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WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL - GOD'S PLAN
** Focus Verse of the Week:

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 NASB1995

So often we make plans only to watch them fade away or crumble. We had expectations. Which we realize now are nothing but premature disappointments. For some of us it took years to realize that the best plans are those made by the Lord. Perhaps there are some who may be realizing it right now, for the very first time. When we stand in the way of God's plan for our lives we usually experience one or more of the following: chaos, calamity, stress, strife, worry, and anxiety. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness and even despair. That's not at all what God’s plan is!

Take a moment right now to turn your will over to the Lord and give him control of everything. Like me, you may have to do this more than one time a day! It's worth it though, His plans are so much better than man's! May the Lord bless you with everything He wants for you because He loves you.

** Daily Declaration:

God has good plans for me.

** Prayer

Father God,

You are such an awesome God. Thank you for loving me even when I don't listen and I try to make my own plans. I know your plans are the best. Please help me to be more obedient and help me to turn my will over to you so you can be in charge. You do it so much better. Help guide me and fill me with your wisdom as I go about doing whatever it is you direct me to do. I praise you and love you. I pray this in the name of your Son Jesus, AMEN.

** Journal Topic:

What plans have you made that didn't work out? What plans did the Lord make for you that worked out? What plans have YOU made that you need to surrender to the Lord?

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Praise You In This Storm- Casting Crowns

** CROSS-REFERENCE
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Letting scripture interpret scripture!

These scriptures are either in the podcast or cross- reference scriptures in the podcast.

Isaiah 55:8

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Lamentations 3:26

It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Psalm 40:5

You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL- SAVED BY GRACE

Focus Verse of the Week: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—Ephesians 2:8 NIV

My Story: It's only by God's grace that I quit drinking and that is a miracle. It was another night of drinking and destruction- whatever that looked like- calling people, posting on social media, fighting with my teenage son or my husband at that time… My drinking had gotten to the point that I couldn't feel the effects of the alcohol anymore. I would drink at least 1⁄2 gallon of vodka a day, 6 beers, and at the end I started contemplating taking drugs. Because nothing would satisfy me. ( I know now that was that God size hole in me)

That's when I heard the voice of God. One night he spoke directly to me. He said that if I did the drugs I was going to do that night I would die. Having been brought up in the jewish faith and believing in God, I believed what I heard and fell to my knees in prayer. After that night, my entire life changed.

I was working on completing a Master’s program from a secular college that required me to have an internship and many people working at my placement happened to be followers of Christ. While I was there, KLove was being played on the radio and I found myself enjoying the music. I heard the station suggest taking a 30 day listening challenge to listen only to Christian music and see what an impact it would have on my life. After a short period of time, I had an overwhelming desire to go to church although I had never been to church. (Remember, I was Jewish -although at this point only celebrating Chanukah with my children)

So then I learned as much as I could about Christ, I got Baptized, and eventually experienced a renewing of my mind by the grace of God. I hope you can have this too.

Daily Declaration:

I am worthy of God's grace.

Prayer

Father God Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for the gift of grace that you have freely given to me. I am forever grateful. Open my eyes and heart today so that I, too can extend grace to others.

Journal Topic:

Take some time to reflect on God's grace. Who in your life could you extend grace to right now? How would this make a difference in your life?

CROSS-REFERENCE
Letting scripture interpret scripture!

John 4:10 NLT Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

Ephesians 2:5 NLT that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

I Peter 1:5- NASB- Who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (I think that this scripture is perfect because I didn't know anything about Christ or church at this time and it was revealed to me in His timing as well it should be.)

Acts 15:11 NASB - But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they also are. (Thank goodness it’s by faith! If my salvation was based on anything else- It would be an epic fail! )

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While you are journaling- take some time to listen to this song "His Grace is Enough" by Chris Tomlin- or if you don't journal. Just think about the Lord and how you have been given so much grace and love and how blessed you are.
Enjoy and be blessed!

HER STORY: NEW BEGINNINGS-RICH IN MERCY

Worship Song: “Alive” by Big Daddy Weave https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiuw2QX4RpI

Ephesians 2: 4-5a “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…”

When I woke up that final morning of drinking I didn’t even have to look at my Fitbit to know what time it was. Somewhere between 3 and 4 am, I wagered. I looked. 3:46. This little scenario had played itself out in my bed so many times I can’t even count. But since I was awake, I decided to check my sleep score on my Fitbit app. Sure enough, it was terrible. 46 out of 100. And my heart rate was above resting all night. I can only imagine what my poor little heart has had to endure night after night. I really feared that one night I wouldn’t make it. I’m amazed I’m still alive. I started to do what I normally do at this time of the night/morning. Tossing, turning, huffing, crying, telling myself what a loser I am, how could I do this again… Then I stopped and I prayed. I told God how much I want to do for Him, and how afraid I am that I’ll die before I ever get to realize my purpose in life.

I finally made up my mind to get out of bed at 6:00 and make some coffee. The sun was just rising, so I decided to sit outside and watch it come up while I drank my wakey juice. And oh, the serenade that awaited me. Every tree, filled with birds, singing their praises to the One who made them. They must have waited all night for this moment, huddled against the cold in their nests, trusting that the sun would come up yet still as joyful as if it had been a birthday surprise. And my little heart, the one that was beating so frantically last night to keep me alive, slowed down as I listened.

It occurred to me that every morning is a new beginning, a chance to start again and to receive the richness of God’s morning mercy, and to praise Him for it. And for coffee. Praise Him for coffee.

Prayer:
Father God, thank you for mornings. Thank you that we can come to you over and over and you never run out of mercy. God, let me spend this day with open hands to receive your great love for me. Thank you that I am no longer dead in my trespasses.

Your Story:
Is there an area in your life that you still feel is dead in trespasses? Knowing that God made you alive together with Christ can sometimes seem very abstract. Take some time to reflect on God’s mercy.

Prayer Request