Stop Being a Worrywart!

 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life  —whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27)

       In this day and age, there is so much to worry about. If you lost your job, you worry if you’ll find a new one — fast! If your company downsized and moved you into a job you despise, you worry if you’ll ever find a new position you’ll love. If you’re a student, you worry about homework, exams, and keeping up with all of your assignments. If you’re a mom or dad, you worry about your children. If you’re a daughter or son of elderly parents, you worry about their welfare. If you’re in your late 40s or 50s, you worry if you’ll have enough money for retirement. Then, there’s the terrorism, wars, and the rising crime rate.

       The list can go on and on.

       It’s in these times that it’s so crucial to know the Lord and to be in constant communication with him. Not only for the salvation of our souls, but to have an almighty, all-powerful God to lean on and trust in. Jesus simply tells us not to worry about anything, because He loves and cares about us more than we could ever imagine, and He’s got everything in our lives under control. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like He’s got everything under control when it seems as though many aspects of our lives are out of control.

       I’ve been worried and anxious lately about a particular aspect of my life. And I haven’t been in the best of moods. In fact, I’ve been in a real funk. But recently, the Lord reminded me of the passage in Matthew. Just weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised by a large flock of Robin Red Breasts that descended on one of my trees in my front yard.

       They came to eat the crab apples on the branches and those that fell on my snow-covered lawn. They didn’t seem to have a worry in the world as they pecked and ate the hard-shelled fruit, perched on the branches to rest, and chirped with one another. And it was freezing outside. It was an unusual site for a snowy January.

       But it was during this time that this passage came to life. Birds don’t have a worry in the world because our heavenly Father feeds and takes care of them — even in the dead of winter. And since we’re more valuable than they are, we’re not to worry about anything either. Why? Because God promises to take even better care of us than He does of them. He promises to sustain us, protect us, and look out for us no matter what.

       Knowing this brings me great peace. And I hope it gives you peace as well as you navigate the often rough terrain of life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we watch the birds build their nests, forage for food, and fly through the air carefree, may we be reminded that we are more valuable than they are, and that you’ll continue to feed, cloth, and provide for us even more so. In Jesus name, Amen!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Hi Everyone!


Please read my new devotional that is now being published at http://christiandevotions.us/tag/judithriddle/. It is a true story that happened to my son and I. I believe you'll get a kick out of the story. And please let me know what you think. Thanks much!


Blessings,
Judy

Let Your Light Shine!

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

This little light of mine

I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine

I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine

I’m gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

       Remember this song? Many of us sang this in the choir when we were children or witnessed our own children sing this well-known hymn. As you already know, the light this song refers to is the light of Christ.

       As Christians, we have a high calling that sometimes seems unattainable. We’re called to live as Jesus lived and to have His same attitude. To develop His character and let His light shine from within us — a tall order when we’re going through a tough time, when we’re in a bad mood, or in the heat of conflict with a loved one, friend, or coworker.

       But believe it or not, it’s during these challenging times when we have an amazing opportunity to exude Christ-like character. We can speak kindly when someone is rude to us. We can show mercy when someone steals from us or deeply hurts us. We can pray for someone who threatens us, abuses us, slanders us, or undermines us.

       Just the other day, by God’s grace, I slipped away to a quiet place to pray instead of raising my voice with hands on hips to scold someone for spewing hurtful words that weren’t warranted. And it made a world of difference.

       God answered my prayers that very evening, and He continues to do so at this writing.

       When we choose to do things God’s way, He intervenes and the enemy flees. As we mature in Christ and ask to be filled afresh with His Holy Spirit each day, we realize that He is on the throne and in full control of all that concerns us. And knowing this makes it easier to respond God’s way in difficult situations when our flesh wants to take over and ruin the outcome. My prayer is that God will continue to give us the desire and power to walk in the Spirit and not according to our flesh, so that we will be blessed in all we do. May your light shine!

Ring in the New Year With Prayer, Fasting

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6)

       Did you do anything special to bring in the New Year? Two days ago, I visited my friend Pam to meet with two of her friends, so we could dedicate the morning to fasting and prayer. Pam and I have done this before, and it has yielded powerful results.

       We worshiped the Lord in song while holding hands in a circle; we prayed; we read scripture, and we shared how the Lord had worked and was presently working in our lives.

