We aren’t always going to get it right. If we counted on always getting it right, we would never try anything. We probably end up getting it wrong more than we get it right – at least that is my experience. But that doesn’t keep us from trying. That doesn’t keep us from getting up. Getting it wrong does not define who we are. Just because we fail doesn’t mean we are a failure. It simply means we tried. There is something to be said for trying. We learn much more from our failures than we do from our successes. And we don’t really have real success without those failures.
All of this to say that we cannot give up because things haven’t gone like we had hoped or planned. We must keep going to be all we were created us to be. God didn’t make us failures. He didn’t make us hopeless. He gave us the abilities to learn and grow to become more like him. He gave us his Spirit to encourage us and show us the way. He made us and gave us a hope and a future.
Keep going. Failure does not define us. God defines us. He says we are his beloved. And that is enough.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 145:14
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
What we let in matters. What we believe about ourselves and others determines our actions. It changes our perspectives. Our ability to see beyond our own ideas can be challenging. Sometimes, we need a new filter.
I have a difficult time remembering to change our A/C filter. It isn’t something I see every day. It is in the ceiling in the hall and I just don’t find myself staring up at it. For me, it really is out of sight, out of mind. I remember it if the A/C doesn’t seem to be working as well. I think about it when there is more dust accumulating. But it takes something fairly significant for me to remember. I now set reminders so I don’t forget. It is really important that the filter is clean and changed regularly.
Our own filter needs to be cleaned sometimes too. We can easily let things in which are not truthful, helpful or kind. We can hear that we are not good enough. We can sense we are unworthy. We can feel unloved. We can also start believing the worst about ourselves and others. We can look for the bad. We can find ourselves expecting others to be mean. We could be looking for the worst traits in others.
We may need to change our filter. We may need a new way of seeing ourselves and the world. We may need to begin to see through the words of God. He has lots to say. There are words of worth, words of love, words of peace, and words of redemption. There are words to remind us just how valuable we really are. When we see things through God’s word, we begin to see completely different. Maybe it is time to change our filter.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 117
1 Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
Those who fear the Lord (have a healthy respect and relationship with him) stand out. They follow the commands of the Lord because it keeps them on the right path. They are a light – merciful and full of grace. They are servants of God, willingly living as they were created.
This seems to be a bold description. Does this describe you? I would like to think it describes me but if I am honest, it doesn’t often enough. I want mercy and grace but it can be challenging to always extend it. I want to be a light for God where others see him in me. It doesn’t always turn out that way. This is because it isn’t a ‘one and done’ transformation. It is a daily growth of becoming more like Christ. There will be times when we mess up. There are times when I say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing. God knows this already. That’s where his grace, mercy and love come into the picture. But it also doesn’t excuse any of us from following. It is a daily choice of following Christ with all that we have and all that we are. It is a continual choosing to be the light, to live in the light and to share that light with others. It is something we work on every single day. When we lose focus, we tend to wander. We can spend way too long wandering around.
Maybe today is the day God is reminding us to re-focus, to come back to the place where he is leading us. Maybe it is time to stop wandering and start following. What is your choice today? Will you follow God?
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 112:4
4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
When I think of delight, I think of food. Maybe it’s because of the dessert called ‘chocolate delight’. The name just makes me smile. The food does more than that – it makes me drool. I think of how we delight in goodies which surprise us and ignite our taste buds. I think of joy and excitement when the word ‘delight’ comes to mind. When I am delighted to see someone, I am overjoyed. It expresses more than a simple pleasure. The definition of delight is to please greatly. I guess you get the picture at this point – and maybe you are dreaming of chocolate delight now too – you can thank me later.
As I consider what it is to delight, I read today’s Psalm. The Psalmist is referring to those who are happy/blessed. It teaches those who fear the Lord are happy. It continues on, though. Those who are happy greatly delight in the Lord’s commandments. Notice it does not read a simple delight. This is for those who greatly delight in commandments. This gives me pause because most of us do not see the delight in commandments. We call them rules and some find them restrictive. A lot of us don’t do well following the rules. You know who you are. But to greatly delight in commandments gives a sense there is something different here. There is joy to be found in commandments. God’s love is poured out in commandments he gives to his people so we may live happy and joyful lives. It can change our view. These are not restrictive rules demanded. These are guides in helping us to live just, merciful and loving lives. They help us to live more like Christ. That’s something to be joyful about!
