The One Year Yellow Ribbon Devotional: Take a Stand in Prayer for Our Nation and Those Who Serve

January

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January 1

Stand for Something

Put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. cross EPHESIANS 6:13

How will you face this new year? Ephesians 6:13 encourages us to face each day standing firm. What does that mean, and how does it happen? We’re to stand firm in the power of the Holy Spirit by putting on the whole armor of God. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:14-17).

In other words, God is saying, Okay, I have given you everything you need to stand against the enemy you will face in this world—now stand. The stand we must take is one without fear, without hesitation, and with confidence as we encounter any crisis that may come our way. It is a stand in spiritual armor that is complete for battle, both defensive and offensive.

Because we live in a fallen world, we will encounter Satan’s attacks on our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. We must remember that he is a defeated foe and that through Christ we have all we need to stand against him. We are to stand and refuse to move from the ground that has been taken through our acceptance of Christ as our Savior.

Scripture tells us the Word of God is our offensive weapon and that we are to pray at all times in the power of the Holy Spirit. Make a commitment this year to study the Bible and learn its directives and promises. Then stand on those promises—in prayer!

Throughout this year keep in mind the stand that military men and women are taking around the world. They are standing for our nation and the principles on which our country was founded. They are standing for a better world for our children and hope for the future. Commit to keep them and their families in your prayers throughout this new year.

Take inspiration from this prayer of Peter Marshall, chaplain of the U.S. Senate in 1947: Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for, because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.[1] dingbat  Carol

Father, I commit to stand on your promises in the new year. I pray for the brave men and women who have made a commitment to stand firm for freedom and liberty through their service in the military. In Jesus’ name I pray. cross Amen.

January 2

Morning Watch

Listen to my voice in the morning, L

ORD

. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. cross PSALM 5:3

I admit I’m not always the most congenial person in the morning. The older I get, the more time I need to ease into the day. My grandson, on the other hand, is the epitome of a morning person. He awakens with bright eyes wide open and a smile on his face. He greets the day with a cheerful and emphatic Good morning! Whatever misery he may have felt the night before has been crucified as he slept, and each new day is a happy resurrection.

Even with my morning challenges, I have found that the best way to begin a day is with Scripture reading and prayer. The great preacher Charles Spurgeon said about prayer, Let us take care, while we are fresh, to give the cream of the morning to God. Giving God my first thoughts of the day helps me grasp my priorities and focus on what is truly important. Often my prayers are a natural flow from what I read in the Bible. Writing them in a journal has been a helpful tool; the physical act of writing keeps me focused and protects my thoughts from drifting. Having these written prayers also provides a tangible record of God’s faithfulness as I record answers or return later to trace the work of his hand in a particular situation.

Developing the spiritual discipline of prayer is a necessity for a Christ follower. The psalmist who penned the words of today’s passage obviously had a regular habit of beginning his day with prayer to the Lord. In the original language he paints a word picture of an archer shooting a bow and arrow. It can be assumed that the prayers the psalmist prayed were like arrows that he watched expectantly as they sped to the center of the target.

As a young Christian I struggled to have a disciplined prayer life. Today, I cannot boast by saying I never miss beginning a day with prayer, but the Lord has helped me develop consistency. While discipline plays a role in my prayer life, the goal is not about completing a task. The goal of prayer at any time of the day is to nurture a personal relationship with my heavenly Father. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening (Psalm 92:2). dingbat  Brenda

Father, I thank you for a new day to worship you. I ask for consistency in my prayer life, not as duty, but to be in an ever-closer relationship with you. I give you this day. I pray for military personnel who are on patrol during the night. Surround them with your protection as they stand watch on behalf of others. In Jesus’ name I pray. cross Amen.

January 3

Living Word

The word of God is alive and powerful. cross HEBREWS 4:12

Do you believe the Word of God? Do you believe his Word is our offensive weapon against the enemy of our souls? Do you believe it is alive and just as applicable today as it was when it was written? I do! I have never in my life been so in love with God’s Word. I have never in my life experienced such sensitivity to the relevance of God’s Word for every situation today. I have never in my life experienced so many teachers and mentors who are so excited about sharing the Word with others.

