heart of a Woman Who Changed a Nation (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000), 54 and 16–17.

2. Kira Albin, “Rosa Parks, The Woman Who Changed a Nation,” 1996. Grandtimes.com: www.grandtimes.com/rosa.html (February 2011).

3. Rosa Parks, Quiet Strength, 23.

Living with Balance

January 7, 2017 by Aliene

Prioritize and plan your day focusing on God’s unique direction for your life through the filter of prayer. You were not created to do it all, and Jesus does not expect you to do it all. Live with intention by living led by the Holy Spirit day by day.

Pause brave heart and pray to find direction and live with intention as you become the woman God created you to be.

Being Pulled in Many Directions

Jesus knows what it feels like to be pulled in many different directions. While he was here on earth there were so many were under his care, so many wanting him and needing him. People pressed in to meet Jesus. Sick people, broken people, and needy people wanting to find relief. With so many needing him, Jesus still paused to pull away in prayer with the Father.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons (Mark 1:35-39).

Jesus received clarity for where to travel after his time in prayer. He depended on God for direction to accomplish sharing the gospel. Likewise, spending time in prayer gives clarity of direction and next steps for our journey to become the woman God created us to be.

God-ordained direction diffuses distractions to make us more productive by living with intention.

Find confidence to say “no” to distractions that can leave you overwhelmed and drawn away from your true course in life.

Pray to find your unique direction for your life and for each day.
Uncover the difference between a “good work” and “God’s work” by seeking God.
Live with intention knowing God has your best intentions for you and those you love.
Guard your time to give yourself fully to God’s Work for your life.

Your life’s vision or calling may remain the same, but often the Lord wants to change your direction. Daily time with him is vital to keeping in step with the Spirit. When we find the time to fix our eyes on Jesus, he will keep us on his perfect course for our lives.

The Key to Living with Balance

The Bible tells us it is only after we renew our minds that we can “test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).” Keeping in step with the Spirit can save us from striving and taking extra steps that are not part of God’s plan for our lives.

When the Lord brings clear focus into our day, our priorities come into place with his perfect will, and we can let go of any responsibilities he is not asking us to bear (Matthew 11:28-29).

The temptation to get involved in many “good things” can distract us from our calling. As we become sensitive to his leading, simplicity and focus come into our day. Our priorities fall into place, and we learn we can stop and take time for the meaningful relationships in our lives. Seek the Lord for simplicity and focus. Ask him to show you his will for your life. Know that adding anything else, however good it may be, to our plate can rob our joy and rob others of opportunities meant for them.

Jesus knows how much we can handle. Wise women live with intention by living led by the Holy Spirit. Prayer is a filter that helps us determine God’s priorities so that we live with focus each day.

In our podcast this week, gain practical principles to live directed by God instead of driven by distractions. Do less. Be more productive and find time for the ones you love.

Nourish Scripture: Luke 10:1-20

Download Nourishing Your Heart to discover the key to connecting with God’s Word that transforms the way you live.