23 September

"WALK WITH ME in the freedom of forgiveness. The path we follow together is sometimes steep and slippery. If you carry a burden of guilt on your back, you are more likely to stumble and fall. At your request, I will remove the heavy load from you and bury it at the foot of the cross. When I unburden you, you are undeniably free! Stand up straight and tall in My Presence, so that no one can place more burdens on your back. Look into My Face and feel the warmth of My Love-Light shining upon you. It is this unconditional Love that frees you from both fears and sins. Spend time basking in the Light of My Presence. As you come to know Me more and more intimately, you grow increasingly free."

Psalm 68:19; 1 John 1:7-9; 1 John 4:18

22 September

"TRUST ME AND REFUSE TO WORRY, for I am your Strength and Song. You are feeling wobbly this morning, looking at difficult times looming ahead, measuring them against your own strength. However, they are not today's tasks--or even tomorrow's. So leave them in the future and come home to the present, where you will find Me waiting for you. Since I am your Strength, I can empower you to handle each task as it comes. Because I am your Song, I can give you Joy as you work alongside Me.

Keep bringing your mind back to the present moment. Among all My creatures, only humans can anticipate future events. This ability isa  blessing, but it becomes a curse whenever it is misused. If you use your magnificent mind to worry about tomorrow, you cloak yourself in dark unbelief. However, when the hope of heaven fills your thoughts, the Light of My Presence envelops you. Though heaven is future, it is also present tense. As you walk in the Light with Me, you have one foot on earth and one foot in heaven."

Exodus 15:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Hebrews 10:23

21 September

"WAIT QUIETLY IN MY PRESENCE while My thoughts form silently in the depths of your being. Do not try to rush this process, because hurry keeps your heart earthbound. I am the Creator of the entire universe, yet I choose to make My humble home in your heart. It is there where you know Me most intimately; it is there where I speak to you in holy whispers. Ask My Spirit to quiet your mind so that you can hear My still, small voice within you. I am speaking to you continually: words of Life...Peace...Love. Turn your heart to receive these messages of abundant blessing. Lay  your requests before Me and wait in expectation."

1 Kings 19:12; Psalm 5:3

20 September

"TRY TO SEE THING more and more from My perspective. Let the Light of My Presence so fully fill your mind that you view the world through Me. When little things don't go as you hoped, look to Me lightheartedly and say, "Oh, well." This simple discipline can protect you from being burdened with a accumulation of petty cares and frustrations. If you practice this diligently, you will make a life-changing discovery: you will realize that most of the things that worry you are not important.If you shrug them off immediately and return your focus to Me, you will walk through your days with lighter steps and a joyful heart. When serious problems come your way, you will have more reserves for dealing with them. You will not have squandered your energy on petty problems. You may even reach the point where you can agree with the apostle Pal that all your troubles are light and momentary, compared with the eternal glory being achieved by them. "

Proverbs 20:24; 2 Corinthians 4:17

19 September

"THERE IS A MIGHTY BATTLE going on for control of your mind. Heaven and earth interest in your mind; the tugs of both spheres influence your thinking. I created you with the capacity to experience foretastes of heaven. When you shut out the world and focus on My Presence, you can enjoy sitting with Me in heavenly realms. This is an incredible privilege reserved for precious ones who belong to Me and seek My Face. Your greatest strength is your desire to spend time communing with Me. As you concentrate of Me, My Spirit fills your mind with Life and Peace.

The world exerts a downward pull on your thoughts. Media bombard you with greed, lust, and cynicism. When you face these things, pray for protection and discernment. Stay in continual communication with Me whenever you walk through the wastelands of this world. Refuse to worry, because this form of worldliness will weigh you down and block awareness of My Presence. Stay alert, recognizing the battle being waged against your mind. Look forward to an eternity of strife-free living, reserved for you in heaven."

Ephesians 2:6; Psalm 27:8; Roman 8:6; 1 John 2:15-17

18 September

"SEEK TO PLEASE ME above all else. Let that goal be your focal point as you go through this day. Such a mind-set will protect you from scattering your energy to the winds. The free will I bestowed on you comes with awesome responsibility. Each day presents you with choice after choice. Many of these decisions you ignore and thus make by default. Without a focal point to guide you, you can easily lose your way. That's why it is so important to stay in communication with Me, living in thankful awareness of My presence. You inhabit a fallen, disjointed world, where things are constantly unraveling around the edges. Only a vibrant relationship with Me can keep your coming unraveled too."


Matthew 6:33; John 8:29; Colossians 3:23-24

17 September

"YOU WILL NOT FIND MY PEACE by engaging in excessive planning: attempting to control what will happen to you in the future. That is a commonly practiced form of unbelief. When your mind spins with multiple plans, Peace may sometime seem to be within your grasp; yet it always eludes you. Just when you think you have prepared for all possibilities, something unexpected pops up and throws things into confusion.

I did not design the human mind to figure out the future. That is beyond your capability. I crafted your mind for continual communication with me. Bring Me all your needs, your your hopes and fears. Commit everything into My care. Turn from the path of planning to the path of Peace."

1 Peter 5:6-7; Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 37:5

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I wish I had read this one on the day I should have. I have gotten lost the last few days and am working on putting my feet back in front of myself, asking for His guidance more than ever. Reading this devotional made me cry; it hit me really hard.

Before my husband deployed recently, we were semi "trying" to conceive a child. I always told myself that I would never be the kind to track my cycle in order to conceive, to just let things happen naturally according to God's plan. Well, I think I got a little too excited in the thought of "trying" and ended up almost obsessively tracking where I'd be ovulating, highly fertile, all that... I haven't quiet felt myself and while I have a few signs of pregnancy, at the same it could be numerous other things that were just coincidence. I have taken two at home tests and both have been an absolute negative. I know there are false negatives, but before taking the last one, I was pretty convinced that I wasn't/am not pregnant. It still hurt me. Left me sad and disappointed and over-analyzing. I had come to a peace about it when praying, but seeing the single, very definitive "not pregnant" line... it hurt, it stung...it was a reminder that I didn't pray and ask for His guidance. I left out the One most important. And then it made me hurt even more that I did that. I knew I should have asked for His guidance...and getting the "not pregnant" seemed to me like He was telling me, "See what happens when you do not include me in your plans? In your hopes and dreams?" I know it doesn't always happen that way cause it sounds mean, but that is what it told me. And I feel so shameful, so hurt and sad inside. I've been praying and apologizing, acknowledging what I did wrong and that next time, when David comes home in a few months, that we have all the time in the world and when it is right, when it is His timing, then that is when it will be.

I know there are such things as a "false-negative" on home tests and my monthly is late--but I'm pretty certain that is about to start (I'm writing this on the 21st of Sept and I was due to start yesterday), which saddens me even more. I am praying and asking for His Peace once more... and to take my hurt away.