In January of 2005, my mother, then eighty-three, was encouraged by her church to read through the Bible in a year. She has known the Lord since she was a teenager but had never actually read through, day by day, the entire Bible. She began that first day of January 2005. From the beginning of this experience she had a new excitement and joy that was undeniable. She would call us at night and say, You will not believe what I just read! Or she would tell me to go and get my husband, a loving student of the Scriptures, so she could ask a question about something she had read. It was amazing how each word, each book, and each day brought new insight as she fell in love with God’s Word.

In September of 2005 my dad passed away. He was the love of my mother’s life for sixty-two years. God had prepared her for what was to come as she faithfully hid his Word in her heart that year. She had such peace and such understanding of a better eternal home for my dad. She continued, letting God comfort her as she finished the last word of Revelation on December 31, 2005.

In 2006 my husband and I were challenged by my mother’s renewed love of the Bible to also read it through in a year.

What a blessing to fall in love with the living Word all over again! It is his gift to us. dingbat  Carol

Lord, you speak to me through your Word, and I know that you are the Creator of the universe. All things are under your command. Help me to go to your Word each day for peace, understanding, and wisdom. Lead those in harm’s way throughout the world to your living Word, providing for them in every conflict and every trial they face. cross Amen.

January 4

Forgetting the Past

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. cross PHILIPPIANS 3:13

The results of the commitment my husband and I made to reading the Bible in a year were amazing! We fell more and more in love with the Bible as we read it each day. We would sit across the table from each other and say, Wow many times over. We had read pieces of Scripture all our Christian lives, but to read it book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse was truly a spiritual experience.

Here we are beginning a new year. The Word is hidden in my heart. Just as my mother had no idea that God was comforting her through his Word in order to get through the loss of the love of her life—her husband, friend, and father of her girls—so my own year-long Bible-reading experience is enabling me to live with renewed passion for God’s Word in my heart.

While reading that year, I found myself crying through the side notes I had written with names of my sons or of places we had traveled. I had recorded those notes beside specific verses in God’s Word to remember how he had brought us through so many challenging times in our lives.

But I can’t dwell in the past. Forgetting the past is a directive from God to let go and let him take over. He doesn’t want us to dwell on our past sins or mistakes. Remembering how God led us through those times, however, gives us great comfort. He loves us unconditionally, and his presence is a reality.

I pray that you will fall in love with him every day as you are encouraged in these messages of hope and prayers of faith. I can only encourage you to go to God’s Word. Let him speak to you. It is his mode of communication with us, and as we practice it we get to learn how to live in victory along the way.

Bless you today! dingbat  Carol

Father God, let this be the year for me to fall in love with you and your Word. Help those who are separated from their loved ones during the conflict in the world. May they pick up your Word daily to receive the message of hope it contains. cross Amen.

January 5

Managing Time

During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost. cross JOHN 17:12

My friend just said good-bye to her husband for a year as he began a deployment to Iraq. I sent her a note to ask how her first week was going. She responded that she was getting some things checked off a list of tasks that she had been compiling for the last year. She knows she has at least twelve months that her husband will be absent, and she is setting a goal to use her time wisely by accomplishing things she wants to get done while he is away.

Today we have people who are time-management experts. There are countless books, seminars, and tools to aid us in managing our time, but the reality is time can’t really be saved or managed. John Maxwell suggests, Since you can’t change time, you must instead change your approach to it. Time cannot be managed . . . time just is.[2] I understand this to mean we cannot manage time, but we can manage what we do with the time we’ve been given.

Jesus knew his time on earth was set by the Father. His primary mission was to go to the cross, but before that happened, he wanted to use his time for positive impact on people’s lives as is evident in today’s passage. None of us knows the exact number of days we have here on earth. Our focus is not to be on how many days we have because that is something we can’t manage or control. We can manage and control what we choose to do during the time we are given.

Perhaps it would be helpful to make a list now of those things you would like to do this year. Choose actions that are helpful to others. Spend your time wisely, and begin doing those things you plan.

