One thing I have noticed in life, as much as we want to believe it, none of us has all the answers to everything we need. We are not the end-all. But I also found out that that’s okay. We don’t have to be everything, nor do we need to know everything. We have One who not only knows the finite things we see and deal with before us daily, but He also knows the infinite and the things we cannot see.
We don’t have to struggle as if we don’t have this heavenly hope. We don’t have to rely on ourselves when we have our Big Beautiful God, who is unmatched in everything, to rely on. We don’t have to beat against the wind with our “might” when we can lean on His and come out victorious on the other side.
I pray that as I reshare this poem with you, it blesses you today and awakens your confidence in our wonderful God:
“Not by my own strength, it’s failing, it’s fleeting. Relying on myself, my life takes a beating.
It’s against the wind I fight, expending all my fleshly might. It’s only by His Spirit I can win, supplied by God, the power within.
Many are searching for the prosperous way, forcing themselves with striving each day.
The plans of man are but weak and futile. Relying on God will carry you to the very last mile.
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of Hosts,” Zechariah 4:6
Today, may we rest in this truth: We were never meant to carry life in our own strength.
Are you ready to reach for more? This NEW devotional reflects on the Prayer of Jabez and how God stretches us beyond our comfort zone to bring enlargement.
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” 1 Chronicles 4:10
As I get older, I’ll be honest—my body doesn’t move the way it used to. Certain joints will let me know very quickly if I move the wrong way, sleep in the wrong position, or do anything that makes them uncomfortable.
Because of that, I’ve been looking for simple ways to incorporate more movement into my life. Along the way, I’ve added small, purposeful exercises—when I remember—that help decrease pain and increase mobility. One of the simplest has been stretching.
Not stretching just for the sake of stretching, or yoga, or anything like that—but intentional movements that target muscles I rarely pay attention to unless they start hurting.
Stretching can feel uncomfortable at first. But once you begin, you quickly realize how good it feels—especially when you move beyond limits you thought you had.
In much the same way, God calls some of us to stretch beyond our familiar range of motion. To move past what we’re used to. To believe beyond what we currently see.
But that kind of stretching requires faith.
To activate faith, we must allow God to do what He does—and trust how He chooses to do it. For some of us, that is an uncomfortable concept.
We pray the prayer of Jabez and ask God to enlarge our territory, but then cry out when He starts stretching us beyond our comfort zone. Yet there is no enlargement without stretching.
If we truly want expanded territory, we must be willing to stretch in faith beyond the here and now.
Do you want enlarged territories?
Do you feel God stretching you?
Don’t fight it. Trust that this stretching is working together for your good, just as God promises in Romans 8:28.
My friends, because that’s what it will take, and more. There is not one day, nor one year, nor one life that can learn the totality of our great God on this side of heaven. The Scriptures tell us He is “unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3) and that His ways are “past finding out” (Romans 11:33). What a joy and a privilege to spend these days we are given here to draw nearer still. What an honor to be given the invitation to come. Oh, blessed one, we have been given a great gift by the Father of being called one of His own. May we live our days for Him and in getting to know Him more.
The greatest thing we could ever have is a solid relationship with God. Fortifying that comes by taking the time to get to know Him better:
“Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord,” (Jeremiah 9:23-24; emphasis mine).
While there is a season for everything and “a time to every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1), God has entrusted us to use what He has given us in a beautiful, purposeful manner.
Time is expensive, for it is the one resource we can use but can never get back, grow back, or buy back. As quickly as the second hand marches in its nonstop rotation around the clock, that moment has passed—then another, and another.
With each second of time, we are given a beautiful offering in this life to do something positive and purposeful. With each second granted, there are possibilities. Opportunities stand before us, if only we will take the time to recognize them.
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12), the psalmist proclaimed. Taking inventory of our time and delegating each portion with intentional purpose helps us use the gift of these twenty-four hours in a way that not only honors the God who gave us time, but also reflects our care in stewarding it well.
Will all our time be ordered with busyness and tasks? No. Ecclesiastes reminds us that life consists of seasons—times of action and times of rest, moments to allow the varying experiences we face to unfold as they must.
Yet as the second hand continues to turn, I recognize the precious gift given to me in this moment—and in those that follow. With that recognition comes a desire to be more mindful and aware of how I use my time.
