Guest devotions

Letter from My Father by Sharea Gordon (Virginia Beach, VA)

My child,

This pain that you carry in your heart is clearly visible. I see that you are hurting even when you are writing them down. I see your thoughts, I hear your voice. I have witnessed your tears. I know all about your pains, your scars, and your emotional past. I know about the people who have hurt you, and whom you thought left you empty. I also know about your mistakes, and the pain that you feel from them. You try to carry your burdens and others that you may have wronged at the same time, in order to try to make the guilt go away.

My child, can’t you see that I am the one who can take all of your pain away? Can’t you see that I can wash away all of your guilt? Why do you grasp on to them? Why do you cling to them? I did not make you to be this way. You are asking where do I go and what do I do? If you just turn to me my child, you will have your answer, but right now you are not listening to what I am saying. I am here with open arms begging you to look at Me.

You are my beautiful creation who has extraordinary ability and talent, yet you are letting the world make you who you are. Do not be shaped by the image of man, yet turn to My image of you. You are letting the world conform you by entertaining your own regrets. My child there is still hope for you, there always was. The question is do you want that hope, do you want that change? If the answer is yes then allow Me to work in your life, forgive yourself as I have forgave you. Deny yourself, don’t let the shame and hurt overcome you.

Yes, through your healing you will experience pain, but the best way is through. Don’t turn back to the past my child. I know it’s hard, but your spirit will be stronger than it has ever been before. Look to me for true love. Then and only then will you learn to love yourself as well as other people. I can mend your broken heart, and I will mend your spiritual wounds. I can untangle and unravel the knots that your emotions created inside you. You will begin to see yourself in a different life, and that my child is the life of a new beginning.

So please my child, I am waiting with my arms outstretched. I love you more than anything else. My Son died to prove this to you. I sent Him to you. From your pain you shall receive great strength, and no one my child will ever harm you in My presence. Rise up my child, we shall fight together. And I will never leave your side.

Live in life, live in love, live in freedom, live in Me.

I love you,
God

True love now by Kimberly Barton (Virginia Beach, VA)

From Song of Songs 5:4-6 (New Living Translation): "My lover tried to unlatch the door, and my heart thrilled within me. I jumped up to open the door for my love, and my hands dripped with perfume. My fingers dripped with lovely myrrh and I pulled back the bolt. I opened to my lover, but he was gone! My heart sank. I searched for him but could not find him anywhere. I called to him, but there was no reply."

According to my Bible's (New Living Translation) commentary on Song of Songs, the purpose of Song of Songs is "To tell of the love between a bridegroom (King Solomon) and his bride, to affirm the sanctity of marriage, and to picture God's love for his people."

I am determined to know love like that described in Song of Songs with God. I do not believe I need to wait for an earthly companion or spouse to have The Love of a Lifetime, a Romance with My Lord. I refuse to succumb to a belief that love happens when you least expect it because I am seeking it in God. I refuse to believe that I will experience happiness once and only when I "fall in love" with another human being. Love is for now. I am human and I need love and relationship now, not for later. Jesus can give me exactly this. He can also wrap me in his arms, hold me tight, and speak his words to me, such as those in God's Word.

I imagine Jesus looking at me with a tender expression and eyes like those of a dove, his hand outstretched, his hair blowing wild in the wind, calling my name. I take his hand and we run wild and free in endless fields of green grass blowing in the wind. We smile and laugh. He runs after me and when I get tired he grabs my hand and runs beside me. The sun is bright. I discover I can fly. He can fly, too. We start spiraling in circles in the beautiful sunlit sky. I sing The Lord's prayer and look over at Jesus. He is captivated by me and I by Him. He holds possession of my heart. Never again will I experience the stronghold of desiring an earthly man above my Jesus.

