Author: J Brad Mitchell

It is not enough to talk about something, we often need proof.  Someone can claim a success or a skill but we want to see the evidence.  We want them to prove it to us.  We don’t often take a person’s word for what has been done.  We want to see it.  We want to experience it for ourselves.  Second-hand eye witness is helpful.  But the best is when we can have a first-hand experience.  The conversation often starts with, “I can….” And then ends with, “prove it”.  We want proof.  

In exploring this Psalm, the Psalmist is remembering the ways God has been with him.  He is recounting the goodness of God when there has been achievement.  He is remembering when the war was won.  But what most stood out to me is this proclamation in the middle of verse 30:  “the promise of the Lord proves true”.  The Psalmist is recounting the victory and realizes that God kept his promises.  God’s ways are perfect, he exclaims.   And in his ways, he is continually keeping his promises.  And his promises are good.  They are for our future.  They provide a hope as we move forward.  They are full of mercy and grace.  God’s promises are beyond amazing.  But the best part is that his promises prove true.  

If we look back on our lives, we can’t help but see how God has been with us – regardless of where we have been and what we have encountered.  We can see how God has continually lifted us out of the pit.  If we look closely, he was present in our deepest distress.  He was also with us in our excitements and greatest joys.  What a gift it is to know God keeps his promises.  God’s promises prove true.  

What this means is we can move forward understanding that God has kept his promises in the past and will keep his promises in the future.  His ways are always perfect.  His mercy is everlasting.  His love is overwhelming.  May God remind you of the promises that are always true.  May you find hope.  

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 18:30

³⁰ This God—his way is perfect;
    the promise of the Lord proves true;
    he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

We spend time and money seeking some sense of security in our lives.  We may have alarm systems or cameras in the place of our doorbells.  We try to pick investments that bring some possibility of security so we don’t lose our savings.  We have security lighting that helps us to see what is around.  We work hard to provide security in most every area of our lives.  

As I read this morning’s Psalm, this particular phrase caused me to pause:  “Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.”  It is from Psalm 16:9.  What makes the body rest secure?  It isn’t the security system outside – the Psalmist would have no idea about this.  It wasn’t the latest camera system or lighting – these were not available then either.  How is it that my heart can be glad, my soul rejoice and my body rest secure?  I find the key to this is in the previous verse.  This is a conclusion to a belief already stated.  The Psalmist rests secure because God is present – at the right hand.  God is always with us.  He goes before us.  He holds us up.  He is guiding us when we listen.  God is with us.  And this is the security.  This is where it is found.  This is the key!  

We don’t find real security in things or ideas or devices.  Our true security is found in God.  It is not that bad things won’t happen – we live in a world with evil ever present.  We live around those who have chosen not to live as they were created.  Bad things happen.  But no matter what may come our way, we can rest knowing that God is with us – ALWAYS.  You do not face this day alone.  May your heart be glad.  May your soul rejoice.  May your body rest secure. 

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 16:7-11

⁷ I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
⁸ I keep the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
    my body also rests secure.
¹⁰ For you do not give me up to Sheol,
    or let your faithful one see the Pit.

¹¹ You show me the path of life.
    In your presence there is fullness of joy;
    in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

I’ve seen it happen before.  I know it will happen.  Yet, when the time is approaching, I am still super excited. Recently, I planted a garden and also planted a few potted plants around the house.  Since planting, it has rained exactly zero days.  Sure, there has been a sprinkle here and there.  It has threatened to rain.  The clouds have rolled in and then rolled right back out.  So for the last few weeks, I have watered the garden and flowers daily.  I don’t mind.  It gives me an opportunity to check on them – to see their progress up close.  They grow and flourish as one might expect – well, most of them do anyway.  But rain does something completely different.  When it rains, it is as if God has sprinkled a form of Miracle Grow and allowed it to seep into the soil.  Getting up this morning following a rain was a joy.  The plants looks so much healthier.  The flowers have the biggest, brightest blooms, unlike any I have seen this season.  I am still amazed at the difference rain makes.  It is so much better than the water I can supply.  

God gives us just what we need to grow.  We often look for artificial things to help us to become what we need to be.  And those things do help us.  They do give us enough nutrients to keep going.  But if we really want to grow…if we really want to spring forward with new life…we need nutrients from God.  Being connected to God brings an incredible growth in us we could not receive elsewhere.  We are given the chance to drink directly from the well, the source of life.  We are given the Bread of Life as our sustenance.  Why would we choose people-made when we could have God made?  All we need has been provided.  We simply need to drink directly from the Source.  We may find growth like never before.

Focus Scripture:

John 6:35

³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

Yesterday, Kelli and I took Leo to the Cliffs.  Once we got there, Leo took us for a walk – a speedy exploration.  All three of us were on the same trail.  We were all enjoying the cool breeze and a chance to be outside.  But all three of us had a different perspective.  Kelli and I noticed completely different plants and trees which captured our attention.  Leo picked up on scents we will never understand.  We each had a unique experience as we traveled the same steps together.  

