August 5, 2024 The Joy of Our Security in ChristCHELSEA DAMON Lee en español "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (NIV)‬‬‬ Growing up, I often longed for security, belonging and happiness. But the more I pursued these good things apart from God, the more they seemed to pull me away from my faith and consume me. My intense need to belong overshadowed every thought and informed every decision. I compromised my values to feel accepted by friends and secure in my romantic relationships. I didn't feel worthy of the God I pledged my life to. So over the years, my desires continued waging war within me (James 4:1). I vividly recall the exhaustion from this internal struggle, particularly one morning as I sat alone in the small, nearly forgotten chapel on my college campus. I was tired of fighting to build my sense of security while trying to maintain a feeling of being right with God ... but knowing deep down that something was amiss. I decided to be truly honest with God about my search for security and belonging apart from Him. In my prayer and meditation on God's Word, I felt His answer to me was simple: Relax. Just enjoy Me. If you simply enjoy Me, everything else will fall into place. God is the Creator. He is good, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy - how can He not be a sure and steady source of joy? As I realized this, my craving for lesser things waned over time. Compared to God's beautiful nature and His gifts of freedom, peace, love and restoration, my pursuit of happiness outside of Him started to feel trivial. Of course, that doesn't mean other things don't make me happy. Late-night milkshakes with friends, marrying my best friend and having children have all made me extremely happy! And they have also brought me a sense of security and belonging. But when I compare those joys to the joy of knowing God, I can see them for what they truly are - fragments of happiness. Imagine a box with holes in it placed over a bright light. Each ray shining through is just a fragment of the light inside, dull in comparison to the source. The joy of knowing God is like that bright light while our earthly happiness is like those smaller rays. Though they pale in comparison to God, they're still valuable gifts, made even more meaningful when we recognize they come from God's goodness. We often fight so hard to find a sense of happiness, belonging or pleasure while also fighting to hold on to what we imagine our relationship with God should look like. But in searching for happiness, we often miss the deeper joy and security He offers us. Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). His yoke is easy and His burden is light. In Him we find security ... and to Him we belong. Jesus, thank You for offering us a relationship with You that does not waver. Thank You for giving us lasting joy and peace through Your own goodness and faithfulness. In Jesus' Name, Amen.  OUR FAVORITE THINGS Christian couples often start their marriages with a powerful desire to serve each other and glorify God with their relationship, but it's easy to get a little - or a lot - sidetracked. Marriage is hard. Every couple comes to a place of disappointment and distance at one point or another. The good news is that your relationship can get better. With time-tested advice, practical tips and biblical truths, teacher, author, and creator of "Living the Sweet Wife" Chelsea Damon has helped thousands of couples who felt they were at the end of their rope - plus, she's been there herself. In I Thought This Would Make Me Happy, she gives you the tools you need to fight less, communicate more and ultimately transform your marriage. ENGAGE For more from Chelsea Damon, follow her on Instagram, or check out her blog, Living the Sweet Wife, where moms and wives are encouraged in healthy, Christ-centered lives and relationships. Enter to WIN your very own copy of I Thought This Would Make Me Happy by Chelsea Damon. To celebrate this book, Chelsea's publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here. {We'll randomly select 5 winners and then notify each one in the comments section by Monday, August 12, 2024.} FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 51:10-12, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me" (NIV). Matthew 11:29-30, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (NIV). What are some of the things you are pursuing to find happiness? What comes to mind when you think about shifting your focus from pursuing happiness to cultivating joy through your relationship with God? © 2024 by Chelsea Damon. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post The Joy of Our Security in Christ – Encouragement for Today – August 5, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer to Not Waste the Season You're InBy Kristine Brown "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." – Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV For seven long years, my husband and I tried to conceive. I wanted a baby more than anything. I didn't realize it at the time, but angst and stress took over. I focused so much on what I wanted that I lost sight of the joy of the season we were in-the first years of our new life together. I fixed my mind on what awaited us in the future and missed out on good things happening around me. I noticed a dangerous pattern starting to take shape in my life. I focused so passionately on my goals for the future that bits and pieces of my current season passed by without me noticing. Thankfully, God began working on my heart and showing me how to embrace each season, no matter how difficult. It's a lesson I'm still learning today: not to waste the season I'm in by fixating on what's to come.  I've often thought about the familiar verse in Ecclesiastes 3:1, which says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." An article I recently read on biblestudytools.com gives insight into the meaning behind the verse, including this important truth, "Our situations will not last forever. If you are in a certain season of life, you can be confident the season will come to an end at some point." Solomon's words serve as a reminder that every good thing comes from God. Still, it's hard to "enjoy the moment" in the difficult seasons Solomon described in the verses that follow. In my desire to hang on until the hard season ends, I unknowingly push away the good with the bad.  