Time, in and of itself, is beautiful to have and to experience. Experience it well, my friend. Use it wisely, and you will never regret a single second you have spent.
Ask. There are many times, and for many reasons, I do not deserve the ask. To be hushed, to have the privilege revoked, would be justified.
Ask. Yet God welcomes it. He ushers me into His Word, where I find testimony upon testimony revealing how often the want was simply the asking.
There are grievous things in this life—things heavy to bear. And while we are not promised exemption from trials or woes, He still understands and welcomes the ask for relief.
There are heart-stirring aspirations that awaken good desires within us. How to get there, how to set it all in motion—ask. God is all too pleased to offer guidance to a truly searching heart.
Asking allows us to bring everything—from the hurtful to the joyful—and seek His thoughts, His face, His glory in it all. After all, it is God’s will we ultimately desire to be accomplished in our lives.
Your ask draws you closer to Him through seeking. Your ask establishes God as rule one in whatever your heart longs for. Your ask says, “God, I need You.”
Oh, how the Heavenly Father delights in the faith of a child who comes to Him willingly and openly. Do not let fear or doubt withhold your ask. Asking is a privilege the Father has blessed us with—one He longs for you to use today.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7).
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20).
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:6).
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).
Your ask speaks of position. Your ask speaks of His power. Your ask speaks of faith. Your ask speaks of relationship with the Father.
There is a fantasy floating around that not only fuels disbelief but also discourages many hearts. It’s the exasperating thought that says, “Why am I always the one dealing with this or going through that?”
I want to pull back the curtain on the truth behind that thinking, because regardless of what any one person is enduring, you are not the only one.
The rise of social media and the hype behind picture-perfect homes, families, careers, and lives has left a void in the hearts of those looking from the outside in. We begin wanting what others have or wishing we could do all that they do—forgetting that a picture, no matter how perfect it appears, never tells the whole story.
No one goes through this life unscathed. Everyone carries something they probably wish they didn’t have to.
This world, in its fallen state, offers a plethora of problems, trials, difficulties, and disappointments. Jesus never hid this truth from us. Instead, He openly warned us: “In the world ye shall have tribulation…” (John 16:33b).
Yes, life will get discouraging at times. And yes, some days are going to be a hard pill to swallow. That’s simply the truth.
So how do we deal with those days?
Well, dear, let me tell you—you must learn to keep your view of this life small and big.
I know what you’re thinking: “Huh?!”
Let’s start with the small view. This means taking your eyes off what everyone else is doing. Stop looking at one-day snapshots and using them to compare or summarize your life. Instead, focus on your current sphere and environment—your home, your people, your family, your responsibilities. Tend to what God has placed directly in front of you rather than being fixated on what others are or are not doing.
Then we come to the big view—and this is crucial. There is no greater focus for your life than Jesus Christ, who finished His warning about trials with this promise: “But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33c).
This means we must intentionally shift our eyes—and our hearts—from them to Him.
There are many so-called “grand views” of life posted daily for the world to admire and envy. But the grandest view of all is a soul satisfied in its Savior. When we know He is carrying us through this life, we can rest. We can trust that regardless of how things appear—to others or even to ourselves—He reigns in victory, and because of Him, so do we.
At the end of every life is a story that unfolds between its beginning and its end. That story will not be flawless. Its pages will include letdowns, setbacks, hard days, and tear-filled nights. Nobody—and I mean nobody—gets through this life unscathed.
So don’t wish for another person’s life or circumstances. You don’t know what burdens they carry behind the posts. Instead, choose contentment. Be satisfied and grateful for where you are and what you have today.
Don’t let envy rob you of the joy you have in Jesus—and all He has already given you and done for you.
And remember, everyone has good days and bad days. It’s all about how we respond to them: “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him” (Ecclesiastes 7:14).
Our eyes have opened To the dawning of the day. Your grace and mercy Have kept us along the way. Through hills and valleys, Sun, and clouds of gray, In You, our hope is standing – Strength for the stay.
When trials and troubles Try to make my heart sway, From the truth of Him, To whom my soul prays, I will lift my eyes Towards heaven’s rays, In You, our hope is standing – Strength for the stay.