My friend is turning a challenging crisis in her life into a productive time. She could have chosen to be miserable for the next year. She could easily have given in to constant worry about her husband’s well-being and wasted valuable time God has given her. Instead she is choosing to turn it around and be productive even as she misses her husband. In the midst of crisis we still have a choice: to be stuck in self pity or to move forward with the task at hand. dingbat  Brenda

Father, thank you for sending your Son to fulfill his purpose here on earth. Help me to use my time wisely, making the most of each opportunity you give me today. I pray for spouses of deployed military personnel. Help them to trust you during this time of separation. In Jesus’ name. cross Amen.

January 6

To-Do Lists

Look here, you who say, Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit. How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. cross JAMES 4:13-14

I believe in making a plan and being prepared. I am a list maker, and I enjoy seeing checks beside tasks I have accomplished. Yet as a Christian, I sometimes have mixed feelings when it comes to making a detailed plan for the future. How much do I plan for the future, and how much do I leave the future to God’s divine providence? If I do not make some plan for my day, I seem to fritter it away. If I am controlled by my to-do list, however, I may miss spontaneous opportunities that would have eternal significance. My daily challenge is to not be ruled by my own plans.

In today’s passage, James is addressing the mistake of those who do not even consider the will of God in their daily plans. Their mistake is twofold: first, in thinking they know what is best and can determine their own future; second, in failing to acknowledge that God is sovereign and the One who knows what is best for them.

I have found that my solution to the planning quandary is to daily commit my to-do list to the Lord. I ask him to help me discern his will for each day and make me available to accomplish his plan.

What’s on your list today? Whatever it is, commit it to the Lord—and see what happens! dingbat  Brenda

Father, thank you for the plan you have made for my salvation. Forgive me for any plans I have made without considering you. I acknowledge your sovereignty, and I trust you to direct me as I commit myself to your will. I present to you my plans for this day and invite you to rearrange them if you see the need. May I glorify you in all I do. I pray for those who are directing military plans and operations. May they, too, look to you for help and guidance. In Jesus’ name. cross Amen.

January 7

National Take Time off Day

Then Jesus said, Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile. He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. cross MARK 6:31

One day during a particularly physically draining season, I wrote in my journal, After bemoaning my laziness yesterday, I decided to give myself permission to have a day of rest. It was impossible! I must not think it is okay to rest, because when I do, I feel guilty. As a result, I feel tired. The night I wrote that I got a chuckle when I read the online news banner announcing it was National Take Time off Day! On an officially sanctioned day, I still couldn’t take the time to relax.

Even Jesus in his short time of ministry intentionally pulled away to quiet places for rest in order to recharge himself physically and spiritually. In today’s Scripture, he directs his disciples following an intense time of ministry: Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile. The original word for rest in Mark 6:31 implies refreshment.[3] If Jesus needed rest to be refreshed in body and spirit after his labors, wouldn’t you think we do as well? And if it was okay for him to do, wouldn’t you think it would be okay for us, too?

For those who struggle with the idea of taking time off to rest, the term power nap has been coined as a management principle that claims increased productivity. Long before power naps were in vogue, however, my mother-in-law practiced a thirty-minute nap in the middle of the afternoon to feel refreshed for the rest of the day. Her energy has always put mine to shame. Whatever name you use to describe rest, the truth is that we need it to rejuvenate ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

It has been said that if you don’t come apart and rest, you will come apart![4] Include some rest as a part of this day. It’s okay—Jesus said so! dingbat  Brenda

Thank you, Father, for the example of Christ in Scripture. He accomplished your will in his short life on earth, yet he found time to rest and be refreshed. Help me to take time today for moments of rest, making my service to others the best it can be. I pray for military personnel in the medical corps today who are working long hours to bring health and wellness to others. cross Amen.

January 8

Wait Expectantly

When you came down long ago, you did awesome deeds beyond our highest expectations. And oh, how the mountains quaked! cross ISAIAH 64:3

We live in a world of expectations, and the bar is usually set pretty high. I love a challenge, and I love to continually seek to achieve great things in my life. My husband and I have great hopes and expectations for our sons, which cause us to pray constantly that God would honor them with personal, relational, and financial favor. However, we often put too high of an expectation on ourselves and those we love, and that’s when things get out of order.