       An hour or so into our time of fellowship, another friend of Pam’s stopped by who was in need of prayer for her mother-in-law and a family relationship. Her prayer group was on hiatus for the holiday, so we prayed for her and encouraged her. We were amazed at how God met her needs despite the fact her prayer group didn’t meet this past week.

Sharing in God’s Presence 

       I truly felt God’s presence, which made our time together in the Lord powerful — and precious. We shared certain aspects of our lives with one another as if we knew each other for years. It was a different kind of sharing because we talked about how the Lord spoke to us personally from His Word in our specific circumstances that helped us get through those difficult times. God got the glory.

       After our prayer time, Pam served a delicious Caesar salad, collard greens, and a spinach pasta dish made with shrimp and chicken. We had lemon cake and ginger bread cookies. It was delish!

Continued Prayer

       When her girlfriends left, Pam and I continued to pray for our husbands, marriages, children, parents, careers, our relationship with God, our ability to hear God more clearly, more of a hunger and thirst for Him, to get to know Him better, and for guidance and direction in 2011. We made sure we covered everything.

Enjoying His Creation

       Afterward, we headed to a nearby park that had wooded trails and a beautiful pond running alongside of it. We walked along the snow-covered trail, flanked by tall trees and flocks of Canadian geese, which swooped down from the sky to rest in the pond. It was an amazing sight. (Visit http://judysphotogallery.blogspot.com to view photos of the park.)

       The day was incredibly blessed by the Lord. I’ve always wanted to bring in the New Year in prayer. Of course praying together with other women of God surely beats praying alone. It’s a powerful experience like none other. I look forward to what the Lord is going to do in our lives and in the lives of our families and friends this year. He promises to untie the bonds of wickedness holding us and our families from serving Him, lift our burdens that worry us, save the lost, draw us closer to Him, speak to us in more exciting ways, give us fresh, new encounters with Him, and lead us down paths of righteousness. We thank you, Lord for all of these promises that we pray will come to pass in the new year. In Jesus’ name, amen!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Jesus — The True Reason for the Season

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’ ” (Luke 2:10-11)

        “I don’t want anything religious,” a young woman snapped, as she and her friend searched for boxed Christmas cards at a Walmart store a few years ago.

        My heart sunk.

        She wanted cards that said Happy Holidays on them — the more generic, politically correct phrase that so many people say these days to avoid offending anyone. She didn’t want cards that talked about Jesus. I wanted to pull her to the side and explain that those religious cards she referred to really aren’t religious. They’re proclamations of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who shed his blood and died for our sins, so we may have everlasting life. I wish I had the nerve to share this Good News that day with that young woman. But I didn’t.

        There are so many people in the world who don’t know Jesus. Who need to hear the good news of great joy. And this is the perfect season to tell people about Him. So many have the wrong idea about Jesus. Some say He is a prophet, a good teacher, but no way is He Lord. They don’t realize that Jesus is Lord, and that by placing their faith in Him for salvation, they will have everlasting life — the greatest gift of all. No Christmas gift on earth surpasses the greatness of everlasting life. Not a one!

        Christmas is just a few days away. As we decorate our Christmas trees, and buy and wrap our presents, let’s not forget the true meaning of the season — that a Savior was born to give us the true, incredible gift.

        Let’s also remember to share this Good News whenever the opportunity presents itself. If we don’t feel comfortable sharing the love and the gift of eternal life with strangers, try to share this with family members and friends. Most would agree that everyone wants to hear good news these days. After we share it, pray that they will receive the gift of God and unwrap its eternal treasures that will last forevermore!

Power of Prayer Partners

 “If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:19-20)

       More than two decades ago, if you were to tell me that, Pam, one of my best buddies from college, would be my ace prayer partner and confidante today, I wouldn’t have believed you. Sure, we were great friends in college among the many we hung out with, but we were unsaved and in full party mode.

       About 10 years after we graduated, we lost touch with one another. Nine long years had passed, and one day, to my pleasant surprise, I received an invitation to attend her wedding. “He asked … She said ‘Yes!” said the inscription on the front page of the invitation. “Marriage is singing praises to Jesus with the one you love. … It is with much rejoicing that … we will write our lives as one with Him and place our future in our Lord’s sovereign hands,” said the poem on the second page. “Wow!” I thought. “I’m so happy Pam invited me to her wedding. I think she might be saved!”