Maybe we take another look at God’s commandments. It could be we read them as joyful ways to seek God. We might even find God’s love packed into these things we call commandments. It certainly is worth checking out. Joy waits around the corner – and maybe some chocolate delight too.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 112:1
1 Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
We often think of those who have lived many years as having wisdom. Many of them do. Life teaches us many lessons when we are willing to pay attention, listen and learn. Good advice comes from those with much lived experience. While we may gain practical wisdom this way, we don’t always obtain godly wisdom. We don’t always grow wise in God just by life experiences. We are taught in the Bible that God gives wisdom to those who ask and faithfully seek him (see the Book of James). Today’s Psalm speaks of the beginning of wisdom. Where does it begin? How do we get started?
We are told the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The awe and amazement which drives us to our knees is this type of fear. The willingness to bow down at nothing other than the feet of God is key. Understanding there is no one like God. He is powerful and just, loving and merciful. He provides grace and peace to his children. To take this in brings a sense of awe which cannot be matched. This is where wisdom begins. When we catch a glimpse of who God is, we cannot help but have the fear of him. And when we do, wisdom begins.
We begin to understand God is the ultimate Creator, not us. We begin to see all of his gifts given to us we did not earn or deserve. We, in some small way, hear how much we are loved and adored and how we are God’s beloved. We begin to see God.
May we begin in wisdom at the feet of the Almighty. May we live in awe and astonishment of all he has done and continues to do. May we be changed.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 111:10
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
When we are anxious, exhausted, overwhelmed and beatdown, we may want to quit. We are done. Like a piece of toast left in the toaster way too long, we are done done (yes – not just one done, but double done). We don’t understand why. We don’t really even care why at this point. We are just over it. And we are done. It’s during these times that I want to crawl back into bed, pull the covers over tight, and hide – daring anyone to come and take the covers. Some days, that might be what we do. Although this is my desire, I have never been able to convince myself to stick with it. But it doesn’t change the fact we may be just done done.
What do we do in this case? Hiding only lasts for a while – I don’t know about you, but I get hungry easily and being done doesn’t mean I don’t want food. I still want to eat. When we can’t hide and we don’t know what to do, this Psalm reminds me I am not alone in this. It tells me about a time when God’s people were in deep distress and they cried out to him. He didn’t ignore them, even though they weren’t always the most obedient or faithful. He didn’t dismiss their cries as foolish or petty. He heard them. And he rescued. He brought calm. He brought peace. They needed quiet. They needed a haven. God knew this. And this is what he provided for them. It doesn’t mean they camp out there. It simply means that for a time, God knew this is exactly what they needed.
I believe he knows exactly what we need too. He hears our cries in our distress and he rescues. It might be a period of quiet and calm. It might be a place to simply know we are safe. But he provides when we cry out to him.
If you feel done done – call upon God. He hears, he cares and he provides. May you find exactly what you need in God.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 107:28-30
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; 29 he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
We forget. We get in the rhythm of life and we just forget. We don’t mean to. We don’t seek it out. It just happens sometimes. And when we forget, we make moves that are not so wise. We take steps that are not often advantageous. We choose our own path, we do it our own way, just because we forget. We forget to seek the Lord. We forget how much he has done for us and how far he has brought us. We forget he loves us more than we could imagine and wants good for us. But because we forget, we go about our lives the way we want. And this doesn’t always turn out well.
We could do it differently. We could seek God’s wisdom. We could ask for his guidance. We could look to him for counsel. We could see just how much he has already done and know he hasn’t left us. We could. And if we do, we might find our steps will be completely different. We might find peace and joy. We may find his path is perfect, even if it is really difficult. We may find his ways are higher than our ways. We may find we are living as we were created.
Today, don’t forget. Don’t forget to seek God and his ways. Don’t forget to go about your life without seeking his counsel. Don’t forget all he has done for you. May your paths be filled with unspeakable joy today.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 106:13
13 But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
God doesn’t need us to be what the world says we need to be. He doesn’t work like we might think. He doesn’t need powerful people to do powerful things. He doesn’t need people of influence to influence the whole world. He doesn’t need the most courageous to do incredible works. God simply needs us to be who he created us to be. We are enough, just as he made us. We don’t have to wait until… We don’t need to wait until we have more money to serve him. We don’t need to wait until we have more influence. We don’t need to be older or younger. We don’t need to be bigger or smaller. We don’t need to wait to be servants of the Most High God. He knows who we are. He knows what we are capable of accomplishing. He knows all about us. And he will give us all we need to accomplish the plan he has for us. We don’t need to be someone else to be God’s. We are already enough. We simply need to be willing.