Psalm 5:3 says, "Listen to my voice in the morning, L

ORD

. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly." The expectations I have for myself should be measured by God’s expectations for me. Why do we run ahead of all that God has for us? He knew we would. Often we expect an answer to come quickly, a relationship to take hold, a job offer to come in. But these expectations suggest that we have a God who simply grants wishes. We are to wait on God, not merely on his answers.

First, our prayer to the Father during times of conflict and in situations beyond our control should be that we are giving all to him. Second, our prayers and attitudes must place our expectations on him and measure them by the standard of his mercy and grace. Expectations in our humanness can only lead to disappointment and discouragement.

Finally, our expectations should be as Scripture tells us in 1 Peter 1:3: All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation. dingbat  Carol

Lord, teach me to wait expectantly on you. Give me a heart that is willing to trust, not one that is thinking I deserve or I expect. Give me a heart to continue to lift to you each day my expectations of an end to the likes of war, poverty, and disease. In your name I pray. cross Amen.

January 9

Missed Opportunity

There they will say, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is a loudmouth who missed his opportunity! cross JEREMIAH 46:17

There is not one of us who has never missed an opportunity. Several weeks ago, I read a story in the travel section of our local newspaper about a hotel in the heart of New York City that had just been remodeled. A special promotion offered rooms for $19.31 in honor of the year the hotel opened. It was Sunday afternoon, and I got busy—and failed to follow through in checking it out. Two days later, my husband called to tell me our friends had just made reservations for the weekend in New York City at a great hotel for only $19.31 per night! He asked me to quickly go online and make reservations for us so we could join them. But when I made the attempt, I received the message that there were no more rooms available at that price. If only I had acted on the offer when I first saw it in the paper days earlier! I had missed my opportunity.

In today’s Scripture, Jeremiah speaks of Pharaoh, whom Matthew Henry describes as either a coward or a bad manager following his promise to send an army to support his people.[5] The enemy came, and Pharaoh failed to send his army to provide help. He missed a great opportunity to prove himself a powerful leader and back up his words with action.

The New Testament Epistles challenge us not to miss the opportunity to do good and bless others:

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith (Galatians 6:10).

Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days (Ephesians 5:16).

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity (Colossians 4:5).

In the words of H. Jackson Brown Jr., Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity.[6] Look for opportunities the Lord may send your way today! dingbat  Brenda

Heavenly Father, thank you for making me your child. I pray that I would have eyes to see each occasion you provide for me to do good for others. Don’t let me miss the opportunity to be a blessing. I pray for soldiers, airmen, sailors, marines, and coastguardsmen as they serve you around the world. Provide them with opportunities to hear your Word and be encouraged. In Jesus’ name I pray. cross Amen.

January 10

The Power of Prayer

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. cross JAMES 5:16

Webster’s dictionary defines power as ability to act or produce an effect.[7] As an adjective, it is defined as of, relating to, or utilizing strength. The mere definition gives the image of strength in anything one does. The dictionary defines prayer as an address (as a petition) to God and as an earnest request or wish.

I have to admit there are times when I cry out to God, What can I do? How can I make a difference in the world? As Christians, we cannot physically do things for our military personnel who are in harm’s way. We cannot even know when danger is imminent. However, through prayer we can affect them spiritually and do battle in the heavenly realms on their behalf. Each of us has this power through the Holy Spirit. As a direct result of prayer, there are many who have come to know the Lord while fighting the War on Terror.

God honors our prayers. As we make prayer a priority, we can make a difference for those who serve our country through military or government service. Prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit can change the direction of local churches and shape worldwide missions. Being on our knees can strengthen our families for the battles we face each day.

Prayer gives hope to the hearts of mothers as their children face the bombardment of the enemy each day—because they can know that the sovereign God is listening. Discouragement and disillusionment can then be replaced with prayer. In a culture where we are constantly connected by cell phones and the Internet, we must not forget that the only connection that matters is the connection we have with God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit in prayer. dingbat  Carol

O Lord, too often I find time to do lunch with my friends or be involved in many good activities but can’t seem to schedule time to spend with you. Forgive me for my negligence, and give me a renewed heart of commitment to earnestly seek you. Please protect the men and women in harm’s way, and help me remember to lift them up to you daily. cross Amen.