I am victorious in Jesus Christ and free of the curse since the time of Adam and Eve. My heart will not yearn for an earthly husband when I am hidden in the heart of God. I want to be above the fate I must follow as a human being. I beg of Jesus to free my heart. "Free my heart, Sweet Savior." Make me press hard after your heart. Make me seek you more than any other and only give you my tenderness and vulnerability as a woman.

Then, I wake up and write a poem:

My heart lurches for you.
I feel a spirit inside of me.
And I say to you, “Help me to keep things under control.”
I feel the void, again.
I can’t run away from it.
I know only you can fill it
But I keep looking for others to.
Deliver me.

I praise God for what He has given me, but I also long for so much more in my life-a richer, fuller, existence with heaven here on earth. When does what I can do in my own human frailty end and when does His reality for me begin? I long for a deeper, more intimate love and relationship with The God of our universe. I don't know what more I need to do. If only I had the passion of Paul.

Are you breathing? by Jennifer BoGray (Virginia Beach, VA)

You reach the last 100-yard stretch; the finish line seems miles away. Your heart is pounding, feet aching, thighs throbbing and your lungs are on fire as you try to breathe. You get closer and closer, not realizing how strong you’re breathing until you fly past that white line like a gazelle! You did it! You just did your first marathon! Walking with Jell-O legs, you bend over trying to catch your breath. Your body tells your mind, “You made it and we’re still breathing!”

Life is a marathon. At the beginning you think that you’ll never make it to the end because you fear what lies ahead. But, as you run over hills, through dark woods and through mud you realize that something is keeping you going and not allowing you to pass out—oxygen. Why is breathing so important when exercising, in childbirth or to prevent an anxiety attack? Oxygen is the lifeline to survival and breathing is the only way to get it.

Our personal relationship with God is like oxygen. We cannot run life without it. Yet, how can we breathe in more of God? Psalm 150:6 (NLT) says, “Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD!” The only way we can take in more of God and build our spiritual lungs to sustain us through life’s race is through praise.

Life is full of victories and losses, mountain-top experiences and valleys. There are days when you will wake up to a glorious sunrise and dark, rainy nights when you can’t understand why you lost a loved one, your child is rebellious or you lost your job. Life is not always joyous and pain-free, but the greatest foundation that holds you through the storms is Jesus Christ. Whether there’s sunshine or rain, He deserves all our praise. Through our unconditional praise, the Holy Spirit ministers to our souls in greater ways than we could imagine.

The apostle Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Timothy 4:7 NLT). Regardless of how far you are in your race, keep breathing. You will never arrive at a point where you can stop breathing. Thus, you will never arrive in your relationship with God where you can stop praising Him. The only way to successfully make it past that white line is to keep praising God in all circumstances regardless of how you feel or what is around you. So, let me ask you, “Are you still breathing?”

A deadly plague by Kellie Borden (Virginia Beach, VA)

Believe it or not, there is a deadly pestilence roaming the earth called “comparing yourself to others.” Whether you want to admit it or not, this spirit invades each of us at one time or another. It’s the pestilence that chews away your confidence and worth. Don't be timid about its affect – it can kill you. The good news is that it doesn’t have to swallow the core of who you are. When the spirit lingers around you, you have a choice to receive it or reject it. I suggest you reject it.

How many times have you looked at someone – his or her brains, clothes, body shape, car, hair, or personality – and said, “If only...." or “I could have that, too, if I do A, B and C...." or even “I could gain acceptance from him or her if I did A, B and C.” How often do you critique the personality of someone more “attainable” than you only to end the day feeling discouraged and like you can never make it to the top? How often do you find yourself saying, “I’ll never be able to....” or “Why couldn’t I have been like this....”

If you’ve said or thought these things once, you’ve said or thought them once too much. Because you are loved, uniquely accepted, chosen and approved by your Maker, you have no reason or right to compare yourself with others. Make the decision to stop allowing those thoughts to rule your mind. You have not been fashioned to fit in Sally’s shoes, look like Lisa, or have Wally’s personality. You haven’t even been entrusted with Gracie’s gift of knowing how to solve every math problem on the face of the planet; so relax, allow yourself a chuckle for understanding your strengths and weaknesses, and choose to accept that you are delightfully different!