        After attending her wedding and waiting for her to return from her honeymoon, we began to call each other on a regular basis. We shared our testimonies about how we received the Lord, how He was working in our lives, and the challenges life was sending our way. Soon, we began reading scripture and praying together at the end of our conversations. Before we knew it, praying together on the phone and even fasting and praying together on our lunch hour, when we used to work around the corner from each other, became a habit. And we’ve been praying together almost daily ever since for the past seven years.

       What a journey it’s been. Our prayer time has truly transformed us as women of God from the inside out.

Hearts of Flesh

       We’re more loving toward others, joyful, peaceful, compassionate, merciful, tenderhearted, and forgiving. We’re more aware of our own sin, and we’re able to speak into each other’s lives and correct one another if we sense one of us is heading in a direction that’s out of God’s will. And we can do this without getting offended.

Long Past Milk and Veggies

       We’ve grown spiritually as we’ve read the Word together and have seen God’s handprint in all aspects of our lives. We’ve gotten to know the Lord more intimately and have grown closer to Him and each other. On a few occasions, God has actually spoken to us individually about each other before we revealed anything to the other.

Answered Prayer

       We’ve seen God lead, guide and direct us and answer our prayers in amazing ways. Like when God blessed us with new jobs after enduring difficult career situations; motivated our children to do better in school and attend church, improved relationships between our family members, brought peace to our marriages, healed those who were sick, and drew a couple of our friends into a relationship with Him. Recently, we’ve seen signs of Pam’s daughter wanting to develop her own relationship with the Lord and planning to go back to school — all because we’ve prayed together. 

Tapping into the Power

       What we’ve learned is that prayer is powerful. As Christians, we often don’t take advantage of this relational gift God gives us to communicate with Him, nor do we realize just how powerful it is, especially if we’ve been praying for something for a long time, and our circumstances haven’t yet changed. But as time passes, and we look back, we realize God was working on our behalf the entire time even when we didn’t see it.

       Because there’s so much power in praying with a friend, I urge every Christian to find a prayer partner: guys included. Prayer partners are lavish gifts from God. Priceless. Jesus knew the power of praying together, as He promised to always be in our midst when we pray. Another bonus: Our friendships with our prayer partners, built on the foundation of Christ, will last forever.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of prayer. While individual prayer is powerful, praying with a trusted friend is even more so, because you promise to give us your presence and the answers in your perfect timing. Thank you for desiring a relationship with us through your son Jesus. In His name, Amen!

Giving Thanks in Everything!

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

          As we do our last minute grocery shopping for the delicious Thanksgiving feast this coming Thursday, or prepare to travel to break bread and spend time with family and friends, let's remember to do so with thankful hearts.
          We all know that giving thanks is something we should do every day no matter what, especially during the holiday season. But we also know giving thanks isn't always easy, especially when the busyness and stress of the holidays rob us of the peace and tranquility the Lord wants us to have. It's especially difficult to be thankful if we're going through some really tough times. But even in the midst of the stress and the challenges we face, the Lord wants us to give thanks. Not necessarily for the stress and problems we might be experiencing, but for going through them with Him, our refuge and strength. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. God is the only one who can give us the strength and the wisdom we need to get through our dark times.

          If you're not going through any difficulties at the moment, praise God! If you are going through a difficult trial, praise God anyway! Begin to thank Him for the food you eat each day; for friends and family; your church home; your job, or the new one that's on the way; for the money you have in the bank; for your health; your children; your car; your home, and the breath you just took.

          As you begin to thank the Lord for all of these blessings, your problems will seem smaller and God will seem greater. You'll realize you're not as bad off as you thought you were, and that there's still hope. "By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life. ... Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God" (Psalm 42:8,11).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for all of the blessings you give us each day. Help us to remember each and every one as we travel through this journey we call life. Thank you for the holiday season, a time we can reconnect with family and friends and truly focus on you. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Is Your Heart on Fire for God Like the Burning Bush?

“Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight — why the bush does not burn up.” (Exodus 3:1-3)

          When Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock, heading out to the far side of the desert, he was pleasantly surprised by the incredible sight he’d never seen before and would never see again: a burning bush.