January 11

Lost Identity

I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. cross PSALM 119:10

As a military spouse, I am required to use a military ID card to gain entrance to any military installation. And as a military spouse, I need to gain entrance to a military installation for many reasons during the course of a week! I grocery shop, purchase gas, visit the doctor, and attend Bible study during the week and worship service on Sunday. My military ID card is a very important document.

I am embarrassed to confess that in recent months I have misplaced my card not once, but twice. The frantic search, calls to all the places I went, and discussions of what to do in the case of identity theft have all left me exhausted. I have gone through the litany of How could I let this happen? and Why didn’t I put it in the same place each time? I beat myself up over my carelessness and prayed for God’s mercy in the situation. It could be comical if it wasn’t so serious.

My husband asked the tongue-in-cheek question, Do you think this is God’s way of telling us it is time to get out of the military? I admit sometimes I have to have tangible lessons, but I do not think this one is about separation from the military. The mishaps, however, have not been without some spiritual application.

You see, lately I have felt somewhat misplaced spiritually. A demanding travel schedule has resulted in a loss of routine and discipline. I am amazed at how easy it is to become careless in daily spiritual disciplines while being distracted with the cares of life and the weight of responsibility. Just as I must take the extra few moments to put my ID card in its predetermined place, I must take the extra few moments to renew myself through Scripture and prayer. It is through these consistent actions that I gain my identity in Christ each and every day. As surely as I’ll need my ID card the next time I drive up to a military gate, I need to have my spiritual identity firmly established in God! dingbat  Brenda

Let me live so I can praise you, and may your regulations help me. I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands (Psalm 119:175-176). Bless all those around the world who are literally misplaced because of the results of terrorism and war. May they find hope and help through you. cross Amen.

January 12

Rest for the Weary

I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God. cross PROVERBS 30:1

There are times in my life when I become very weary. I find myself being overcome by the world or focusing on the negatives around me. I believe in sharing our burdens with one another, but my personality often takes it a little too far. I often want very much to work things out for others and fix their situations. I am convinced that is why God gave me children. He wanted me to know what it truly felt like to let go and to allow him to do the work he planned for them.

I am quite sure that most military members and their families experience this kind of deep weariness. I often hear young military wives with deployed husbands say, I am just so tired. While the physical part of the deployment, with its added burdens for the one left behind, is difficult enough, the emotional part is even more difficult and often takes a greater toll. But it also affects that last and most important part of our makeup as humans: the spiritual aspect. Military families become spiritually weary.

If we are honest with ourselves, don’t we all experience this at times? You don’t have to be related to military personnel to become weary with all the worries and the whys in life that weigh us down.

We are told in Isaiah 40:31 that we are to run and not grow weary. When I am weary, I think God is saying to me, Pick up the pace, and I will energize you with my Spirit. When weariness overcomes you, let God be your running partner. He will be with you to run the race and to fight the fight and to not grow weary in the process. dingbat  Carol

Dear Lord Jesus, how tired and weary I get with life’s circumstances. There are days when I find myself dreading to answer the phone, afraid that one more person will have a problem that I cannot handle. Then you say to me, That’s the point. I can’t handle them. But when I wait on you, Lord, I will find new strength and be able to lead those who are also weary to you and your Word. I ask today that you give renewed strength to those families who are waiting for their loved ones. cross Amen.

January 13

Slowly Drained

I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within. cross PSALM 31:10

Living in the city, we do not drive our car every day. In fact, I can go a week without ever cranking the engine. The other day, however, I needed to run some errands. When the electronic key wouldn’t work, I didn’t think anything of it. But when I turned the ignition of my car, the engine wouldn’t start. The battery was completely dead. Careful examination revealed that the trunk had not been closed all the way, causing the tiny light in the trunk to slowly drain the battery. You wouldn’t think something so small would have such an effect. I learned the hard way that given enough time, the smallest light is enough to deplete the stored energy in a car’s battery.

We often fail to realize that even small demands in life can drain our energy, our spiritual strength, and our zest for living. We can experience a slow drain that brings with it a defeated Christian life. Just as a car battery needs to be recharged by regular use, our inner spirits need to be recharged on a regular basis in order for us to live the life the Lord intends for us.

