Category: Devotion for Women

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1st Marriage 2nd Marriage Dating Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

SEX AND MORALITY

‘God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. ‘ 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5(NLT)

When it comes to sex, we enjoy God’s gifts of sensuality and “fleshly” pleasure to the fullest extent only when they’re experienced within the proper context: marriage.

Though the notion of Christian sexual morality is often criticized as “repressive,” it’s actually a matter of restraining and channeling the power of sex to make it as effective as possible to our lives.

Are you familiar with the word “dissipation”? It refers to the wasteful squandering and loss of positive energy that results when a substance is not properly contained. When water is forced to flow through a narrow channel, for example, it generates incredible power. But if it bursts outside of those boundaries and spills out across the land, that power is lost.

That’s dissipation, and the word has a particular relevance to the question of sexual morality. This is what the writer of Proverbs had in mind when he penned the following verses:

Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets?
Let them be only your own, and not for strangers with you.
Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be enraptured with her love.
For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman,
And be embraced in the arms of a seductress?
(Proverbs 5:15-20)

Clearly, these are not the words of someone who is “uptight” about sex, who “fears” the world, or who rejects the beauties of creation. Such poetry does not flow from a “repressed” mind that “avoids the joys of life,” as some critics of sexual morality would have it.

On the contrary, it expresses deep and ecstatic appreciation for the vibrancy and vitality of sexuality that is under control. This is what has inspired those who believe in God and who keep His commandments to declare, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

This is one of the best kept secrets of the “straight-laced religious life”: all the best research indicates that the most sexually satisfied people in modern society are not the adventurous swingers, but rather faithful, monogamous married couples.

This, then, is what Christian sexual morality is really all about. It’s not a set of restrictive rules designed to prevent us from having fun. It’s the key to total fulfillment of our sexuality. It’s the doorway to a truly satisfying and abundant life in the realm of marriage and male-female relationships.

For more help, visit Pure Intimacy or Focus on the Family’s main website .You can also call the ministry’s Counseling Department for a free consultation at 855-771-HELP (4357).

from God’s Design For Sex

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1st Marriage 2nd Marriage Dating Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

SEX AND THE TRINITY

‘In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ John 1:1(NLT)

Charles Williams, close friend of C. S. Lewis and member of that illustrious group of intellectuals known as the Inklings, had a deep understanding of God’s design for human sexuality. In writing about Dante’s portrayal of romantic love in The Divine Comedy, Williams says that that the poet’s vision signifies three things.

First, it’s a picture of the Trinity: One God “subsisting” in Three Persons. Second, it’s a reminder of the Incarnation: humanity and divinity seamlessly bonded in the Person of Jesus Christ. Third, it’s a symbol of something Williams likes to call the “mystery of co-inherence”: the intimate communion of me in you and you in me.

Jesus expressed it this way in His high priestly prayer: “As You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, [I pray] that they may be one in Us …” (John 17:21).

This is what the Image of God in man is really all about. The God we worship does not exist in isolation. On the contrary, He has been in community for all eternity. The three Persons of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – interact with one another in perfect communion. That truth helps us better understand what the apostle John had in mind when He said that “God is Love” (1 John 4:8).

It’s also why God said that “it is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). After all, how could one man, who was by himself, reflect the full Image of a God whose very nature exists in communion? That only became possible when Adam saw Eve advancing toward him in the full splendor of feminine beauty and said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23).

All of this leads to an inescapable conclusion with regard to our sexuality. In a profound and wonderful way, our sexual lives are intended to mirror the reality and beauty of the Trinity in our marital relationships.

As theologian George Weigel explains, when we view God’s directives for our sexuality in this way, “the first moral question shifts from ‘What am I forbidden to do?’ to ‘How do I live a life of sexual love that conforms to my dignity as a human person?’”1 Sex, then, rightly understood and practiced, is in a very real sense fundamental to mankind’s function, purpose, and destiny within the miracle of God’s creation.

For more help, visit Pure Intimacy or Focus on the Family’s main website .You can also call the ministry’s Counseling Department for a free consultation at 855-771-HELP (4357).

George Weigel, The Truth of Catholicism: Ten Controversies Explored (New York: Cliff Street Books, 2001), 104-105.

from God’s Design For Sex

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Dating Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

PURITY

‘In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.’ 1 Peter 3:1-2(NLT)

Chastity isn’t a concept you hear much about these days, but it’s been an important Christian virtue for more than twenty centuries. Chastity is usually defined as sexual abstinence before marriage and sexual fidelity within marriage.