Sometimes, we stand on the cusp of an unexpected season and resolve to take one step in front of the other until we get through it. We quote words that bring comfort and refuse to quit until we get the reprieve we've hoped for. The problem with this self-preservation is that we may miss the beautiful things happening right in the midst of the struggle. It has taken many seasons and a lot of quality time with Jesus to help me understand how to be present, enjoy the moment, and not waste a season. Yes, God has a time and purpose for everything-a truth that should bring us hope in both the joyous and the challenging seasons. It is the design of a loving Father who promises to work everything together for our good. So let's ask God to search our hearts as we ask ourselves these questions. Are we believing the lie that we will only be happy when we get to the next season? Are we forgetting to notice the right-now blessings in our lives? Friend, if you're thinking back on times past and entertaining regret over seasons you took for granted, it's not too late for us to take those regrets to the Lord and choose to embrace our current seasons. Instead of always focusing on the future, let's choose to fix our eyes on Jesus, "the founder and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2). I believe God wants to show us something incredibly beautiful right where we are. Let's pray: Dear God,Thank you for the season I'm in. I don't want to waste a moment. Even on challenging days, you are here to guide me. I believe you have something beautiful to show me through this season, and I trust you. Thank you for reminding me through your Word that there is a season for everything. Sometimes, I will focus so far ahead that I miss good things right where I am. I may be tempted to hurry past the hard season, but I do not want to miss the blessings in front of me. Help me see your blessings as I focus fully on you. Help me embrace the moment and know you are always here, guiding the way.In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen. Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/dohtar For more spiritual growth resources, check out the 5-day email devotional, How to Be Free from Bitterness, by today's devotion writer, Kristine Brown. Learn more about women in the Bible and find encouragement to help you "become more than yourself through God's Word" at Kristine's website, morethanyourself.com. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer to Not Waste the Season You’re In – Your Daily Prayer – August 5 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer to Not Waste the Season You're InBy Kristine Brown "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." – Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV For seven long years, my husband and I tried to conceive. I wanted a baby more than anything. I didn't realize it at the time, but angst and stress took over. I focused so much on what I wanted that I lost sight of the joy of the season we were in-the first years of our new life together. I fixed my mind on what awaited us in the future and missed out on good things happening around me. I noticed a dangerous pattern starting to take shape in my life. I focused so passionately on my goals for the future that bits and pieces of my current season passed by without me noticing. Thankfully, God began working on my heart and showing me how to embrace each season, no matter how difficult. It's a lesson I'm still learning today: not to waste the season I'm in by fixating on what's to come.  I've often thought about the familiar verse in Ecclesiastes 3:1, which says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." An article I recently read on biblestudytools.com gives insight into the meaning behind the verse, including this important truth, "Our situations will not last forever. If you are in a certain season of life, you can be confident the season will come to an end at some point." Solomon's words serve as a reminder that every good thing comes from God. Still, it's hard to "enjoy the moment" in the difficult seasons Solomon described in the verses that follow. In my desire to hang on until the hard season ends, I unknowingly push away the good with the bad.  Sometimes, we stand on the cusp of an unexpected season and resolve to take one step in front of the other until we get through it. We quote words that bring comfort and refuse to quit until we get the reprieve we've hoped for. The problem with this self-preservation is that we may miss the beautiful things happening right in the midst of the struggle. It has taken many seasons and a lot of quality time with Jesus to help me understand how to be present, enjoy the moment, and not waste a season. Yes, God has a time and purpose for everything-a truth that should bring us hope in both the joyous and the challenging seasons. It is the design of a loving Father who promises to work everything together for our good. So let's ask God to search our hearts as we ask ourselves these questions. Are we believing the lie that we will only be happy when we get to the next season? Are we forgetting to notice the right-now blessings in our lives? Friend, if you're thinking back on times past and entertaining regret over seasons you took for granted, it's not too late for us to take those regrets to the Lord and choose to embrace our current seasons. Instead of always focusing on the future, let's choose to fix our eyes on Jesus, "the founder and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2). I believe God wants to show us something incredibly beautiful right where we are. Let's pray: Dear God,Thank you for the season I'm in. I don't want to waste a moment. Even on challenging days, you are here to guide me. I believe you have something beautiful to show me through this season, and I trust you. Thank you for reminding me through your Word that there is a season for everything. Sometimes, I will focus so far ahead that I miss good things right where I am. I may be tempted to hurry past the hard season, but I do not want to miss the blessings in front of me. Help me see your blessings as I focus fully on you. Help me embrace the moment and know you are always here, guiding the way.In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen. Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/dohtar For more spiritual growth resources, check out the 5-day email devotional, How to Be Free from Bitterness, by today's devotion writer, Kristine Brown. Learn more about women in the Bible and find encouragement to help you "become more than yourself through God's Word" at Kristine's website, morethanyourself.com. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer to Not Waste the Season You’re In – Your Daily Prayer – August 5 appeared first on GodUpdates.

