Category: Devotion for Women

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Pride And Rebellion – Day 5

‘Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”’ Matthew 11:28-30(NLT)

‘God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. ‘ Hebrews 4:1-3(NLT)

‘Yet I am confident I will see the Lord ’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.’ Psalms 27:13(NLT)

I don’t want to live a heavy life, carrying around weights and burdens that I was never intended to carry. Doing so would make the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ of none effect. Why take on all of our sins at the cross if we were going to rebel and pick them all up again? I aim not to disrespect the sacrifice of Christ.

I’m ready to receive the promise of rest, knowing that it doesn’t mean that I’ll never have problems in this world. However, the problems I do have won’t be as a result of my pride, arrogance, unbelief and disobedience. As scary as it may be at the moment, I’m just gonna close my eyes and follow Him. It may not be easy, it may kill your flesh and destroy your pride. But what do we have to lose? We have to know our God and if we’re not in a place of trust, tell Him. I promise you that He won’t be offended. Open your heart and your mouth and lay it all on the line. He desires to draw us to and through Him to the best parts of Himself. Trust me when I say that we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

from Pride And Rebellion by Dionne Dean

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Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

Pride And Rebellion – Day 4

‘And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.’ Matthew 13:58(NLT)

‘But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ‘ Romans 10:14(NLT)

A lot of times we rebel because we don’t think God knows what he’s talking about. As if our 30, 40, or 100 years on earth trumps the wisdom of the creator of universe. In our flesh and from our worldly point of view, it’d seem like we know everything about the situation we’re in. God has noooooooo idea how I’m feeling, what I’m going through or my plans. He’s just up there in the sky somewhere being Godly!

This I know: every time I work out of my self, I fail. When I pay attention to and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, I win. I get in the Word of God and then something I’m reading is confirmed by a minister of the gospel, or simply my best friend in conversation. I’m comforted to know that God will get a message to me even in the midst of my rebellion to lead to me out. 

I choose to be a believer so that God can make miracles happen in my life.

from Pride And Rebellion by Dionne Dean

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Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

Pride And Rebellion – Day 3

‘Instead, they mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs. They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall.’ Psalms 106:35-36(NLT)

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ‘ Hebrews 12:1-2(NLT)

Rebellion is so tiresome; it really is. You’re literally running in the opposite direction of everything that is God. Even in the most treacherous of storms, there’s comfort in knowing that it is a God-ordained storm rather than a storm of your own making.

In Psalm 106, the Psalmist highlights the disobedience of ‘The Children of Israel’ and it is a tiresome tale. By the end of the scripture, you’re just like, ‘Obey already!’ But oh goodness, isn’t that they way the angels of the Lord look at us? Like ‘C’mon people, obey already!’

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to live my life in my own power anymore. I’m tired of scraping my knees and bumping my head at every turn. I want God’s direction and I want God’s blessing, so that even in the tough times, I know they’re not in vain.

from Pride And Rebellion by Dionne Dean

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Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

Pride And Rebellion – Day 2

‘God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.’ Psalms 68:6(NLT)

‘Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”’ Luke 13:3-5(NLT)

‘If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat.’ Isaiah 1:19(NLT)

Have you ever been in a dry season? A season where absolutely nothing worked. You’re fighting with your spouse, you’re not booking any new clients, making any leeway at work, or your kids are not engaged in anything you’re trying to do with them. Is this all happenstance, or are you in a parched land?

Everything is not going to go perfectly at all times, but there are times in my life where nothing is working and I know it’s because of an action or inaction on my part. I was willingly disobedient in an area, putting my thoughts higher than the His thoughts and as a result, nothing was working. 

I have a cure for you: repentance. I’m not talking about Sunday repentance at the altar. I’m talking a simple, ‘I’m sorry Lord. I submit. I change my mind’. The reaction and results of your repentance may not be immediate, but it’s the first step in the right direction. Keep saying yes, not matter how hard it may be. Your life will change.

from Pride And Rebellion by Dionne Dean

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Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

Pride And Rebellion – Day 1

‘Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord , he has rejected you as king.”
Saul Pleads for Forgiveness
Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord ’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. ‘ 1 Samuel 15:23-24(NLT)

‘Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.’ Proverbs 16:18(NLT)

I don’t willingly not listen to the Holy Spirit…I mean, I do, but not in a bad way. I don’t raise my fist, stomp my feet and yell like a grounded pre-adolescent teen arguing to go out with her friends. What I do, however, is put on my ‘know-it-all’ headphones and ignore the direction in which the Spirit of God is leading me, especially if it’s a place that I don’t want to go.