Certainly the first tool in waging war against comparison is to understand who and why your Creator is; when that revelation comes, you realize who and why you are. I highly suggest meditating on the Sword, especially during those vicious cycles of destructive thinking, to fully grasp the importance of who you are to Him and others. I also still believe one of the best things you can do to combat this locust of comparison is to strengthen your strengths. Sure you’ll run into difficulties learning to master your craft, and you may even find yourself battling comparison in that area, but I’m convinced that a choice to overcome is all it takes.

Understand your value. Understand your purpose in the world. Understand your absolute worth of being fearfully and wonderfully made. Don’t allow a bubble of lies to infiltrate your mind; choose to do something about them! Stomp on them, scream at them, stare them in the face and reject them! Laziness is already too prevalent in this culture so do yourself a favor: get off your butt, learn your passions, find your gifts and develop them! Before you know it, you’ll be soarin’ the skies of heaven in full assurance that you are worth more than you give yourself credit for, you are exquisitely valuable to your Creator and you will find yourself knowing confidence like you’ve never known it before! Happy thoughts!

Triumph in Him by DeMishea Charleston (Virginia Beach, VA)

A powerful force pulling internally…mind spinning…heart bursting….

It’s a struggle between the mind and the heart. A struggle between what is right and what you wish it could be. A struggle between facts and emotions. Satan is clever. Just when you’ve shouted “Victory!,” he comes with the very temptation you believed you’ve overcome.

At times, it is easier to press forward. But at others, it’s a battle. The consequences are known all too well. After all, you’ve been there and done that numerous times before.

Remember, Christ was tempted. Satan had the audacity to tempt our Savior. What more can you expect? But Jesus gives us hope because He suffered and yet He was innocent. “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his step, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:21, 22 NIV & KJ).

Why did Christ suffer? He suffered because He loved us. He loved His people so intensely that He willingly gave Himself up. “No greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15: 13 KJ). We are His friends.

Don’t give Satan authority. It does not belong to him! No matter how shrewd, crafty or sneaky he is, he can only take us at our own will. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

The intense struggle…pulling and tugging like a magnet compelled by the attraction. Your mind is telling you no…this is not right. Remember your losses and time wasted. Time is the one thing you can never regain. Love can come again, money can be re-earned, but time…when it’s gone…it’s gone. You are headed down a dead end.

But “love” or lust tells you to do what you feel is right; that you should follow your heart and forget all sound reasoning. Before you engage in regret, allow your mind to revisit Calvary. Remember His passion. Tell yourself enough is enough: God is too good and I refuse to regress. No one said it would be easy. Repeat, “I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

We must bear our cross as Christ bore His. He is our source, strength and power. “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” Be of good cheer, we have inspiration through our savior. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33 KJ).

Prayer: Gracious Savior, thank you for suffering, sacrificing and loving us. Thank you for overcoming the world and giving us hope in you. Help us to resist temptation. Help us to overcome the struggles outwardly and internally. Give us strength and peace that surpasses all understanding. Keep our hearts and minds on you. To seek your kingdom and righteousness that all these things may be added unto us. We give praises and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen!

What will you choose today? Are you going to allow the seeds of doubt to be planted and take root in your heart, or are you going to believe even when you can’t see the evidence of His presence? Regardless of feelings, God is always there. Faith is belief in the unseen.

Though we would like to run from our mistakes or vow to never verbally wrong another, it is inevitable with our sinful nature. But, the difference is seen when mature Christians take the pieces of messy miscommunication and approach one another with godly wisdom to mend the situation without causing lasting damage to relationships or reputations.

Jesus said, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.” (Lk. 6: 37 NLT)

We can bring life or death . . . with the power of words. The choice is ours.