A short devotional for your day TODAY!

I thought it would be fun to mix things up a little and send you a short devotional for your day!

This is something personal I learned recently in my own Quiet Time with the Lord.

First, a little background: Several years ago, I realized how easy it was for me to awaken in the morning and feel down about my day as I thought about all the things on my “to-do list” and all the friends and family who were hurting. I remembered the scripture, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” It made me feel guilty because I was not rejoicing in this day. 

I knew I needed to change my routine- shifting from how I felt about my life to how BIG God was. I needed WHO HE IS to become bigger in my life than MY issues. 

So, I asked Him to reveal to me one character trait for each day that I could focus on for that day. I’ve found it best to do this first thing in the morning. Then I can continue to think about this one trait all throughout my day!

I’ve continued this for several years, but as with all good habits, it’s easy to let them subtly and unintentionally slip away.

Recently I’ve re-upped my commitment to ask God to reveal to me a character trait for this day.

A few days ago, the trait that came to me was the fact that He’s a God of STRENGTH. 

In mulling this over, I realized that when I think of His strength, I think of Power, Strongness.

But I need so much more: I need Emotional Strength to trust God for my niece with stage 4 cancer, Physical Strength because my old body doesn’t have what it used to. I get tired. I don’t like that! Mental Strength to keep my mind stayed on who He is (his character traits-sometimes I say them out-loud) rather than the sadness in the world. Spiritual Strength to keep trusting Him when things seem bleak. (Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9) “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

It has helped me to think of HIS Strength in these 4 areas: emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual. God wants to supply all of these. It’s not one thing. It’s a huge STRENGTH package. 

This same morning, I decided to go to my concordance and look up all the verses on strength.

There are so many. A few:

Nehemiah 8:10. For the JOY of the Lord is my strength.

2 Sam 22:33. It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

Ps 46:1. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Ps 118:14. The Lord is my strength and my defense. He has become my salvation.

Isaiah 40:29. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

1 Pet 4:10. If anyone serves, He should do so with the strength God provides.

Phil 4:13. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.

So here’s a challenge for you today!

Pick one character trait of our Father God/Jesus/HS and look up that trait in your concordance. Look up the verses and ask God to enhance your vision of who He is, and then choose to walk in that trait for the day. (repeating that trait at every stop light or stop sign helps!)

Having one of His character traits to focus on throughout the day opens us up to His presence in a deeply transforming way.

I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Several years ago, I published a book, One Devotional, One Word, One Verse, One Thought for One Hundred Days. These came from my own devotional times of practicing this for 100 days. Perhaps it will encourage you or someone you know.