Be Still

"Be still, know that I am God." - Psalm 46:11

Although we somehow think life is supposed to be fair and easy, it's really not. Situations come into our lives that make us want to explode. Sometimes it's financial issues, sometimes it's drama with family and friends, or sometimes it's an illness that brings us down to rock bottom. How could we not scream out in despair and totally lose it when things seem to be getting worse? If you believe in God, He will give you the strength and the peace to endure.

I had the chance to put this into practice recently. I was so upset, but usually when I would cry, I told God it's in His hands and I felt fortified. You see, if you believe in God, then you know that He prepares you for whatever happens, no matter how difficult. You have to trust that, and when you trust that, you are confident in His promise. You can be still although things are crumbling around you… you can be still because He is God… and being God, He controls all for your benefit. If you show fear and anxiety, that means you don't trust God, you don't know Him… it means you have a bit more to walk until you allow yourself to surrender into His protection.

Today's Prayer:
My God, it's really hard for me to just let go and let You handle these things that are hurting and worrying me, but I want to surrender. Help me from this day forward to just be still and know that You are God, and You will show me the way. In Jesus' Name we pray, amen.

Precious In His Sight

"Since you are precious in my sight, and important - for I have loved you, I give men in exchange for you and people in return for your life." - Isaiah 43:4

There are some days we feel misunderstood and alone. Sometimes it just feels like no one is on our side and everything is going wrong. These are the times when only the love of our Father in Heaven can uplift us. When I read this verse in Isaiah, it's as if the entire world disappears and I am alone with God who tells me how precious I am in His sight. Just when I feel I can't manage to get anything right or that nothing is going to work out for me, He tells me how He exchanges and returns things for my well-being. It doesn't even matter who doesn't believe in me or who puts me down, I have my God with me. If we really believe in God, then we must know how much He loves us and all the lengths He goes through to protect us. These words of God should make us feel how much we're worth. They should build great confidence in us. They should melt away all fears and lead us to trust in His promises.

Today's Prayer:
My God, thank You for loving me
so much. You always tell me not to fear, help me keep all my trust in You and Your Word. In Jesus' Name, amen.

The Handmaid of The Lord

"His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever He tells you.'" - John 2:5

Growing up Catholic, I prayed to the Virgin Mary as a little girl. I always understood her to be my mother too since she was Jesus' mother, and like a good mom, she brought me closer to her son. Now that I'm older, I see her as an amazing role model for my faith. Her words are seldom mentioned in the gospels, but whenever she did speak, the words backed up her exceptional obedience and confidence in the Lord. When the angel Gabriel saluted her and told her about God's plans for her, she said in complete obedience and trust, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." This young woman, probably only 15 at the time, faced dishonor, bringing shame upon her family and fiancee, and death, yet her faith and humility before God was greater than everything else! Sometimes when I'm on the train and begin to pray, I get a bit embarrassed if someone sees me doing the sign of the cross… look at how far I am from her rock solid faith! And more importantly, Mary understood that all things God brings us is for our ultimate good, no matter how devastating, impossible, or burdensome they may seem to our limited human understanding. How many of us would say no to the angel because we're worried about how things are going to work out and what people will think of us? We hardly ever look beyond the inconvenience to ourselves and never accept in faith that what God asks of us or brings into our lives is actually to do something amazing for us. The Virgin Mary looked beyond herself and all the obstacles. She had tremendous faith and obedience to God at a young age, faith that literally bore fruit to the light of the word, Jesus Christ, our Savior!

Therefore, whether we're Catholic, or any other Christian denomination, let us take Mary as a role model for our faith, she who tells us as she told the servants at the wedding at Cana, "Do whatever He tells you."

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, only a woman of exceptional faith, virtue, love, and obedience could You call Your mother. Allow us to model our faith and acceptance of Your Word after hers. Help us to see that all You ask us to do is for our good. In Your Name we pray, amen.

The Space Between

"Christ Jesus is the same today as yesterday and forever." - Hebrews 13:8

When we're little, God is the old man with a long beard. We ask Him to protect us and give us sweet dreams. When we get a little older, we ask Him to watch out for us, to help us in school, with friends, and for other things we really want, like a new bike. As we get even older, though, we seem to leave our old friend and protector behind. A teacher once told me a story of a newly wed couple who would sit closely together in their truck as the husband drove home. Years passed and the distance between them in the truck got wider and wider until one day, the wife complained to her husband, "why don't we sit close together anymore?!" to which the husband replied, "honey, I've always been in the same place, you're the one that's moved away!"