I do this in my marriage, my business and other areas that I’m not ready to submit to the Word and will of God. Who wants to ‘submit to one another’ when your husband wants to take a job across the country away from family and friends. Or submit to a plan of healthy eating and exercise, especially during the holidays. But scripture says that this constant rebellious attitude is like witchcraft—yes, witchcraft and sorcery and our stubbornness is as bad as idolatry. We have set up ourselves, our wills, and our emotions against God. 

I don’t want to be God’s enemy. I want to be his daughter. I want my life to sing and my obedience to be worship. I’m going to submit…will you? 

from Pride And Rebellion by Dionne Dean

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Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

A Road Warrior’s Guide To Spiritual Discipline – Day 5

‘As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you. You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.’ 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12(NLT)

‘So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:11(NLT)

A friend compared returning from a business trip to a space vessel re-entering Earth’s atmosphere and landing or splashing down.  High velocity, speed, heat, and two worlds intersecting make atmospheric re-entry one of the most dangerous segments of the mission.  The vessel must hit at the perfect angle and speed and ultimately slow down to land. 

When a Road Warrior returns, two worlds intersect.  The traveler is in solo mode and slowing down.  The person at home has been in a more normal routine, although oftentimes managing a household alone.  It’s usually day’s end, and a growling stomach with the element of stress make perfect ingredients for a collision.

It’s difficult to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes, but this is a critical moment for you and your loved ones to try.  The process of reintegration requires selflessness, empathy, patience, and good communication to engineer a full return to the role God intended for you within the family unit. 

In order to do this effectively, try to set work on the back burner and connect with God in prayer on your way home.  Walk through the door with your spiritual focus front of mind and ready to give of yourself. Give your family your full attention.  Upload and download once you have had time to settle.  Discuss how your spiritual focus on the trip played out and how God answered your day 1 prayers.  Share the challenges you faced as well. Invite one another into each other’s lives.  

The objective of intentional reentry is to sensitively reconnect and reintegrate.  Keeping your worlds connected before and during your journey will make this final step less onerous.  This along with the other 4 disciplines in this Bible Plan series lay a solid foundation to undergird Road Warriors to face the challenges the road presents with strong spiritual footing, and ultimately, to return stronger.

from A Road Warrior’s Guide To Spiritual Discipline

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Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

A Road Warrior’s Guide To Spiritual Discipline – Day 4

‘As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you. You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.’ 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12(NLT)

‘So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:11(NLT)

A good friend visited one summer and shared details of what had become a failed marriage.  Her husband frequented Asia for work and had become deeply entrenched in a pattern of infidelity. Now she and her children faced life without a husband and father. 

It’s dangerously easy for Road Warriors to grow comfortable with distance from their family and community by falling into the habit of only loosely communicating while away.  The unfortunate result can be emotional distance and separate lives where each simply does their own thing. 

God gifted us with family and community and established unique roles for us in each other’s lives.  He does not want us to become disconnected. When the apostles traveled, they constantly tied in to community or family.  It was nearly impossible to live a separate life. A common denominator among travelers who have experienced relational adversity is that one or both parties slid into a separate life.  In doing so, they not only became distant from each other, but also from God’s plan for their lives. 

As with devotion and prayer, communication and connection with home are critical. Contact needs to be much more than simply checking a box during a hectic week. Married Road Warriors, especially, who travel solo need a purposeful communication plan that establishes presence at home even while away.  Good, healthy community on the road can also help fill the void, especially for the single traveler.  We’ll deep dive that subject in a separate Bible Plan. 

For married travelers, we recommend setting aside regular dates and times to connect with home in advance, intentionally slowing down before connecting and using live communication apps like FaceTime or Skype.  Set aside a few minutes to connect with God before you connect with your family.  Pray and get in the right state of mind and heart. Get out of the work mode to foster a true connection. 

Connect, listen deeply, share your day and your thoughts, and seek to understand what is happening in each other’s lives.  Persist! You’ll find yourself better tuned in, more connected, and more closely aligned with God’s plan for your relationship with your family and loved ones.

from A Road Warrior’s Guide To Spiritual Discipline

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Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

A Road Warrior’s Guide To Spiritual Discipline – Day 3

‘Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord , meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.’ Psalms 1:1-3(NLT)

‘For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. ‘ Hebrews 4:12(NLT)

‘But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.’ Psalms 55:16-17(NLT)

Road Warriors have a different rhythm while away.  They eat, work, exercise, and sleep in different places.  Travel removes them from their home routine and elevates their pace in a changed environment.  Maintaining the critical disciplines of devotion and prayer against this backdrop is difficult. 

Still, travelers ultimately build routine into their time away. It’s essential to ensure devotion and prayer remain an integral part of that routine in pursuit of closeness with God.  That time-slot and favorite chair in the family room or on the back porch must be replaced by something else.  Creating specific times and places in your calendar for devotion and prayer on the road is essential. 