No matter what happens – Tears, or come what may, Let my heart’s song Ever resound with praise, Of Jesus’s love and The price He did pay. ‘Cause in You, our hope is standing – Strength for the stay.
All busyness is not good. Any productivity expert will tell you that if your busyness pulls you away from your goal instead of toward it, then it is just that—busyness. In the end, it amounts to nothing when it works against the results we desire.
So let me ask you: What are your desired results for this season? Is your busyness bringing you closer to them?
This time of year is always full—and often too full. As Christmas approaches, our schedules tend to get thrown off balance. There are extras of everything: extra celebrations, extra events (especially if you have children performing in pageants, plays, or musicals), extra shopping with extra thought given to meals and gifts, and extra planning for all the details surrounding this special season.
These “extras” have become synonymous with Christmas. And while celebrations are wonderful, it’s worth asking: If all these extras distract us from our main reason for celebrating, then what is their purpose? Have they drained the joy from the very reason we should be joyful?
Everyone carries their own expectations for this season, but perhaps it’s time to realign our hearts. Maybe we should adjust our perspective until we can look beyond all the preparations and remember the true Reason for the season: the birth of Christ.
Maybe it’s time to set the busyness aside and carve out quiet moments of reflection. We might reread the biblical account of our Lord’s birth slowly and meditatively. We could spend time with writings that highlight the true story of Christmas, or watch films and performances that tell the narrative of the nativity. Immersing ourselves in these stories can reawaken the wonder we often lose amid the rush.
Celebrations are good, but the reason for celebrating is greater, and it should never be overshadowed by our agendas. Let us remember where our true joy comes from:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” —Isaiah 9:6
May He be the desire of our hearts—not only in this season, but all year long.
Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Matthew 1:18-23 – “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Luke 1:30-35 –“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
Luke 2:7-14 –“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Recently, I have been asked to stretch beyond my comfort zone in dealing with a certain matter. To step into something that I don’t know how it’s going to turn out. But also, recently, I have been trying my best to do more than just quote the words of faith; I have been working on deliberately applying them and practicing them even more than before.
Sometimes life calls us to take challenging and uncomfortable steps. Often, those steps do not come with full disclosure about the results, making those initial moves even more uneasy. As humans, we like to know or at least get some kind of inkling about how things will turn out. Thomas, who, historically, is referred to as the doubter in the group of the original disciples, had a hard time believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ without visible, physical proof. As a matter of fact, he said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).
The tragedy of the cross dampened all he had previously witnessed during his term as a disciple of Christ. In fact, Thomas, if we’re honest, only verbally spoke the same reaction of disbelief as the other disciples, who had only come to believe after seeing evidence for themselves.
But Jesus said, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
Those who have come to faith through the word of the testimony of these founding apostles and the Holy Scriptures were not, are not, ones who visibly and physically laid eyes or hands on our Lord. But by faith, we believe.
Our evidence is only in accepting what Scripture provides as truth – and that’s enough. Our hearts have been opened to receive this truth through the Holy Spirit – and we are glad.
Our salvation is the greatest thing we can believe and hope for, but faith does not stop at the door. Throughout our Christian journey, we will encounter many times of not knowing the result of the next step.
Thomas’s experience can help you filter your response when encountering these unknown moments. Many of our Christian decisions will be by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). And we can go forth believing without having all the answers laid out for us in detail or wrapped in a pretty package.
The cross was not beautiful, but by faith we believe in the beauty of salvation that it produces. If we can believe for that, that all our sins have been washed away and taken care of, everything else is little in comparison.
Even if you can’t see it, just believe. Our eyes, our knowing, can get in the way of something greater that God may want to do. Don’t let what you see or don’t see be a limiting factor in your life. Instead, let it be an area of expansion for your faith. As a seed grows to be a fruitful plant unseen in the soil, your faith will grow best in the times of the unseen.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
While December comes with much celebrating of the season leading up to Christmas (and rightly so), and although there seems to be a lot of hustle and bustle surrounding it, may we take the time to truly enjoy this season with the beauty God gives us within. May our hearts tuck into the quietness of the days and reflect. Reflect on all the days of this year that are passing, and may we look forward with hope and expectation to the new that’s coming ahead.
Blessings ~ Word for Life Says
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1. “Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter” Psalm 74:17. “Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10