August 5, 2024 The Joy of Our Security in ChristCHELSEA DAMON Lee en español "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (NIV)‬‬‬ Growing up, I often longed for security, belonging and happiness. But the more I pursued these good things apart from God, the more they seemed to pull me away from my faith and consume me. My intense need to belong overshadowed every thought and informed every decision. I compromised my values to feel accepted by friends and secure in my romantic relationships. I didn't feel worthy of the God I pledged my life to. So over the years, my desires continued waging war within me (James 4:1). I vividly recall the exhaustion from this internal struggle, particularly one morning as I sat alone in the small, nearly forgotten chapel on my college campus. I was tired of fighting to build my sense of security while trying to maintain a feeling of being right with God ... but knowing deep down that something was amiss. I decided to be truly honest with God about my search for security and belonging apart from Him. In my prayer and meditation on God's Word, I felt His answer to me was simple: Relax. Just enjoy Me. If you simply enjoy Me, everything else will fall into place. God is the Creator. He is good, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy - how can He not be a sure and steady source of joy? As I realized this, my craving for lesser things waned over time. Compared to God's beautiful nature and His gifts of freedom, peace, love and restoration, my pursuit of happiness outside of Him started to feel trivial. Of course, that doesn't mean other things don't make me happy. Late-night milkshakes with friends, marrying my best friend and having children have all made me extremely happy! And they have also brought me a sense of security and belonging. But when I compare those joys to the joy of knowing God, I can see them for what they truly are - fragments of happiness. Imagine a box with holes in it placed over a bright light. Each ray shining through is just a fragment of the light inside, dull in comparison to the source. The joy of knowing God is like that bright light while our earthly happiness is like those smaller rays. Though they pale in comparison to God, they're still valuable gifts, made even more meaningful when we recognize they come from God's goodness. We often fight so hard to find a sense of happiness, belonging or pleasure while also fighting to hold on to what we imagine our relationship with God should look like. But in searching for happiness, we often miss the deeper joy and security He offers us. Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). His yoke is easy and His burden is light. In Him we find security ... and to Him we belong. Jesus, thank You for offering us a relationship with You that does not waver. Thank You for giving us lasting joy and peace through Your own goodness and faithfulness. In Jesus' Name, Amen.  OUR FAVORITE THINGS Christian couples often start their marriages with a powerful desire to serve each other and glorify God with their relationship, but it's easy to get a little - or a lot - sidetracked. Marriage is hard. Every couple comes to a place of disappointment and distance at one point or another. The good news is that your relationship can get better. With time-tested advice, practical tips and biblical truths, teacher, author, and creator of "Living the Sweet Wife" Chelsea Damon has helped thousands of couples who felt they were at the end of their rope - plus, she's been there herself. In I Thought This Would Make Me Happy, she gives you the tools you need to fight less, communicate more and ultimately transform your marriage. ENGAGE For more from Chelsea Damon, follow her on Instagram, or check out her blog, Living the Sweet Wife, where moms and wives are encouraged in healthy, Christ-centered lives and relationships. Enter to WIN your very own copy of I Thought This Would Make Me Happy by Chelsea Damon. To celebrate this book, Chelsea's publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here. {We'll randomly select 5 winners and then notify each one in the comments section by Monday, August 12, 2024.} FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 51:10-12, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me" (NIV). Matthew 11:29-30, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (NIV). What are some of the things you are pursuing to find happiness? What comes to mind when you think about shifting your focus from pursuing happiness to cultivating joy through your relationship with God? © 2024 by Chelsea Damon. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post The Joy of Our Security in Christ – Encouragement for Today – August 5, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Historical Events 1552 - Battle of Ponza: Ottoman naval fleet led by Dragut defeats Genoese fleet under Andrea Doria capturing seven galleys 1944 - US 79th/90th division occupy Laval (Mayenne), southwest of Paris 1964 - Congo rebellion: Christopher Gbenye and Pierre Mulele conquer Stanleyville 1966 - West Indies cricket captain Garfield Sobers scores 174 including a century between lunch and tea to set up a 4th Test win v England at Headingley 1969 - Pirates outfielder Willie Stargell smashes first and longest home run ever hit out of Dodger Stadium; the incomparable shot off Alan Foster, measures 506 feet 1985 - Establishment of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is announced More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1947 - Bernie Carbo, American MLB player, born in Detroit, Michigan 1953 - Samantha Sang [Cheryl Lau Sang], Australian pop singer (Emotion), born in Melbourne 1963 - James Wilder, American actor (Scorchers, Zombie High, Murder 1), born in Cleveland, Ohio 1968 - Tokimitsu Ishizawa, Japanese professional wrestler 1970 - Travis Moore, American CFL receiver (Grey Cup 1998 2001; 3 x CFL All Star; Calgary Stampeders), born in Santa Monica, California 1972 - Aaqib Javed, Pakistani cricketer and pace bowler (1989-98), born in Sheikhupura, Pakistan More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1579 - Stanislaus Hosius, Polish Catholic cardinal (b. 1504) 1901 - Victoria, Empress of Germany and Queen of Prussia by marriage to German Emperor Frederick III, dies at 60 1997 - Don Steele, LA radio personality (KRTH), dies of cancer at 61 2000 - Otto Buchsbaum, Austrian writer and ecological activist, dies at 80 2001 - Otema Allimadi, Prime Minister of Uganda (b. 1929) 2011 - Andrzej Lepper, Polish politician (Deputy Prime Minister of Poland), dies at 57 More Famous Deaths »

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