Some of David’s best-known Psalms were likely written while he was alone in exile, fleeing from King Saul.  He kept the prayer discipline alive, and he stayed near to God. Jesus Himself set aside time for rest and communication with the Father as He traveled and ministered.  Establishing discipline around prayer and devotion while away is fundamental to staying on track spiritually and requires thoughtful planning and time management. 

While unpacking, pick a devotional spot like that solo chair near the window in your hotel and make it comfortable.  It could even be a cozy space in the hotel common areas, or a park bench nearby.  Also, consider picking out a Bible Plan in advance that is consistent with your spiritual focus for the trip, and set an alarm for additional prayer during the day.  These disciplines will help you stay attuned to God throughout your time away. 

Maintaining prayer and devotional time amidst busy travel requires planning, but it is well worth the effort.  By setting your heart and mind on God in this way, you will more easily maintain your spiritual focus, invite God along as you push through your day, help fill the void of community, and ultimately return stronger.

from A Road Warrior’s Guide To Spiritual Discipline

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Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

A Road Warrior’s Guide To Spiritual Discipline – Day 2

‘Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.’ Colossians 3:1-4(NLT)

‘But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. ‘ Galatians 5:22-25(NLT)

‘Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. ‘ 1 Peter 4:8-10(NLT)

I found myself in a deep conversation with a homeless woman after a busy day of travel and meetings.  I wanted to get back to my hotel, but my encounter required I apply the brakes and place God front and center.  For that thirty-minute conversation and a while afterward, I experienced the joy of having shifted my focus from my tightly wound world to something much bigger and God-centered. 

I exercised patience and compassion I didn’t realize I had after a busy day, and I suddenly felt more closely in step with God.  I also realized I wanted to do this more often.  It dawned on me that establishing some kind of spiritual focus for each of my trips might not only bring spiritual purpose to my travel, but also multiply opportunities to minister – while drawing me closer to God as I purposefully set my heart and mind on Him. 

My first conscious attempt to do this was choosing to serve those who typically served me along the path on a trip.  Road Warriors are constantly served while away.  By turning the tables and becoming the servant, I ended up in conversations I would never have had, and it helped me establish a God-centered mindset.  I wasn’t without failure and found myself hitting reset, but with prayer and focus, my time away became an opportunity to grow and reflect God.

Try starting your trip with a spiritual focus.  For example, establish one of the fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5 (patience, kindness, gentleness) as a goal, and include it in your day-1 prayer.  And pick a Bible Plan for the trip that is consistent with your focus like EA McQuitty’s Toolbox Plan in this Road Warrior’s Series.  You’ll not only draw closer to God while away by setting your heart and mind on Him, but you’ll impact lives for Him while away.  Then download about it upon your return with your prayer partner.

from A Road Warrior’s Guide To Spiritual Discipline

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Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

A Road Warrior’s Guide To Spiritual Discipline – Day 1

‘“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”’ Matthew 18:19-20(NLT)

‘Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.’ Ephesians 6:18-20(NLT)

‘Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. ‘ Mark 1:35(NLT)

I drove to the airport a little too close to departure and rushed to my flight. The next 2.5 days consisted of wall to wall meetings and constant activity in-between.  I squeezed too much into a short time-slot to minimize time away. Upon returning it occurred to me how intently I had focused on my work, and not so much on God.  He felt distant.  I sensed I had veered somewhat off course spiritually. 

Solo travel presents unique challenges. What awaits Road Warriors is a hectic pace and a void of the family and community that keep us grounded at home. Facing this without solid spiritual footing leaves travelers feeling isolated and vulnerable. 

The Bible provides a proven roadmap to face these unique challenges and emerge victorious.  The first stop on that map is the powerful discipline of purposeful prayer that sets our hearts and minds on Christ. Purposeful prayer invites God along for the journey, keeps us attuned to Him, and reduces our likelihood of veering off course. 

Throughout the Bible, we experience stories of character after character turning to God in prayer regardless of their circumstances. And we witness Him faithfully lavishing provision, protection, and direction upon his loved Creation.  

God will do the same for you. Before you travel, one of the most effective disciplines you can employ to stay on track is to pray for your journey.  If you can, find a confidant you establish as your “go to” prayer partner and invite this person to read this plan as you do.  If married, your spouse would be a great choice. 

Pray for the challenges you anticipate, for the discipline to keep God your focus, for an awareness of His presence, for spiritual growth, for protection, and whatever God puts on your heart. Praying strengthens your spiritual footing, fosters closeness with God on your journey, raises your awareness of His presence, and ultimately leads to victory.

from A Road Warrior’s Guide To Spiritual Discipline