It reminds me how different our perspectives are as we live our lives.  One person can be so grateful for a job while another can absolutely hate the exact same one.  One person can notice how hot it is outside while another feels a gentle breeze.  We experience our lives so differently.  So many times, it depends on what we are looking for.  Yesterday, Kelli had her camera so she was looking for great shots of Leo.  I was looking for what was blooming and the changes in the trail since the last time I walked this way.  Leo was checking out the scents left behind by those who had traveled before us.  We were looking for different things so we experienced the trail based on those views.  

What if we traveled our lives today looking for the good?  What if we intentionally sought out the joys and the celebrations?  What if our view was of all God has provided for us rather than our wants?  The same journey may look a lot different.  We may find God has been with us the entire time.  

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 27:13

¹³ I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

The things we don’t want to do can be the very things which help us and make us better.  The things we often want to do can be the things which tear us down and hurt us.  We don’t always know what is best for us.  We think we do.  We feel confident we know.  But we don’t always get it.  It is hard to be objective when it is our life.  We can look at someone else and point out the things which would really help.  But to truly evaluate our own situation is a completely different matter.  

One of the most obvious ways to see this in motion is by looking at what we eat and how we move.  We may not want to exercise even though we know it will make us better.  It is hard work.  It takes discipline.  We are tired and we would rather lay on the couch.  Can’t we get exercise watching TV on the couch?  And to eat healthy requires planning.  We have to plan out a menu and buy the food and not stop at the fast food places and buy the other food.  Our bodies seem to fight this all the way.  We crave fats and sugars.  We cling to our pillows in desperation of just one more hour to sleep.  The things we want to do can be the worst things for us. The things we don’t want to do can change our lives.

Following God takes trust.  It takes dedication.  It takes a constant effort to follow him wherever he leads.  It can be scary.  It can be difficult.  It can feel unnatural to love those who do not love us.  It can be challenging to live counter to the way everyone else seems to live.  Yet, this can be the change of our lives.  We may just find all we were created to do.  We may even realize God has much better plans for us than we have for ourselves.  We don’t always knows what is best for us…but God always does.  Maybe today is the day to find out.  Maybe today is the day to follow.

Focus Scripture:

Mark 8:34-35

³⁴ He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵ For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

This morning as Leo and I were enjoying the beautiful yet overcast morning on the back porch when something expected began to happen.  It began to rain.  It was just a light sprinkle of large drops, but it was enough to catch our attention.  It was a surprise because when I looked at the weather early this morning, I saw nothing about a chance of rain – like zero.  There was no indication this was even a slight possibility – not even 10%.  So I was a little shocked to feel the morning momentary water gift.  It didn’t last long, but I certainly realized how much I count on an app to tell me what the weather will be.  I guess most of us do in some way.  It helps us to know how to dress and whether or not to bring an umbrella.  But it definitely isn’t guaranteed – actually pretty far from it.  I had expectations of things being one way but God had other plans.  

I wonder how many times God has something planned that completely throws us off because we are counting on something someone else told us or something we depend on other than him.  We can be thrown off by God’s miracles because we are expecting something completely different.  Since God doesn’t work the way we do, we cannot know his ways all the time.  It may actually be best to just watch God work and jump in there.  Watch God bring the rain and dance.  Watch God change a schedule and celebrate.  Watch God turn test results and rejoice.  Sometimes things happen exactly how we predict.  But it might just be God is up to something completely different if we just look to him.  He is always up to something good.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 145:16-18

¹⁶ You open your hand,
    satisfying the desire of every living thing.
¹⁷ The Lord is just in all his ways,
    and kind in all his doings.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

It is not uncommon for Leo to need to go out during the middle of the night.   It is something we know – even if we don’t particularly like it.  There are enough small lights peering through our windows, along with a few night lights, that we can see to get to the door without having to cut on main lights.  That just disturbs everything.  Last night, I hobbled my way to the back door in the common night fog of my mind.  I reached to turn on the light for the outside patio and hit the wrong switch.  Instead, I turned on the dining room lights.  It didn’t take me but just a second to turn those back off and reach for the right one.  It was an interruption in my drudgery to the door.  

It is amazing how light – often such a welcome sight – can also be so interrupting.  It can completely change the course of what we were doing.  Light can be challenging if we are stumbling in the dark and have grown accustomed to it.  When we stay in the dark for so long, one might think light would be welcomed.  But it rarely is.  It is easier to stay in the dark than face the illumination.  We can function in the dark, so why change?  