          As the fall season peaks, I, too, am pleasantly surprised by the gorgeous, fiery red leaves of the burning bush shrubs that illuminate my neighborhood and the nearby shopping centers. Did you know that the burning bush (Euonymus alata “compactus”) is one of the great beauties of the autumn season, distinguished by its vibrant scarlet foliage and small red-orange fruit? (Source: http://phillipoliver.net/burningbush.htm)  Some burning bush shrubs can grow six to 10 feet; others as tall as 15 feet or more. Their 1- to 3-inch long leaves help radiate their vibrant color, setting them apart from all other plants and trees.

          When I think about the flames of fire emanating from the burning bush Moses saw at the mountain of God and the fiery red color of the burning bush shrubs of the fall season, two poignant questions come to mind: As children of God, are our hearts on fire for the Lord? Are we serving Him with fervor — with zeal?

          The Lord says we’re not to lack in zeal but keep our spiritual fervor, serving Him (Romans 12:11).  Remember Jesus’ disciples who were walking on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection? They had followed Jesus during his three-year ministry, listened to him preach the gospel, and witnessed his incredible miracles. But they still doubted who Jesus was and why he came, as the Lord discerned while speaking with them about the events that led to his crucifixion and resurrection and about the scriptures concerning himself. Only after Jesus disappeared from their sight at the dinner table did the disciples realize who He was and that everything He said about himself was true. “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)

          Do our hearts burn within us when we hear, read, and live out the scriptures in our everyday lives? If not, they should. Jesus wants us hot, not cold (Revelation 3:15). If our hearts are on fire for the Lord, that is wonderful. If it used to be on fire, and we notice the fire is slowly but surely going out, don’t worry. We can rekindle that fire by asking God to fan the flames through individual and group bible study and prayer, staying connected with other believers in a small group, and serving those in need in your community.  

          Remember, the Lord loves you. Seek Him first in all you do, and soon your heart will warm up and be on fire to serve Him and others around you. And you will be blessed.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please keep our hearts warm toward you. Set our hearts ablaze so we can serve you with passion, and share your love and compassion with others. In Jesus’ name, amen! 

Restored Self-esteem

“A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman — who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels, and her value is far above rubies or pearls.” (Proverbs 31:10)

       “Why am I always messing up?” I asked the Lord, sobbing, following a terrible misunderstanding I had with someone recently who called me a few choice words. “I can’t seem to do anything right. I’m always making mistakes.”

       I was crushed.

       I sent a text message to one of my best friends to give her a hint about what happened. I was too upset to talk, so I told her not to call me. Just pray. Of course, she called me anyway. Tears spilled down my face as she read Psalm 59 and prayed for me.

Perfect Peace

       After our call, I felt some sense of peace, so I began searching the Web for a bible study I was thinking about introducing to my women’s group — only to realize it was out of print. I called the publisher to see if it had any study guides in stock. No such luck. The gentleman on the phone suggested a similar study written by the same author.

As I read the first few pages of the excerpt online, I gasped. You are a “capable, intelligent and virtuous woman,” the Lord said. No matter what anyone thinks. You are my precious daughter. Holy. Innocent. Righteous.

       Instantly, my spirit soared!

Whisper of Sweet Nothings

       The Lord also said everyone makes mistakes, but don’t dwell on your shortcomings or condemn yourself. You’re forgiven and free of guilt. You’re the apple of My eye and surrounded with My favor.

       I smiled from ear to ear.

       The next day, I discovered a Christian bookstore that sold 8½ x 11-inch single sheets of stationery with various scripture messages on them. I saw one that featured Proverbs 31with the words “A Virtuous Woman” displayed in bold across the top. It now hangs prominently in my cubicle at work and on my bathroom wall at home as a reminder of what God says about me. 

God of All Comfort

       God’s Word met me right where I was that dreadful day — far down in the pit of despair. He healed my broken heart — and He promises to do the same for you. So when your world seemingly falls apart, cry out to the one who loves you perfectly. He will lift you up and give you a firm place on which to stand. 

Prayer: Thank you Lord for loving us so much, for seeing the best in us no matter what mistakes we make or what anyone says about us. And most of all, thank you for answering us in our desperate times. In Jesus’ name, Amen!