God doesn’t want us to live defeated lives drained of faith, hope, love, and joy. The only way we can be energized with these spiritual qualities is by staying in communion with him through his Word and prayer. These are the battery chargers that allow his Spirit to work in us and provide fresh faith and grace for each day. Take time today to energize yourself by asking God’s Spirit to renew your inner being. Be nourished by his Word today in order to live the abundant life he desires for you. dingbat  Brenda

Thank you, Lord, for your power that renews me each day. Forgive me for the times I allow busyness and the cares of the world to keep me from spending time in your Word. Renew me today and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I pray for military personnel who are serving you in elite and special units. Protect them as they are required to regularly put themselves in danger. Renew their spirits as they perform dangerous missions behind enemy lines. In Jesus’ name I pray. cross Amen.

January 14

Worry List

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. cross PHILIPPIANS 4:6

I confess that I am a worrier by nature. If I don’t have anything to worry about, I can easily create something. I suspect that my husband had me in mind as he prepared a sermon on the topic of worry. In the sermon, he made a suggestion that has been the most practical advice I have ever received on the subject. He suggested making a list of all the things you worry about. After the list is made, change your worry list into your prayer list. I have practiced this simple antidote to worry and can testify that it makes a difference. I have lists throughout my journals that started as worry lists but then became prayer lists.

When we are honest, we have to admit there is no value in worry. Worry in itself doesn’t reverse bad situations. Worry in itself doesn’t bring any solutions. Worry in itself really only accomplishes a feeling of being overwhelmed by dread. The negative scenarios in our minds that we replay end up like a record that is stuck and can never go on to complete the process.

It’s normal for us to worry about issues of life, but we need to take our worries one step further by putting each circumstance into the hands of the Lord through prayer. As we put each item on our lists into God’s hands, we can rest assured we have asked the most powerful person in the universe to help us with our individual struggles.

Today’s Scripture directs us to take everything to God in prayer. In the original language this verse encourages us to pray through worship, specific requests concerning needs, and thanksgiving. Each of us can take these steps to victory over worry as we bring not just the big things, but everything, to God in prayer.

What are you worried about today? Why not make a list of all those things and use it as your prayer list? dingbat  Brenda

Lord, you are good, gracious, and compassionate. I bring this list of things that are causing me worry today. Forgive me when I allow them to overwhelm me. I ask you to work in each situation. I ask you to give me your perspective and teach me to trust you in the process of each outcome. I thank you for the invitation to bring all my worries to you. Today I pray for parents of deployed military personnel. Give them the comfort of your peace. I ask this in your name. cross Amen.

January 15

Standing Guard

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. cross PHILIPPIANS 4:7

It is difficult to rest when you have a troubled mind or a troubled heart, isn’t it? It is difficult to rest when you are overcome by worry, dread, or fear. Lately I’ve had some things on my mind that have caused me to lose sleep. It’s as if my brain will not turn off. I think about all the things I need to get done, situations I am concerned with, and issues I can do nothing about at 2 a.m.! I read Philippians 4:7, which tells me that God’s peace will guard my heart and mind as I live in Christ. What does that mean?

My soldier husband shared with me something that has helped me understand this concept: even in the midst of battle, a soldier can rest. It’s hard to imagine that a soldier is able to sleep soundly in a war zone, yet my husband assures me it happens. It is possible because the soldier has confidence that a fellow soldier is standing guard watching out for him or her.

My husband remembered his first night on Iraqi soil when Operation Iraqi Freedom started. It was a former Iraqi airfield that had been taken over by coalition forces. Though my husband’s unit was fairly certain there were hostile forces within the general area, when he lay down to sleep in a partially destroyed airplane hangar that first night, he could rest in comfort. Even if the enemy were around, he had confidence because his fellow soldiers were taking turns standing guard.

I remind myself as I go to bed each night that God is standing guard over my heart and mind. He desires for me to experience his peace that allows me to rest, both physically and spiritually.