It reflects the biblical worldview that we have no inherent right to sex. The privilege of sexual union with another person is conferred upon us only by the wedding ceremony.

But chastity takes the idea of purity beyond the sexual sphere alone. It’s a crucially important piece of Christian faithfulness and discipleship. Its implications reach across the entire spectrum of Christian experience and touch every area of our lives.

That’s why the apostle Peter was able to tell women that it would be through their chaste conduct that unbelieving husbands would be won to faith in Christ. Peter wasn’t simply exhorting Christian wives to avoid extramarital affairs. He was suggesting that a life of single-minded discipline, focus, and devotion makes a deep impression on those who are not yet personally acquainted with the Lord.

We often talk in the church about the devastating consequences of having extramarital sex – life-altering troubles such as the possibility of STDs, unwanted pregnancy, and the cheapening of something that God intended us to share with just one other person.

But the most essential truth about chastity and purity is that turning away from unhealthy expressions of sexuality and romanticism better enables us to focus on God in a way that otherwise isn’t possible. “Blessed are the pure in heart,” said Jesus. And why? Because “they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Sexual immorality inhibits us from focusing on our truest Lover, the Lord.

Chastity, then, is first and foremost a spiritual discipline. Like prayer, fasting, study, silence, charity, and giving, it’s something God asks us to practice, not because it will get us into heaven, but because it will help transform us into new creatures.This kind of purity is not the mere absence of illicit sex, but an active conforming of one’s body, soul, and mind to the image of Christ.

For more help, visit Pure Intimacy or Focus on the Family’s main website .You can also call the ministry’s Counseling Department for a free consultation at 855-771-HELP (4357).

from God’s Design For Sex

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Devotion for Women ZZ

3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband – Day 4

‘At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. ‘ 2 Chronicles 20:22(NLT)

‘Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ‘ James 1:19(NLT)

Lastly, we move into the portion of prayer where you ask for God’s intervention. We started with praising God and focusing on His character attributes and gifts. Next, we went to thanking God for the aspects of marriage or our spouse which produces gratitude. And once the foundation of praise and thanksgiving is set, you are free to boldly approach God with your needs of intervention or requests for blessings.

When you do, you will discover like King Jehoshaphat in today’s passage that God Himself can rout the enemy (Satan), turn things around, or deliver your husband from whatever it is you are seeking on his behalf. 

Whether you use a guided prayer like this one or you opt to follow another pattern of prayer from Scripture, remember, the main thing is your abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pray for blessings and intervention. (Remember: this portion of prayer is dedicated to asking God to either bless or intervene in certain areas of your marriage or in your husband’s life.)

Gracious Lord, James 1:19 says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Help my husband and me to remember this when we communicate with each other. Help us to always lead with love, and give each other the benefit of the doubt in understanding what the other seeks to communicate. 

Give us a relationship that’s conducive to being open, honest and authentic with each other. Help us in our busy schedules to cultivate time to focus on communication. 

Give me courage to discuss those troubling areas in my life and marriage and not withdraw in silent or hidden frustration. Help me speak about these areas to my husband in love with open honesty. Grant my husband an open and receptive heart without anger or defensiveness. 

Please also add an element of greater spontaneity and fun into our communication. Let us flirt with each other more in what we say and how we say it, and revive in us a spirit of playfulness and cheer. 

Lord, as You know – there are certain aspects of our communication where we struggle and misunderstand one another. Please intervene. Give us clarity of thought and respect for each other. Help us discern what the other person is communicating. Also, help us to have a gentle spirit toward each other. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Use this pattern of prayer on any need you have in your marriage – that of praising God, thanking God, and then asking for His blessings or intervention – and watch how God moves to meet you and your spouse in a new and fresh way. 

from 3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband

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Devotion for Women ZZ

3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband – Day 3

‘Take delight in the Lord , and he will give you your heart’s desires.’ Psalms 37:4(NLT)

‘He prayed, “O Lord , God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’ “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”’ 2 Chronicles 20:6-12(NLT)

Now, we move on to the second portion in the pattern of prayer based on 2 Chronicles 20:6-12. This portion focuses on giving God thanksgiving for specific and general things in your marriage.

Thanksgiving differs from praise in that praise identifies various attributes and gifts of God, which reflect His character and provision. Thanksgiving narrows in on the particulars (big or small) for which you are grateful. 