As I was reading Psalm 105, these two descriptions stuck out to me – while they were few in number…of little account. The world sees numbers. The world sees worth according to accomplishments and accolades. God sees the willing. He sees his chosen. He sees his children. And that is all he needs.
Stop waiting until… There are always plenty of reasons not to do what he would have us to do. All he asks is that we are willing. We can do that.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 105:12-15
12 When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in it, 13 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 14 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, 15 saying, “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
The mysteries of God surround us. The beauty of God captures our attention. The love of God enfolds around us. The peace of God is offered to us. God provides. God is there for us in our times of weakness and pain. His joy is unspeakable. His mercy and grace are incomprehensible.
If all of this is true (and I do believe it is), then where is our reverence for God? Why do we struggle to worship? Why are we not always as faithful as we should be? Why would we choose to go any other way? What excuses can we come up with for not following him, for not being obedient to our Creator, Redeemer and Provider? Maybe we forget. We could get so consumed in what we are doing we forget. We could become self-reliant so we forget. We could become independent so we forget we need him. We may forget who God is. He is God. And yet, we seem to forget.
Today’s Psalm is, for me, a great reminder. Over and over again, the proclamations of the Psalmist begin with you. He is offering praise and worship to God. He is speaking to God, so the ‘you’ is God. And continuously, the Psalmist is speaking of the wonders of God. There is acknowledgement of just a few of the attributes and gifts of God. It is a starting point. It is an opportunity for us to pause and consider the wondrous works of God. It should cause us to be awestruck by God.
Let us not forget today. Let us not pass it all by. May we experience his power, his provision, and his love. May he remind us we are his. And may we be amazed.
Psalm 104
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, 2 wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent, 3 you set the beams of yourchambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind, 4 you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers.
5 You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. 6 You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At your rebuke they flee; at the sound of your thunder they take to flight. 8 They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys to the place that you appointed for them. 9 You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.
10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, 11 giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst. 12 By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. 13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
14 You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, 15 and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart. 16 The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 17 In them the birds build their nests; the stork has its home in the fir trees. 18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the coneys. 19 You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. 20 You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out. 21 The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. 22 When the sun rises, they withdraw and lie down in their dens. 23 People go out to their work and to their labor until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great. 26 There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
27 These all look to you to give them their food in due season; 28 when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works— 32 who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke. 33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. 35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
It can be hard to get back on track once we derail. It seems to take so much more effort to get going again than it does to maintain the momentum. This past year has derailed so many things. It has caused us to stop or at least put many of our plans on pause. The way that we live and understand life has been altered, at least in the short term. So it can be challenging to get back in the swing of things when the opportunity finally presents itself.
As I attended church yesterday, that seemed to be a common theme. Sunday School began again. The choir sang for the first time. It was good to be in worship, in person, with God. I am not discounting what has happened over the last year. We have figured out ways to worship that we may have missed otherwise. But it was good to get back into a rhythm. So many people I encountered had the same thoughts – it is challenging to get back and start again. Even with the anticipation of worship, it can still be a push to change our routines.
I find this is the way much of our lives operate. We want to exercise, but we are tired. We know getting up and going will help. We understand that starting is the key. But it is so hard just to get going. We want to start a new project but it seems so daunting. We plan to read our Bible but there is so much to read. The thought of it all quickly becomes overwhelming. And so we either stop or doing get started.
What if we simply tried today. We don’t worry about the entire week. We don’t think about the number of pages in the book. We don’t try to see the end of the journey. We don’t even worry about how long the path seems. We simply do one thing in the right direction today. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Just try today. Just read today. Just pray today. Just plan to attend worship this Sunday. Just take one step at a time. It is amazing how freeing it can be to just take the first step. We will probably find it wasn’t nearly as difficult as we thought.
One day…one step…one little change – this could be the key to becoming what we were created to be.
Focus Scripture:
Matthew 6:34
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 
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