If you are having trouble resting in your spirit, allow God to stand guard for you. It’s an all-day, all-night guard you can trust! dingbat  Brenda

Father, thank you for the promise of your peace. Lord, I’m putting my burdens and worries in your hands today so I can rest. Help me to allow you to stand guard over my heart and mind. Remove the barriers that keep me from experiencing the peace of Christ. I pray for deep rest for weary service members who are working long hours in the cause of peace. In Jesus’ name I pray. cross Amen.

January 16

Writing in Pencil

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. cross MATTHEW 6:34

My dear friend Diane Sutton wrote a devotional and sent it to me several years ago. A woman of God and the wife of a retired air force general, she has granted me permission to share part of that devotional here.

One of the most challenging things about being a military wife for me has been dealing with the unknowns about assignments. Much of the time not knowing where we’ll be going next? to do what? when will it happen? will we be together? Or, will it be a remote tour? Pete will often tease me about something I’ve done almost every move we’ve made— We’ve just moved . . . lying in bed exhausted from unpacking, surrounded by boxes, and I’ll ask him, What do you think your next job will be and where do you think we’ll be going next? Pete’s usual response is to wearily say something like, "Honey, let’s unpack here and let me get to know this job before we start wondering about the next one!" You’d think after thirty-three years and sixteen moves I’d have figured this out!

Because of the continual change in the military, we can be tempted to always be wondering about the future, which can keep us from living in the present. When we focus on the future, we can miss the special things God has for us now! We need to not always be looking to the next assignment and missing out on the opportunities and challenges of the current one. We don’t want to be missing out on the joy and fun of our children’s current ages and stages by thinking that life will be a little easier when they’re a little older and in the next stages.

My natural tendency is to not be very flexible. If I could, I’d write on my calendar in ink, but we don’t live in an ink world. We need to be willing to write in pencil so we’ll be ready for whatever God has planned for us!

Psalm 95:7 says, If only you would listen to his voice today!

Diane told me that as she wrote those words, she was reminded of just how much God loves her and has been with her. Perhaps writing about God’s faithfulness in your own life may do the same for you. dingbat  Carol

Lord, thank you that I can know I’m right where you want me to be! Help me not to look longingly to the future but to enjoy what you have for me today. Help me see and seize the opportunities before me. I pray that those whose lives are filled with transition will embrace each moment you have for them. In your precious name. cross Amen.

January 17

Chaos

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. cross ROMANS 7:15

Time—I waste too much.

Idle moments—I spend too many.

The spirit willing, but the flesh weak.

Hey, I’m fighting for even a willing spirit!

There are things I know to do—but don’t.

Guilt hangs over my head like a weight,

Making rising above even harder.

Push! Heave! Thrust the weight of idleness off—

This heaviness of mind and spirit that wraps itself around me

Like a drug-induced cloak warming me

And pretending to comfort

Until I come to day’s end and see—chaos.

I remember thinking that it was my job outside the home that kept me from having the clean, orderly, perfect house and family for which I yearned. But the words above were penned years after I no longer worked outside the home. Obviously, it wasn’t a job that caused my chaos. I have come to realize there are struggles I naturally face that I cannot overcome in my own strength. As I look to the Lord, he alone is able to turn my chaos into order and my trouble into peace.

No one is immune to personal struggles, and we all would probably admit those struggles are things we hate to deal with. Even the apostle Paul, God’s chosen minister, revealed that he struggled with those things he hated in his own life. He gives us some good guidance on how to deal with our own struggles in the context of today’s Scripture.

Paul didn’t deny his struggles, but he put them into the hands of God and worked through them. This process taught him to trust God. His conclusion? So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death (Romans 8:1-2).

Give him your chaos today, and trust him to lead you to peace. dingbat  Brenda

Thank you, Lord, for your life-giving Spirit that frees me from sin. Help me to live in the power of your Spirit today, knowing I belong to you and have been freed from sin. You can bring my chaotic life into order. I pray for military commanders who are making challenging decisions today in the midst of their own chaos. Direct them with your divine hand to make wise decisions for the cause of freedom. cross Amen.

January 18

A Message from God

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. cross ISAIAH 41:10

This Scripture is very clear to me. It reminds me of the times when I am speaking to my sons and want them to hear and believe what I say.

Don’t be afraid. . . . That is a very clear directive.

For I am with you. . . . He would never tell me that unless he meant it.