Feel free to pray this guided prayer word for word, or adapt to your own personal situation. It’s completely up to you. But do try and focus on the pattern of prayer when praying for your husband. As a reminder it is:

  • Praise God
  • Thank God
  • Pray for blessings and intervention

Thank God (Remember: this portion of prayer is dedicated to thanking God for specific aspects, areas and blessings in your marriage). 

Lord, thank You for my husband. Thank You for entrusting me with the blessing and responsibility of loving Him well. Thank You for the qualities you’ve placed in Him which enable me to be a better person, qualities such as (name them here). 

Thank You that You gave me a husband – someone to help along life’s journey. I particularly appreciate (name something specific) about him. Something You have taught me through my relationship with my husband is (name something here). Thank You for this as well. In Christ’s name, Amen.

from 3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband

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Devotion for Women ZZ

3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband – Day 2

‘“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ‘ Matthew 7:7(NLT)

‘He prayed, “O Lord , God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’ “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”’ 2 Chronicles 20:6-12(NLT)

‘But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ‘ John 15:7(NLT)

In today’s entry, we are going to look at the first portion of the prayer pattern adapted from 2 Chronicles 20:6-12. But let’s review some from yesterday where we saw that Christ desires to give you your desires when you abide in Him. 

In John 15:7 we saw that when you abide in Him, His desires will be your desires. In this way, Jesus uncovers one of the secrets of prayer: 

Your desires should turn into your prayers. Ask for what you desire. 

In fact, one of the most surprising insights I have ever had about prayer is that the more that I abide in Christ and the more His words abide in me, the more I am fully and completely released to pray for everything I desire. Jesus connected abiding with Christ and obedience to His commands as the underlying cause of asking for what you desire. 

If you abide, you will ask what you desire!

You aren’t instructed to pray for things merely because you know you are supposed to—like an obligation. Instead, Jesus expressly states you are to ask for whatever you want. If you want something, then ask and don’t stop asking until you get an answer, whether that’s yes or no.

Let’s look at an example of the first portion of our prayer pattern. Feel free to pray this guided prayer word for word, or adapt to your own personal situation. It’s completely up to you. But do try and focus on the pattern of prayer when praying for your husband. As a reminder it is:

  • Praise God
  • Thank God
  • Pray for blessings and intervention

Praise God (Remember: this portion of prayer is dedicated to praising God for what He has given you and your spouse). 

Heavenly Father, relationships are one of the most important things You have given to us. And the marriage relationship is especially important, valuable and purposeful. I praise You for creating us as relational beings who can benefit from each other and build into each other. 

I worship You for Your wisdom in providing us in our marriage the ability to communicate, whether through words, touch, texts or a myriad of other ways. I praise You for the desire You have placed within us to connect with others, as we are made in Your image. And I ask that You increase that desire between my husband and myself even more in the days, weeks, months and years ahead. In Christ’s name, Amen.

from 3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband

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Devotion for Women ZZ

3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband – Day 1

‘But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ‘ John 15:7(NLT)

‘He prayed, “O Lord , God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’ “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”’ 2 Chronicles 20:6-12(NLT)

Do you ever think that praying for what you want is selfish? Or do you know we should pray—but ever feel guilty about praying for what you wish would happen? Friend, Jesus says: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).

In one of His final conversations with His disciples, Jesus revealed a very strategic secret that we would do well to remember also: When we abide in Christ, and His Word is in us, we can ask for whatever we desire. 

Because when we abide in Him, His desires will be our desires. 


Prayer doesn’t require lofty, magical words, but Scripture does give us established patterns for how to approach the throne of God and talk with Him about our needs.

Here’s a pattern taken from 2 Chronicles 20:6-12 which you can adopt when praying for your husband:

  1. Praise God.
  2. Thank God.
  3. Pray for blessings and intervention.

You can adapt this pattern for anything, really. But use it when praying for your husband and you could become a force for greater good in his life. In the next readying entry, we will give you examples of each of these prayer points. 

from 3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband

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Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

I Want More of You, God

‘A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.’ Psalms 84:10(NLT)

It was a few years after Harold’s Everest climb when he and I (Rachel) were lying on the couch talking about our future. He looked at me and asked me what I am passionate about. Without hesitation I said, “Jesus.” After that we sat in silence for some time.

I don’t think my answer was what he was expecting—it wasn’t even what I was expecting. Harold is not only a very big dreamer but also a doer. When he has a dream he will do everything in his power to see it through. 