In this story, God is the husband and we are the wife. God is the same with us today as He was when we were innocent, trusting children. He still sees us in the same way, why don't we? When we suffer and go through hardships and all sorts of problems and blame Him for it to the point where we don't even count on Him for anything, realize that it's that you forgot to trust in Him. You forgot to believe in Him like you did when You were younger. We often go around trying to create these worlds for ourselves without ever asking Him what He thinks and if these things are good for us. God hasn't gone anywhere, He's still waiting for you to come back and run everything by Him! Stop and take a look at your life and how close or far you've gotten from Him. Remember the total trust you had as a child that God would take care of you. Anyone that knows a child knows they speak the truth because they don't complicate themselves with all of the things we do. Therefore, go back to the way you were, and to the God who is still waiting for His child to get close so He could offer His protection.

Today's Prayer:
My God, as a child, You were my great protector and as I got older, I thought I didn't need You anymore. Oh, my God, allow me to return to You with the same innocence I had back then, and also with the same trust. Help me to see that You have been there all along while it was I who moved away from You. In Jesus' Name, amen.

God's Work

"What we are is God's work." Ephesians 2:10

Do you ever find yourself worrying about what you're going to do? As if things were really up to you or if you actually had the power to change anything? Sure, you can put in the effort and work hard, but at the end of the day, for anything we do or want, God is the one with the power to open the door. What you've achieved in life you can be proud of, but be sure that only a little credit goes to you, for nothing happens in Heaven or Earth without the Father's consent. Therefore, trust in Him. Be sure to acknowledge and respect Him in all things so that His guidance is with you all your life. It doesn't matter how weak you are, shy you are, or scared… you are the work of His hands and what He wants for your life will be… and if you learn to honor and respect Him, what you want for your life will also be.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for making me. Thank You for all You have helped me achieve in my life. Guide me every step of the way so that I may never stray from You. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Rely Only On God

"Do not worry and say: What are we going to eat? What are we going to drink? Or: What shall we wear? The pagans busy themselves with such things; but your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Set your heart first on the kingdom and justice of God and all these things will also be given to you." - Matthew 6:31-33

Today was the third time in the past week that I've shared this verse so I felt that it was a sign to write about it. We all worry about the future and making it financially. There are so many things we need and every day can be a struggle, but I am a firm believer in what Jesus says here - set your heart first on the kingdom and justice of God and all will be given to you. If you hesitate, it means you're not having complete confidence in God. You don't see the results because you're not showing faith, you're not trusting. It is our faith that activates the power of God and until you start showing that faith, you won't see God working in the way He wants to. He'll only go as far as you let Him, so remove those mental obstacles.

Finances aren't the only reason to set your heart on God first. I've been speaking to people that want to change, that are struggling to be better but get stuck on trying to do it themselves. We can't do anything on our own. It is all by the grace of God. That's why, again, set your heart first on the kingdom and justice of God and all else will be given to you. You really, really need to take this message in: Our God is a good and powerful God - the ONLY thing we need to do is focus on Him and every single thing we need He will take care of, He wants to take care of… a new job, a new car, a spouse, a family, health, happiness, finances… all of these things He will handle for you if you just focus on Him!

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, teach me to stop relying solely on myself when it is You that give me all I have, even the air I breathe. Teach me to trust in You and set my heart on Your kingdom and justice. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Trust in Humans

"This is what the Lord says, 'Cursed be the man who trusts in human beings and depends on a mortal for his life, while his heart turns away from the Lord.'" - Jeremiah 17:5

One of the most emotionally painful things anyone could go through is betrayal. It's called betrayal because it's a deception we receive from someone we love with all our hearts and someone we confided in. God knows this pain and knows how damaging it is. The effects of a betrayal stay for a life time causing pain, hate, and distrust in the person betrayed and guilt in the one who betrayed. You see, God created us and knows how weak our human nature is. Like the verse says, we're mortals, we're all flawed creations and intentionally or unintentionally we will get hurt and we will hurt others. That's why we need to learn to never, ever trust someone with all of our heart except for God because only He is eternal and only His love is unconditional. You cannot put all your faith and trust into your wife, husband, parents, siblings, best friends, no one. As long as we're mortal and human, we will hurt others. We need to accept this and not be surprised when we're dealt hurt from the people we love since at one point or another they will disappoint us. That's not to say we shouldn't love others and be close to others, but we should never trust anyone but the Lord.…that way, we are not devastated when the blows come. And honestly, the only way to do this is to put your trust in God and pray to Him all the time. God is a rock we should depend on. He will move our hearts to where they need to be so that when the pain comes, we won't be as affected by it as when we solely loved and trusted in a flawed human being.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, guard my heart from all betrayal and pain caused by others. Whether they mean it or not, the lies and deceptions they plotted have hurt me and caused a deep pain in my heart. Let me only trust in You my Lord so that I will never be let down again. In Your Name we pray, amen.