Strive, dear friend, to be a great addition to the lives of those you meet.
With many things and circumstances trying to speak about who we are at our core, we know personally, at times, what it feels like when life makes you feel depleted, as if something has been stripped from us.
But when we work to add to the lives of others, to be a blessing, to be one whom others can turn to, knowing you will be there for them, you become a wonderful complement to their lives.
I want to add to the lives of those in my life. I want to add joy, and comfort, and all those good and beautiful things that make relationships of all kinds happy, healthy, and whole.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 gives us a beautiful math equation of addition that benefits us all. It says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.”
Let’s step away from the numerical equation and focus on the word “better.”
When we work to add to each other’s lives, we make them better. Not because of anything special about us, but when we link up with one another in supporting love, and pour ourselves into the lives of those around us, we help one another flourish and grow.
The Spirit of the Lord within us is beautiful. When we work in the fruit of the Spirit that is in us, and that fruit plants seed into the lives of others, prayerfully, they become a source of strength, support, and all those good things that come from that fruit.
Then, upon this rich soil where these beautiful seeds have been added and planted, they may grow and plant their own seeds of good to those around them, becoming a wonderful chain of blessing others and seeing growth in their lives over and over again.
Today, when you become a great addition to those around you, you are not only pouring into their lives, but you are also reaping benefits, too: “Two are better than one… For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow…” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,” Luke 17:15
“Lord, I just want to thank You!” It’s more than an exclamation of gratefulness. It is the life song that every Christian should continually sing. The voice of our praise should rise to heaven in utter adoration for all that the Lord has done in our lives.
Leprosy, during the Bible era, was one of the most detrimental diseases a person could have. It not only riddled the body with sores and pain, but socially speaking, it marked an individual as being unclean. They had to be separated from everyone else for fear of spreading the disease and making other persons unclean, also.
To be healed of this disease is life-renewing. It gives one a chance to come out of isolation and be restored to fellowship with others again. It restores them to the state of being considered clean, of being good enough to rejoin the community and have close conversations, once more.
The former lepers know what life was like to meet people and to have to call out to everyone what was wrong in their lives. But now that healing has taken place, they are not sentenced to that stigma and forced to live alone. Rather, they can enjoy the hug of a child or a kiss from a spouse, which can be experienced again.
They are no longer an outcast.
They are no longer viewed by the blemishes that marked their skin.
Jesus released them. Jesus did the impossible for them. This goes beyond healing – it is total restoration. Everything that was once lost can now be regained, thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ. Fortunately for us, there is a greater disease than leprosy that the Lord can deliver us from: the disease of sin.
Sin has ravaged humanity since the Fall in the Garden of Eden. It has marred us from the inside out. It has marked mankind as being unclean and has sentenced him to a life of isolation. It has prevented him from fellowshiping with God as he was originally designed to do. It is the one disease in which every single human on the face of this earth needs to be healed from. NO EXCEPTIONS! “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Isn’t it wonderful to know that just as Jesus did not leave the ten lepers in their destitute condition, He did not leave us in that pitiful state either. When one turns to Him, He stands at the ready to intercede and to save. To be saved means to be delivered, and I, for one, am glad to be delivered!
When I look back on my own life and see the dreadful state I was once in, I rejoice in the Lord for cleansing me. I thank God for healing the sin-diseased soul I once had and for letting me experience a brand new life in Him.
In the muddling of our daily lives, concerns for this and that tend to overshadow the thankfulness we should be expressing. But, “Lord, I thank You!” As the one leper, I come back and “glorify God!” His deliverance has not only given me a new lease on life here on this earth, but I have gained something far more precious in the world to come.
I know my former state: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6). It isolated us! “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we are all the work of thy hand” (Isaiah 64:8). We have been restored! We have been remade! And, I am THANKFUL!
Now, I have a future to rejoice in: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him,” (1 Corinthians 2:9). I’m talking about eternity, y’all! And, I am THANKFUL! I know where I was. I know where He’s taking me. That’s enough for me to declare, “Today, I want to be THANKFUL!”
My life lately has been like a roller coaster. There have been many changes going on. Some, quite dramatic. Some, quite honestly, I didn’t feel ready for, and yet, here I am.
Some days, I feel strong and confident. Other days, not so much.
Each day is taken on a literal day-by-day basis. It is, whatever it is going to be.
With that, the day may have tears. Or, it may come with much rejoicing in the heart. But no matter what is on the menu of the day, I have had to make a conscious effort to take a step back and trust God in this (and not just talk about it).
“A lot of times we face difficulties and challenges in life, things that stretch us way out of where we are used to being. Then, we are asked to trust God; to just step out and depend on Him as our unfailing equipment…”
Because changes bring with them many unknowns, and it’s those unknowns that become unnerving for us. But what I, and we, need to remember is just because something is unknown to us, it doesn’t mean it’s unknown to God. In fact, the whole world, history, and all the people in it are an open book before Him.
The journey that we are afraid to take. The move we are hesitant to make, God already knows the ending of each. He is never caught off guard or surprised by the outcome, even if we are.
So, it’s okay if we don’t have all the answers. It’s alright if we feel as if our hand is slipping off the steering wheel of life, because our confidence is not in us. We know all too well the frailty and failure of the flesh.
He is the same God who was there with us as we went through all the other stories of our lives, and He is the same God who knows the chapter we are currently in.
Even better, He is the same God who knows the conclusion as well.
So yes, there may be challenges that make us feel uncomfortable. Things that make us feel like life is spinning out of control. But the things that unnerve us, things we feel we can’t handle, God can.