Change is always difficult.  It comes with an extra weight of challenges – and shortly into any change, we can find ourselves wondering what was wrong with the way things were.  We begin to justify going back to our previous lifestyle – our previous ways – just so we don’t have to face the challenges of change.  The problem is we never grow this way.  We end up stumbling through the dark and don’t realize the gift of the light all around us.  We miss the joys because we can’t see them.  We miss the opportunity to give and receive love because we are blinded to it.  

Turning on the light just might be exactly what we need to do.  John reminds us that Jesus is the light.  Jesus teaches us he is the way – illuminating our paths.  Maybe the light of Christ is the light we have been missing. May he brighten your day and show you joys everlasting!

Focus Scripture:

John 8:12

¹² Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” 

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

I appreciate the small things when I spend time with Leo.  The big things don’t seem to interest him at all.  He will play with a new toy for a while, but ultimately likes the tired worn out ball.  We bought him a kiddie pool to play in but he would much rather chase the sprinkler.  He has plenty of food to eat but the root he dug up seems way more interesting.  There are endless things for him in the yard, but he tries to get the piece of paper outside of the fence, the one just outside of his reach.  He notices the small things I would pass by.  

There are so many small joys right before us that we miss every single day.  They are hidden among the ordinary.  They aren’t in the big, new, shiny objects we often imagine.  They aren’t held in the most expensive or most impressive.  Often, the most impactful joy is found all around us, in what we might consider the ordinary.  Yet, there is nothing ordinary about this day.  This is the day that God has made.  This day is jam packed full of joy.  Will we take the time to notice?  Will we see the joy right before us?  Or will we continue to press forward, searching in things which really hold no weight at all?

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 5:11

¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
    so that those who love your name may exult in you.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

I can’t help but wonder if the writer of this verse met Monday mornings – “Joy comes with the morning”.  Did this person really understand about getting up to go back to work or to a doctor appointment or to an unpleasant expectation?  I feel good about saying joy comes on Saturday mornings.  Joy can certainly be found on Sunday mornings.  But joy comes with Monday mornings?  That is a little more difficult to wrap my mind around.  And this is the case because we don’t often understand joy.

The Psalmist is teaching the reader (or singer) to sing praise and give thanks to God.  We are not to do this because everything always goes great.  We do not do this because our situation is always perfect.  We are to do this because of who God is.  His anger lasts but for a moment but his care for us is endless.  We may go the wrong way but there is always a path back.  God’s love is so profound all we can do is praise him and give thanks.  This is meant for tough times too.  Weeping may go on for the night, but God’s light always shines brightest.  It doesn’t mean the morning has all the problems go away.  It doesn’t mean there isn’t struggle or disappointment or difficulties in the morning.  It simply means God has not left us.  Our relationship with the One who shines brighter than the sun is the One who also brings us joy.  Joy is not about our lives going great and always getting what we want.  Joy is given to us despite all of the things which we encounter.  Joy is given because we are loved by God.  

So, yes, joy even comes with Monday morning – and I would offer, especially on Monday morning.  There are so many moments we have been given that we let pass by.  This Monday, treasure the gift and know – joy is here today.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 30:4-5

⁴ Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
⁵ For his anger is but for a moment;
    his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

Some burdens we weren’t meant to carry.  There are some things which weigh us down and are just too much to carry alone.  Some of us are really determined (read stubborn).  We carry burdens alone because we think we can.  We do it ‘for the sake of others’.  We carry burdens alone because we don’t want to bother anyone else.  We take the heavy weight and figure it will just make us stronger.  The saying is…what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…right?  So we trudge forward and just try to keep it together.  We do just fine until we don’t.  We can find ourselves falling apart or so weighed down we can’t even move any more.  We are so burdened we cannot even live, truly live.  This causes health, emotional, spiritual, relationship, and mental issues.  Don’t get me wrong – we don’t choose it.  We didn’t seek it out.  We were trying to do the right thing by just moving forward.  But we end up carrying burdens we weren’t meant to carry.  At some point, we collapse.

Jesus knows this about us.  He was speaking to us when he had Matthew pen his words.  He wants us to hear this is not the life he has for us.  This is not where he intends for us to be.  This is not living abundantly.  We have taken on more than he asked.  And now he is here to rescue us.  Rescue may look like an immediate peace.  It may feel like a sudden relief of the load.  But more than likely, it looks like our hesitation to give up any of our burdens in fear.  We allow the ‘what ifs’ to take over our minds.  We begin to panic because this has been our life for so long.  I think this is why Jesus asks us to give him our burdens and find rest.  We don’t just keep going.  Sometimes we need rest.  Sometimes we simply need to rest in him knowing he is going to take care of us.  

I don’t know what burdens you carry, but I do know too many of us carry burdens we weren’t meant to take on.  If this is you, today may be the day of release.  Today may be the first step in beginning to lose grip on the things which hold us down.  Today may be the first day we actually begin to live.  Or, we may find we just need rest.  

Focus Scripture:

Matthew 11:28-29

²⁸ “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery