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Day 191/192 of 365: Jesus Loves Me, This I Know…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

This morning, as I was getting up and preparing to get ready for the day, the song “Jesus Loves Me” was playing in my mind. I could not figure out why I was hearing that song, especially since I wasn’t thinking about it. Then I realized it was for the devotional.

I asked the Holy Spirit why that song was playing in my head. The only response I received was, “Because they sometimes my children forget that I am strong and they are weak. They have forgotten how much I love them because they lost their childlike faith.

Somewhere along the journey, many of us exchanged childlike faith for adult-sized worry.

As children, we believed our Heavenly Father could do anything. We ran to Him with scraped knees, broken hearts, impossible dreams, and simple prayers. We trusted Him without needing every answer.

But life has a way of teaching us fear. Disappointments accumulate. Grief visits our homes. Relationships change. Bills arrive. Diagnoses come. Prayers seem delayed. Without realizing it, we stop resting in His love and begin carrying burdens He never asked us to carry.

Yet the message has never changed.

Jesus still loves us.

We are still weak.

He is still strong.

Family, when did you stop believing as freely as you did when you were a child? When did the questions of life become louder than the promises of God?

Maybe today God is inviting us to stop trying to be so strong. Perhaps He is inviting us to become His little children once again, not childish, but childlike.

To trust Him. To rest in Him. To believe that His love has never diminished, even when our faith has felt weary. The truth we learned as children is still true today.

Jesus loves me.
This I know.
For the Bible tells me so.

Let Us Pray

Abba,

Today we come before You not with polished words or perfect faith, but simply as Your children.

Somewhere along life’s journey, many of us have forgotten what we once knew so well. As children, we sang, “Jesus loves me,” without hesitation. We believed You could do anything. We trusted You with our whole hearts.

Then life happened.

Some of us have buried people we never wanted to say goodbye to. Some have watched dreams slip through their fingers. Some have endured broken relationships, unanswered prayers, unexpected diagnoses, financial struggles, and seasons that seemed far too long.

At times, our hearts have quietly asked, “Abba, if You really love me, why did this happen?”

Yet You have never stopped loving us.

When our faith became weary, Your faithfulness remained steadfast. When we were too weak to stand, You held us. When our questions were louder than our praise, You never turned away from us.

So today, Abba, bring us back to the simple faith we once had. Teach us to trust You again—not because we understand everything, but because we know Your heart. Help us remember that Your love is not measured by our circumstances but by the Cross, where Jesus gave everything for us.

When fear whispers louder than faith, remind us that we are Your beloved children.

When we feel weak, remind us that You are strong.

When we feel alone, remind us that You have promised to stay close beside us all the way.

And when life feels confusing, help us rest in the one truth that has never changed:

Jesus loves us.

May we leave this moment with childlike hearts once again, trusting the Father who has never stopped watching over us, never stopped holding us, and never stopped loving us.

We love You, Abba.

In the precious and holy name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

Israel and New Breed featuring Joe L. Barnes

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 189/190 of 365: Order My Steps, Lord

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To Wholeness2 Comments

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, have you heard the line from the song, “I Can See Clearly Now” that says, “I can see clearly now the rain is gone”? Sometimes our lives unfold just like those lyrics.

This week, I had to truly pause, pray, think, seek wise counsel, and then make my decision. I’m so grateful I didn’t rush or make a hasty decision.

At first, I became angry, so I came here to write. But as I began writing, I realized the answer hadn’t come yet. Instead of forcing a decision, I chose to wait.

Last night I remained still before the Lord, and this afternoon the answer finally came. I began contacting the right people, setting things into motion, and now my spirit is at peace.

Family, although I was initially upset, I knew I had to run to the Lord first. No matter what my feelings do, I always talk to God. I ask Him to order my steps and help me remain still so I don’t get ahead of Him.

Holy Scriptures

Psalm 37:23-24
New International Version

23 The Lord makes firm the steps
    of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,  for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Proverbs 3:5-6
New International Version

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

Family, as I reflected on everything that happened, I thought about all the different scenarios that could have unfolded had I not waited on God. Over the years, I have learned the hard way that acting while I am caught up in my feelings often leaves me cleaning up one mess after another. The chaos isn’t always caused by the situation itself, but by my response to it.

Feelings have their place, and at times they can be beautiful. They allow us to love deeply, celebrate joyfully, and grieve honestly. But there are also moments when our feelings can cloud our judgment and lead us in directions God never intended.

I have learned that it is far better to wait on God. His timing is never careless, His wisdom is never rushed, and His direction always brings a peace that my emotions alone can never provide.

So today, my prayer remains simple:

Lord, order my steps

Order My Steps by Godpel Music Workshop of America / Women of Worship

Day 188 of 365: To Be or Not To Be…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, today my heart wrestled with one of the oldest questions ever written:

“To be or not to be?”

While those words are often associated with Shakespeare, tonight they have taken on a different meaning for me.

Life has a way of bringing us to moments where we quietly ask ourselves difficult questions.

– Am I doing something wrong?

– Have I missed God’s direction?

– Have I done everything I know to do?

Sometimes we stand at the foot of a mountain that seems impossible to climb. We have prayed, worked, waited, and remained faithful, yet the finish line still feels as though it is just beyond our reach.

If you’ve ever found yourself in that place, I want you to know that you are not alone.
Today reminded me that the hardest battles are not always fought around us. Often, they are fought within us. They are the silent conversations we have with God when no one else hears our prayers.

Abba, if there is something in me that needs to change, show me. Teach me. Correct me. But if I am walking faithfully, give me the courage to keep going even when I cannot yet see the outcome.

I have discovered that there is a holy difference between examining our hearts and condemning ourselves. God invites us to grow, but He never asks us to carry shame that He has not placed upon us.

Perhaps the real question isn’t simply, “To be or not to be?”

Perhaps the deeper question is:
Who will I choose to be while I wait on God? The answer is I will  continue to be the person I have always been.

But what happens when you have troublr waiting on people?

I truly want to be able to wrap this devotional in a big red bow and say, “Amen” but today’s devotional is not going to end that way.

I have real decisions to make. The one thing I will not do is get ahead of God. My counseling journey has been one hardest journeys of my life and the most rewarding.

The road to becoming a licensed counselor feels like it’s ten million miles away. There has to be a better way

Abba, please show me the way to go. I will follow wherever You lead me…

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 187 of 365: Thank You.

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greeting, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, sometimes the greatest gifts God gives us are not things. They are people.
There are men and women who enter our lives for a season, yet their fingerprints remain on our hearts forever. They teach us, encourage us, challenge us, believe in us, and quietly help us become who God is calling us to be.

Today, I simply want to say, “Thank You.”
Thank You, Lord, for allowing our paths to cross. Thank You for placing people in my life whose wisdom, kindness, and integrity helped shape the woman I am still becoming.

My mentor, Dr. L. Guy Chelton, was one of those incredible people. Dr. Chelton was one of those rare people whose influence reached far beyond the walls of an office. He invested in people. He believed in them before they believed in themselves. His encouragement was never loud or self-serving; it was steady, genuine, and life-giving.

Looking back, I realize that many of the opportunities I have been blessed to experience were made possible because someone like Dr. Chelton took the time to open a door, offer guidance, or simply believe that I could walk through it.

As I reflected today, I realized something beautiful. Every mentor, every teacher, every encourager is evidence of God’s love. They are reminders that God often answers our prayers through people. Their words become seeds, and years later we find ourselves living in the harvest of what they planted.

Family, perhaps tonight your “thank you” belongs to someone who changed your life. Maybe they were a parent, a teacher, a pastor, a friend, a coworker, or a mentor. Some may still be with us, while others have gone home to be with the Lord.

Whoever comes to your heart tonight, take a moment to thank God for them. Their influence is part of your testimony.

Proverbs 22:1
New International Version

22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

As I read his obituary, one detail touched my heart. In lieu of flowers, his family asked that donations be made to the Mayo Clinic. Even in his passing, Dr. Chelton’s life continues to bless others. It reminded me that a life lived in service doesn’t end when our earthly journey does. The seeds we plant continue to bear fruit in ways we may never see.

Let Us Pray

Abba,

Tonight my heart is simply filled with gratitude.

Thank You for the gift of people who help shape our lives. Thank You for mentors, teachers, friends, and encouragers whose kindness leaves footprints on our hearts long after they are gone.

Thank You for Dr. Chelton and for the ways his life blessed so many people. Thank You for the wisdom he shared, the opportunities he created, and the compassion he showed. May the seeds he planted continue to bear fruit in the lives of others for generations to come.

And Father, I also pray for every person reading these words tonight.

Some of us know You deeply. Some are searching. Some have questions they have never spoken aloud. Some wonder if You are even there.

Wherever we find ourselves tonight, meet us there.

If someone is searching, let them find hope.
If someone is hurting, let them find comfort.
If someone is uncertain, give them the courage to keep asking honest questions.

And if someone already knows Your love, help them become the kind of person whose life quietly points others toward goodness, compassion, truth, and grace.

Teach us all to live in such a way that when our own lives are remembered, people will thank You for allowing our paths to cross.

Thank You for every life that becomes a blessing to another.

In Christ Jesus name we pray. Amen, Amen and Amen.

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

July 6, 2026

Day 185/186 of 365: Wilderness or Vacation?

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, have you ever heard the phrase, “I’m in my wilderness season”? Typically, that means someone is going through a very difficult time. But what if the wilderness wasn’t always a bad thing? What if there could be the gift of a vacation in the middle of it all? Let’s talk about how a wilderness experience can become a holy vacation with God.

What I have realized recently is that God is not necessarily punishing me when I enter a season of isolation. Sometimes isolation is exactly what the Great Physician has ordered so that I can return as my best self, or perhaps even better than before. We have to remember that God always has something precious He wants to teach us during those quiet seasons.

Drawing close to God and spending one-on-one time with Him should be a beautiful experience. Don’t get me wrong; there are seasons of isolation that are deeply painful, and I definitely know the difference. (You’ll just have to trust me on that one.)

Holy Scripture

Psalm 62:1-2
New International Version
Psalm 62[a]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

The difference is not always where we are, it is often why we are there.

Sometimes, we find ourselves in difficult seasons because we have resisted God’s direction or wandered from His will.

Other times, God lovingly leads us away from the noise of the world into a quiet place of healing, renewal, and preparation.

The first is a place of loving correction.

The second is a place of holy restoration.

In both, however, God is present, and His desire is always to draw us closer to Him.

Family, whether you find yourself walking through a wilderness of loving correction or resting in a season of holy renewal, take heart. You never walk alone. The great I AM WHO I AM is already there, faithfully being everything you need for every step of the journey.

Let Us Pray

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being the great I AM WHO I AM. Before we ever knew what this day would hold, You were already there. Before we ever took our first step into this season, You had already gone before us, preparing the way with Your love, mercy, and faithfulness.

Lord, today we bring You every heart reading these words. Some are walking through a wilderness of loving correction, learning to trust and obey You more deeply. Others are resting in a quiet season of healing, renewal, and preparation. No matter where we find ourselves, remind us that we are never alone.

Your presence surrounds us, Your Spirit strengthens us, and Your love never fails.
Teach us to embrace the seasons You have ordained for our lives.

When You call us to be still, help us to rest without guilt. When You call us to move forward, give us courage to take the next faithful step. Protect us from comparing our journey to someone else’s, and help us to trust that Your timing is always perfect.

Father, thank You for being our Shepherd when we need guidance, our Healer when we are wounded, our Peace when life feels uncertain, our Strength when we are weary, and our Refuge when we need a safe place to rest. You truly are everything we need because You are the great I AM.

As we close this time together, quiet every anxious thought and calm every troubled heart. Fill us with the deep assurance that You are working all things together for our good, even when we cannot yet see the whole picture. May we walk into tomorrow with hope, joy, and confidence, knowing that the One who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it.

We surrender our wildernesses, our holy vacations, our questions, and our dreams into Your loving hands. Lead us one step at a time, and may every step bring us closer to You.
In the precious, powerful, and loving name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

Draw Me Close/Thy Will Be Done · Marvin Winans
Marvin L. Winans Presents: The Praise & Worship Experience
℗ 2012 MLW Productions, Inc
Released on: 2012-06-26

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 183/184 of 365: Independent But Never Alone…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, as I reflected on Independence Day, I realized that many of us are stepping into new seasons of life.

Every year a new group of people are transitioning to a new level of independence.

Whether it is a young child taking their first steps into school or a high-school senior throwing their graduation cap in the air, there is a new level of independence for all, including the parents.

As parents, you have watched each step your child has made. You have nurtured, encouraged, taught, and loved your child with the goal that each year they learn about themselves and the world around them.

I know, like me, everyone is not a parent. I still pinch myself when I think about  graduating with a masters degree just six months ago. As I get older there are several things that are new for me, especially as someone who is in their 50s.

Whether it’s beginning a new job, facing health challenges, or becoming empty nesters, every season we are learning to trust God in unfamiliar places. Change has a way of reminding us how much we need Him.

Family, while the world often celebrates independence as standing on our own, Scripture teaches us something even greater. Every new season is an invitation to become more dependent upon God.

We may become more independent in life, but we never outgrow our need for our Heavenly Father. In every new beginning, every unfamiliar path, and every unexpected change, God walks beside us. He does not send us ahead and wish us good luck. He goes before us, walks with us, and remains behind us as our protector.

So as we celebrate Independence Day, let us also celebrate the freedom we have in Christ. We are free from carrying tomorrow’s burdens by ourselves. We are free to trust the One who already knows what tomorrow holds.

Family, we may be independent in many ways, but with God we are never alone. Amen

Let Us Pray

Father, thank You for every season of growth You bring into our lives. When You call us into unfamiliar places, remind us that You never ask us to walk there alone. Teach us to trust You more deeply than we trust our own strength. As we celebrate the freedoms we enjoy, help us never forget that our greatest freedom is found in Christ. Walk beside us in every new beginning, calm every fear, strengthen every weary heart, and remind us each day that because You are with us, we are independent in life but never alone. In Christ Jesus’ name, Amen, Amen, and Amen

Video of the Day

Dependable God (Medley) · Victor Thompson

Dependable God (Medley)

℗ 2967292 Records DK

Released on: 2021-10-22

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 181/182 of 365: Positioned To Grow

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, as a continuation of yesterday’s devotional regarding going where God leads you, tonight is about how to grow once you get there. Where God plants you is where He intends to nourish you.

Psalm 1:1-3
New International Version
BOOK I
Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

Family, every one of us is walking a different road, but the secret to spiritual growth is always the same. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, our character begins to reflect His character. Our words, our choices, our attitudes, and our actions become evidence of the One who has been nurturing our hearts.

One thing I say often is:

DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF SEEDS YOU PLANT, YOUR FRUIT WILL ALWAYS TELL ON YOU, GOOD OR BAD.

God is far more interested in our faithfulness than our popularity. Before He entrusts us with greater responsibilities, He watches how we steward what He has already placed in our hands.

The Bible says it this way:

Luke 16:10
English Standard Version

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Family, don’t become discouraged if you don’t see fruit overnight. Trees don’t grow in a single day, and neither do disciples. God is patient with us because He knows that healthy roots produce healthy fruit.

Stay planted.

Stay faithful.

Stay close to the Living Water.

In His perfect season, the fruit will come, because the word of God says:

Galatians 6:9
New King James Version

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Welcome to your new season, Family. If by chance this season feels familiar, take a moment to look back at the one before it. Ask yourself, What did God teach me? Where did I grow? Were there lessons I overlooked? Then sit quietly with God. He is faithful to reveal what still needs to be cultivated within your heart.

His grace and mercy will walk with you every step of the way.

Let Us Pray

Abba,

Thank You for planting us exactly where we need to be. Teach us not to rush the seasons You have designed for our growth. Help us to send our roots deeper into Your love, Your Word, and Your presence.

When the journey is steep, give us steady feet. When the path is uncertain, remind us that You walk beside us. When we grow weary, strengthen us to remain faithful until the fruit You have promised appears in its proper season.

Lord, cultivate within us hearts that trust You completely. Remove anything that keeps us from becoming all You created us to be. May our lives bear fruit that brings You glory and offers hope to those around us.

We choose today to stay planted, to stay faithful, and to stay close to the Living Water, knowing that You are working even when we cannot yet see the harvest.
In the precious name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen, Amen and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

JAMAL ROBERTS – He’s Preparing Me / July 2011

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 180 of 365: Room To Grow

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you.

Genesis 12:1-3
New International Version
The Call of Abram

12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

2 “I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.[a]
3 I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.”

Family, whenever God opens a door, He has already gone before you. He has prepared what you will need for the journey, even if you cannot yet see it. Our response is simply to trust Him, obey His voice, and go.

Jesus, also gave us the same promise of going ahead of us and preparing a place. I have told people on multiple occasions that when it is God, the doors will open easily and the timing will be perfect, because Jesus promised to go before us and prepare a place. That place is not just talking about Heaven. It is also referring to seasons of our lives.

How will you know when it’s God?

You will know it is God because, even when the journey is difficult, He continues to provide peace, direction, and confirmation. The doors He opens do not require manipulation or striving. Instead, He faithfully guides each step.

An ordained door should not require a brick of C4 to force it open. If we have to manipulate, pressure, or force the door, perhaps it is time to pause and seek God’s direction again.

John 14:1-4
New International Version
Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Is change always easy? Of course not. Hearts may mourn, and tears may be shed. Yet when God’s hand is upon a journey, His grace is more than enough to carry us through.

If you are facing a new season that God is leading you to then trust God, stay close, and take one ordained step at a time.

Sometimes the greatest blessing God gives us is not a change of destination, but the room to become the person He created us to be.

Travel light, Family. Travel Light.

Let Us Pray

Dear Loving Abba:

Tonight, I don’t come before You with all the answers. I simply come as Your daughter.

Thank You for every step of this journey. Thank You for every mountain You have carried me over, every valley You have walked with me through, and every tear You have lovingly caught before it ever reached the ground. You have never left me, not even once.

Father, I can feel that something is changing. I cannot fully explain it, but deep within my soul I sense that You are preparing me for a new season. As exciting as that is, it is also a little frightening. The familiar has been comfortable, even when it has been difficult. The unknown requires trust.

So tonight, I choose to trust You.

Just as You called Abram to leave what he knew, help me to follow wherever You lead. I do not need to know every detail of the journey if I know the One who walks beside me. Remind me that before You ever ask me to take a step, You have already gone before me to prepare the way.

Lord Jesus, You promised that You prepare a place for us. Thank You that You not only prepare an eternal home, but You also prepare us for every season of this life. Thank You for making room for me to grow—to become more patient, more compassionate, more faithful, and more like You.

Father…would You hold my hand?

When my heart feels heavy, hold my hand.

When I cannot see around the next corner, hold my hand.

When tears come because someone I love is beginning a new journey, hold my hand.

When fear whispers louder than faith, gently squeeze my hand and remind me that I am never walking alone.

Teach me to travel lightly. Help me lay down every fear, every burden, every “what if,” and every attempt to control what belongs in Your hands alone. Fill those empty places with hope, peace, and quiet confidence in Your perfect love.

Thank You for the little girl who simply wanted to belong to You. Thank You for never letting go of her hand. And thank You for loving the woman she has become.

Whatever tomorrow brings, I know this one truth: I do not have to face it alone. Your hand is in mine, Your Spirit is within me, and Your love surrounds me.

So tonight I rest.

I rest in Your promises.

I rest in Your presence.

I rest in the certainty that the same God who called me is the God who will faithfully lead me home.

I love You, Abba.

In the precious, holy, and faithful name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

#Gospel #DeitrickHaddon #OpenDoorSeason
Director – Terrance Church & Deitrick Haddon
Dp – Terrance Church
Editor – Terrance Church
Producer – Deitrick Haddon
Executive Producer – Deitrick Haddon
Production company – DH Visions

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA,MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 178/179 of 365: Matters of the Heart

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Psalm 34:18
New International Version

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Family, tonight’s devotional is different.

As I sat down to write, my mind was moving in so many directions that I could not quiet my thoughts. Sometimes life has a way of placing so many emotions before us that our hearts don’t know which one to process first.

Our physical heart is one of the hardest-working organs in our bodies. Every moment of every day it faithfully pumps blood to sustain our lives. Yet there is another kind of work our hearts do that no doctor can measure.

Our hearts carry love.

They carry hope.

They carry memories.

They carry disappointments.

They celebrate life’s greatest joys, and they quietly mourn life’s deepest losses.

Sometimes the greatest weight our hearts carry is not physical at all. It is emotional.

I have found myself grieving a season that has not quite ended, yet I can already feel it  changing. It reminded me of something many of us have experienced.

Preparing for a funeral.

In the days leading up to it, everyone somehow manages to keep going. We make arrangements. We answer phone calls. We check on everyone else. Then the day finally arrives, and suddenly the reality stands in front of us. Our entire body feels the weight of that moment, but perhaps no part feels it more deeply than the heart.

Grief is not reserved only for death.

– Sometimes we grieve changing seasons.

– Sometimes we grieve distance.

– Sometimes we grieve uncertainty.

– Sometimes we grieve because we simply do not know what tomorrow will hold.

Yet in the middle of all those matters of the heart, Scripture gives us one of the most beautiful promises in the Bible.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted…”

Notice what David did not write.

He did not say the Lord waits until our hearts are healed.

He did not say the Lord stays at a distance until we become strong again.

He said the Lord is close.

There are moments when God does not immediately remove our pain, but He never removes His presence.

Sometimes His greatest gift is simply Himself.

His nearness.

His embrace.

His peace that quietly whispers, “You do not have to carry this alone.”

Family, if your heart feels heavy tonight, know that you are not forgotten.

If you are carrying burdens no one else can see, God sees them.

If your heart is aching over someone you love, God understands.

And if you feel as though your heart has reached its limit, remember that the One who created your heart is also the One who knows how to hold it together when you no longer can.

Tonight, whatever your heart is carrying…

Give it to the One who promises to stay close.

Let Us Pray

My Holy Abba,

Tonight we come before You with hearts that are carrying things words cannot fully express. Some of us are grieving. Some are anxious. Some are facing uncertain tomorrows. Others are simply exhausted from trying to be strong for everyone else.

Thank You for being the God who is close to the brokenhearted. Thank You that we never have to hide our tears, our fears, or our questions from You. You welcome us just as we are.

Father, wrap Your loving arms around every person reading this tonight. Remind them that they are not walking through this season alone. When their hearts feel overwhelmed, become their peace. When they feel weak, become their strength. When tomorrow feels uncertain, remind them that You are already there.

Help us to trust You with the people we love, with the paths we cannot yet see, and with the future that rests safely in Your hands.

Teach us to rest, not because every problem has been solved, but because Your presence is enough.

Thank You for staying close when our hearts hurt the most.

We love You, Abba.

In the precious name of Christ Jesus, Amen, Amen and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

Psalm 34 (Taste & See)
Written by: Shane Barnard & Joseph James Rigney / Watch the acoustic performance of “Psalm 34 (Taste and See)” by ‪@ShaneAndShaneMusic‬. Get free charts, lyrics, and resources here: https://www.worshiptog…

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Day 177 of 365: My Shelter and Strength

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, there are seasons in life when everything around us seems to be changing. Relationships change. Health changes. Our routines change. Even the dreams we thought we understood can begin to look different.

During those moments, our hearts naturally search for something that will not move.
For me, that place has always been God. He has become my shelter in every storm and my strength when I have none of my own.

When my mind is weary, He gives me rest. When my heart is wounded, He gently restores it. When fear tries to convince me that I am alone, His presence reminds me that I have never been abandoned.

God does not always remove the storm immediately, but He faithfully provides a refuge in the middle of it. Under His care, we find peace before the answers arrive, hope before the breakthrough comes, and strength before we ever realize we needed it.

These are the scripture passages that I immediately run when I need a time of refreshing and restoring.

The Word

Psalm 46:1-4
New International Version
Psalm 46[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.

Psalm 91:1-2
New International Version
Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

Family, healing is not only about our bodies. Sometimes God begins by healing our thoughts, restoring our hope, calming our anxious hearts, and reminding us that we are safe in Him. Before He changes our circumstances, He often changes us within our circumstances. That is the beautiful work of our Shelter and our Strength.

Let Us Pray

Abba,

Thank You for never growing weary of Your daughter. Thank You that no matter how many times I come running to You, Your arms are always open.

When life changes, when my heart feels heavy, when my mind grows tired, You never tell me that I have come too often. Instead, You invite me closer.

Thank You for allowing me to crawl into Your lap once again. There, I find safety. There, I find peace. There, I remember who I am. You quiet my fears, heal the places no one else can see, and gently restore both my heart and my mind.

You have always been my shelter and my strength. You are my refuge when the storms of life begin to rage. You are the place where I feel completely safe, completely known, and completely loved.

Thank You for being my Abba. Thank You for being my home.

No matter where life leads me, no matter how the seasons change, may I always run first into Your loving embrace.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

Mark Hall, Bernie Herms
© 2005 Be Essential Songs (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com) / My Refuge Music (BMI) (admin at CapitolCMGPublishing.com); Banahama Tunes / Word Music LLC (ASCAP) (admin. by WB Music Corp.)

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)