He is our strength, peace, and hope. God is where we can rest our hearts and minds, even when everything else feels like it’s coming undone. And it’s a good thing to be reminded of that!
Blessings~
Remember this: the great King David became so distressed and discouraged at one point in his life, and the Bible says, “David encouraged himself in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).
How can you find encouragement in God during the challenging times?
For me, reading the Word and being reminded of His promises helps to ground me. Also, writing this devotional helps to lift some of what I am feeling off my heart and put it on paper (and yes, my preferred writing method is still pen to paper before it hits the screen).
Find what helps you to shift your focus from your problems to God.
Prayer:
Father God, as this day opens before us, You see what each heart is dealing with. You know better than anyone the places these challenges hit us hardest. As we navigate our circumstances, help us remember that whatever feels out of control for us is never out of control for You. Help us to rest and trust in Your sovereign hand at work in our lives.
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
𝗚rateful hearts rise with the morning light, 𝗜lluminated by the blessings we often overlook. 𝗩oices lift in quiet appreciation, 𝗘mbracing the gifts found in ordinary days.
𝗧houghts turn to kindness shared and received, 𝗛olding close the moments that matter most. 𝗔s we pause to reflect, gratitude grows, 𝗡urturing peace within our spirit, 𝗞eeping us mindful of life’s simple wonders, 𝗦oftly reminding us to give thanks always.
“In every thing 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
*This is not my original writing, but one I felt led to share on this special day. Blessings~
Not on this world, Lord, May our eyes rest, But on Your Son, In Whom, we are truly blessed.
Saved, redeemed, Loved, and set free, Because holy blood Was shed on Calvary.
He, lifted up, Now, new life we live, All our sins, vanquished, ‘Cause He now, forgives.
In the Sea, they’re forgotten, With pierced hands He throws, No longer to remember, Or cause our hearts woes.
Why would we look To the heart of another, When Jesus is better, Than father, mother, lover.
Dear eyes, follow the heart, To Him, let them be raised, In adoration to the One, In Whom, we are saved.
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32
“He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19
I don’t pray anymore for faith like Abraham’s or courage like David’s, or for any other qualities modeled by someone else.
Their lives are significant, and we can learn from them—but God is writing something personal in each of us. Every one of us carries aspects of ourselves that God wants to shape, refine, and bring to life. When we yield to His molding process, we become the version of ourselves that He intended from the beginning.
I want to become the best version of me that God desires. I’ve realized He has placed a unique beauty and originality within every person. Together, we each bring a distinct “flavor” to the larger story of humanity.
The stories of others can inspire us and offer guidance, but trying to replicate someone else’s journey can leave us discouraged when our path doesn’t look like theirs. And that’s because it was their story—not ours.
God sees the beauty in who you are and in the path you walk with Him.
We honor the footsteps of those who have gone before us, but we also embrace the truth that our road may look different. The beauty of your life rests in who God designed you to be.
The best version of you isn’t found in imitation—it’s found in His intention.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
So much work was poured therein. It’s beauty – unsurpassed. Its fame – spread like wildfire. Its design – intricate and lavish. Gold, along with untold amounts of precious metals, materials, and gems, adorned its inside and outside. Precise planning and devoted hearts worked in building what would become known as Solomon’s Temple. That sacred place where people would centralize their worship. That holy place that would house the Ark of the Covenant.
After the ark was placed in its new home, praise among the people erupted in joyful adoration. Instruments sounded their melodious tunes. Voices raised with glorious praise and humble thanksgiving to the Lord, saying, “For he is good; for his mercy endureth forever!” (2 Chronicles 5:13).
Then, the extraordinary happened! God filled the house with the cloud symbolizing His mighty presence, and the priest could not minister there “for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God” (2 Chronicles 5:14).
Through the years, this Temple would go through many changes due to leadership, the waning of people’s hearts, and the destruction it endured due to enemies (twice).
And yet, for all the catastrophe that building went through, God still had a place designed to rest His presence, His Holy Spirit: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
God promised Jeremiah that a new covenant was coming, which was going to be heart-focused (Jeremiah 31:33) due to being Spirit-filled (Ezekiel 36:26, 27; Joel 2:28, 29).
At the birth of the church in Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, God fulfilled those prophecies when the manifestation of the Holy Spirit took over the upper room and the one hundred and twenty persons therein. This experience fulfills the very words of Jesus Christ Himself: “Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem worship the Father… But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:21, 23).
The Father wants to fill the temple of our hearts!
While we gather in our local churches and assemblies of worship, may we remember that our worship is not predicated on the building, no matter how grand or humble. Our true worship is all about honoring Him who resides in our hearts. For that’s the temple God wants His glory to fill the most. In His sight, you are the lavishly beautiful one.
We are instructed in the Holy Scriptures not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves” (that’s a command found in Hebrews 10:25), but always remember that real worship is not about the music or experience. Real worship is seated in our hearts.
Blessings~
For more inspiration, I have included these articles for your reading pleasure:
There is a place for drawing near the presence of God, within and without. Solomon did everything in his power to beautify the sacred space of the ancient temple. Are we doing the same for the temple within?
Joseph of Arimathea made sure Jesus’ body was wrapped in “clean linen.” Through the brokenness of His body, we have been healed. Through His shed blood, we have been washed. We carry the Savior and His new covenant on the inside of us. Have we wrapped Him in “clean” vessels?
A lot of people are living for a showy outside life, but it’s the treasury of your heart that God values the most because it is in this place He wants to reign, rule, and abide through His Spirit. The lavish, ornamental details of a physical building cannot compare to a heart that has been made a ready place for God to dwell.