Do not be dismayed. . . . That could only mean that I am not to get down on myself to the point of hopelessness.

I am your God. . . . Yes, he is!

I will strengthen you. . . . I will help you. . . . Okay, double whammy. If you didn’t get it the first time, he says, Hear me; I will help you.

I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. . . . There’s that wonderful, glorious right-hand reference.

He will hold us in the palm of his right hand and keep us. Not only does he hold us, but he says he will uphold us.

There are so many Scriptures that we ought to repeat out loud when life sends unexpected events our way. When crisis comes, when uncertainty comes, we must be ready with the Word. We receive peace and comfort from God’s messages to us.

Hold on to the Word and break the Scriptures down to relate to you personally. Take heart in knowing the words that are written are just for you. dingbat  Carol

Lord, I am in awe that you continue to remind me that you are my God and that you will strengthen me and uphold me. Why don’t I listen? I commit to you this day to personalize the Scripture that I might come to know you more intimately and more deeply. Today I ask that the many Bibles that are sent to faraway lands would give those who serve our country a desire to study and see the Word as a letter from you to them. cross Amen.

January 19

The Unseen Enemy

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. cross 1 PETER 5:8

The day was January 1, 2006. My husband and I sat at the breakfast table, talking about what we wanted to accomplish in the new year. We talked about practical things and then got into the spiritual things we wanted to commit to doing.

We started talking about the miracles God had performed in our family through the years—the prayers that we had prayed as parents and as spouses and the blessings that overflowed from pouring out our hearts to the Lord. Of course, these were not practices that came instantaneously but took time and perseverance.

That morning, we made a decision not to miss the blessings and the miracles of life in 2006. Since we easily get caught up in daily situations, we wanted to remind each other to step back and recognize what God has done and is doing in our lives—in other words, to become a living testimony for the Lord.

As time went on, there were many distractions from our goal, and I am sure there were many miracles missed along the way. The enemy wants to keep me discouraged and disheartened. He wants my face to be dull instead of glowing with the Holy Spirit in my life.

I found myself beginning to pray the prayer Lord, empty self out of me. Fill me to maximum capacity so that there is no part of self left. My desire is that you are the one seen, not me. This prayer is one that I have had to go back and pray many times as self would come back into the picture.

Imagine what would happen if we truly spent time emptying self and letting God take over. We would be ready to face the enemy at any moment!

Facing the enemy hurts right now. We—particularly those who have loved ones in the military—hear of tragedy, war, and pain every day. There has always been a spiritual enemy of our Christian life; and we have come to understand an earthly parallel to that unseen enemy with the War on Terror.

But the One who defeats our enemy, Jesus, has come to give us abundant life (see John 10:10). Be ready to empty yourself, fill up with abundant life, and face the enemy. dingbat  Carol

Father, I know all too well that there is an unseen enemy in the world. That enemy seeks to distract me from the ministry you have planned for me. I ask on this day for victory in my own battles and for victory for all who serve in the War on Terror. Keep the ultimate enemy from them and protect them against the physical enemy in our world, who wants to kill and destroy innocent lives. cross Amen.

January 20

Stinking Thinking

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. cross PHILIPPIANS 4:8

My natural propensity is to be a glass-half-empty kind of person. I immediately imagine the worst-case scenario. I am grateful for a husband who patiently listens to me and then bluntly states, That’s just stinking thinking!

I have discovered that I am in good company, since Scripture gives examples of those who struggled with stinking thinking. I gain hope as I study the prophet Elijah. This godly man prayed down fire from heaven and killed the prophets of Baal. Yet all it took was wicked Queen Jezebel saying she was going to kill him for him to say, I am the only one left! (1 Kings 19:10). In reality there were seven thousand faithful followers who remained, but Elijah could see only what was right in front of him, which resulted in a negative view of his circumstances.

When you are depressed or sad, it isn’t always apparent that your thinking is distorted, is it? You may be reading this today, struggling with thinking the worst about your situation. Today’s Scripture implies that you can control what you think. You can choose to think on those things that are true. Or you can choose to think on those things that are negative. I’m not just talking about positive thinking—I’m talking about thinking truth. Positive thinking has been proven to make a difference;