While I’ve always had lots of hobbies and love experiencing new things, I’ve never really had something that sets me on fire, that fills me with an overwhelming sense of purpose. I didn’t grow up dreaming of one specific route for my life. Even now I sometimes think, Should I be pursing something greater? Did I miss opportunities because I was crippled by fear? How can I accomplish my goals if I’m not really sure what they are? 

Then I realize that I do know my goals. They may not be goals that make me successful in our world but I am okay with that. My goals are to bring people to Jesus, to live my life with love and be ready and willing for God to use me whenever He chooses. I have passion, and I have drive, and more importantly, I have a great God who can and will use me. And that’s enough.

Whether we dream of climbing Mt. Everest or starting a business or raising a family, only God can truly satisfy us. He uses our longings to shape us, to reveal His unique gifts in our lives. But ultimately our prayers come down to, I want more of you, God.

As we wrap up this week’s devotional, we challenge you to live out boldly the dreams God has put on your heart, whatever they are. When our prayer is for more of Jesus, God will give us the courage for every calling in front of us.

from A Higher Calling by Harold & Rachel Earls

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Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

When Doubt Creeps In

‘For the word of God will never fail. ”’ Luke 1:37(NLT)

As we continued our long-planned journey, I (Harold) downplayed my fears and nerves when I talked with Rachel. I told her things like “It’s not too scary” and “It’s really pretty” and “I’m not too worried about it.” Those were half-truths. In reality, that towering beast in front of us was the meanest, blackest thing I’d ever seen. I was worried, and I was humbled. I could share this with her, my best friend and biggest supporter. But I wanted to protect her from the knot in my stomach, the nerves constantly rumbling inside, and the nagging questions: What am I doing? and What have I left behind? 

Have you ever come to a point in your life when the one thing you’ve been working toward suddenly seems insurmountable? A moment when your own personal Everest (be it creating a business, parenting, seeking healing from your past, or something else) stares you down, looking bigger and scarier than you ever could have imagined? A time when you feel intimidated and alone? A time in which you suddenly begin to question everything?

That’s what I was doing in Tibet, asking over and over again, Have I bitten off more than I can chew?

I know life sometimes presents moments that feel impossible. But I also know when you overcome these challenges, you come out with an even greater faith. 

The Bible tells us, “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Nothing! If you’re facing doubts right now about the Everest in front of you, spend some time studying God’s character. Write down words that the Bible uses to describe Him. I guarantee when you look up at that mountain again, it will seem small compared to the God who never leaves you.

from A Higher Calling by Harold & Rachel Earls

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Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

Faith Over Fear

‘Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. ‘ 1 John 4:18(NLT)

I (Rachel) supported Harold’s choice to follow his dream and climb Everest to raise awareness for soldiers recovering from PTSD. At the same time, I was terrified of something happening to him.

We hadn’t been married a full year when Harold and his team set off on their trek. I stayed in touch as closely as I could when they were on the mountain. After one particular call from Mount Everest’s Advanced Base Camp, Harold had sounded exhausted as he told me about the significant snowstorm headed his way, forcing his team to climb back down to a lower elevation. I knew with bad weather conditions, a tired body, and many hours of descending in low visibility, the chances of something going wrong were significantly higher. 

I couldn’t help but wonder, Is my husband making a bad decision—perhaps a fatal one? I didn’t know when I’d hear from him next, if at all. 

I was trying to be strong, but deep down, I was afraid of being left alone. I feared that if something did happen, I would blame Harold for making the choice to leave. Or I’d blame myself for letting him go.

Every day he was gone, I realized how precious and fragile life is and what truly matters. It’s not the material things, the success, the money, or our physical appearances. It’s the people we love. 

The little moments count. 

Living with that truth in the forefront of your mind changes you. It’s changing me. I am starting to approach life with an attitude of thanksgiving, even in the midst of my trials. I realize my time with Harold is limited, and time is better spent being joyful and living in love rather than living in anger, frustration, or stress. I remind myself something I have told others: You are capable of more than you can imagine. And with God by your side, you will always come out stronger! 

What can you do so that fear won’t write your story? What choices can you make so that circumstances won’t control your joy? It’s our love for others that makes us afraid of losing them, yet the Bible tells us that “there is no fear in love,” and love actually drives out fear (1 John 4:18). What would it look like, right now, to choose faith over fear as you pray for those you love?

from A Higher Calling by Harold & Rachel Earls