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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)

Day 175 and 176: Self-Care

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

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

Family, yesterday was not my best day. I came to the realization that it was time to step back and practice something I often encourage others to do, self-care.

On the very first day of my master’s degree at Liberty University, one of the very first lessons we were taught was the importance of self-care. Our professors knew that as future therapists we would spend countless hours pouring into the lives of others. If we neglected our own emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being, we would eventually have nothing left to give.

Since graduating from Liberty and beginning the privilege of working with some truly amazing clients, life has become busier than I ever imagined. Between work, counseling, writing these daily devotionals, and life’s everyday responsibilities, I realized I could not continue at my current pace without intentionally making time to rest and be refreshed.

The beautiful thing is that self-care is not merely a modern idea, it is a biblical principle. God cares about every part of our lives: our spirit, our mind, and our body.

3 John 2
New King James Version

2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Yesterday, I realized I had been giving so much of myself to everyone else that I had forgotten to extend that same grace to myself. Rest is not selfish. Sometimes it is an act of obedience.

Let Us Pray

Abba,

Thank You for loving us enough to care about every part of our lives. You are not only concerned with the condition of our souls, but also with our minds, our bodies, and our hearts. You created us, and You know our limits even better than we do.

Lord, forgive us for the times we have believed that constantly giving without resting somehow brings You glory. Forgive us for neglecting the temples You have entrusted to our care. Help us to understand that caring for ourselves is not selfish when it enables us to better serve You and those You have placed in our lives.

Teach us to recognize when we need to slow down. Give us the wisdom to build healthy boundaries, the courage to say “not today” when necessary, and the humility to admit when we are weary. Remind us that even Jesus withdrew from the crowds to pray, to rest, and to spend time alone with You. If the Savior of the world made room for rest, surely we should as well.

Father, refresh every person reading this devotional today. Some are physically exhausted. Some are emotionally drained. Others have been carrying burdens in silence for so long that they no longer remember what peace feels like. Wrap them in Your loving presence. Restore what stress has stolen. Heal what anxiety has worn down. Strengthen what has become weak.

Help us to remember that true self-care begins in Your presence. As we spend time with You, renew our minds, restore our joy, strengthen our bodies, and fill our hearts with Your peace. May we leave Your presence better equipped to love, serve, encourage, and care for others because we have first allowed You to care for us.

We surrender our schedules, our responsibilities, our worries, and our need to always keep going. Today, we choose to rest in You.

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

Worship Video of the Day

Watch Moses Bliss and Chandler Moore Perform ‘Your Love’ at House On The Rock , off the album ‘The Expression

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 174 of 365: The Rose of Sharon

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

His Banner Over Me

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

Family, as I have studied the history behind the Rose of Sharon, I have been captivated by the literal Rose of Sharon as a flower and the  figurative Rose of Sharon as a Savior.

As a literal flower or bush the Rose of Sharon is a beautiful plant. Biblically, the Plain of Sharon is the central section of the Israeli coastal plain, stretching south from Mount Carmel to the Yarkon River (near Tel Aviv). Historically recognized for its ancient oak forests, the region has transformed into Israel’s most densely populated and agriculturally rich area.

As I reflected on the Rose of Sharon, I found myself drawn not only to the flower and the land where it grows, but also to the way Scripture uses love, beauty, and invitation as images that point my heart toward Christ.

The Song of Solomon is a beautiful dance of love, a love that is not rushed, but unfolds with honor, covenant, timing, and grace.

Here is a brief excerpt from Chapter 2:

Song of Songs 2:1-4
New International Version

She[a]

I am a rose[b] of Sharon,
    a lily of the valleys.

He

2 Like a lily among thorns
    is my darling among the young women.

She

3 Like an apple[c] tree among the trees of the forest
    is my beloved among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade,
    and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
4 Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
    and let his banner over me be love.

The Invitation

Family, I know that my connection may not be a common one that is traditionally made, but please give me the grace of making this connection of the invitation and seating placement at the banquet. In the Song of Solomon 2:4 the writer guides other women who may be reading her instructions.

4 Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
    and let his banner over me be love.

In the 14th Chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus has been invited to a wedding banquet at a Pharisees home. He notices that certain people are fighting to sit at prominent seats of recognition. In verses 7-11, Jesus gives this instruction:

Luke 14:7-11
New International Version

7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:

8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.

9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.

10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.

11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Family, what do I hear when I read these passages? WAIT ON THE LORD!!

Get to know the Lover of your Soul. Take your time in knowing what pleases the Lord. God desires relationship above all else. Every day with Jesus is sweeter and sweeter. Enjoy the journey.

Let Us Pray

Heavenly Father,

Tonight, we come before You with grateful hearts. Thank You for being the Lover of our souls, the One who invites us into a relationship that is deeper than words and sweeter than we can fully comprehend.

Lord, as we reflect on the beauty of the Rose of Sharon, remind us that Your love is not rushed. Just as a flower blooms in its appointed season, teach us to trust Your timing in our lives. Help us to stop striving, stop comparing, and stop running ahead of You. Give us the grace to wait patiently and confidently for Your leading.

Father, when we are tempted to seek recognition, remind us to choose humility. When we are tempted to rush the process, remind us that relationship is more important than arrival. Teach us to take the seat You have prepared for us and trust that You know exactly when it is time to call us higher.

Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting us to Your banquet table. Thank You that Your banner over us is love. Thank You that we do not have to earn our place in Your presence, but are welcomed by Your grace. May we never become so busy pursuing blessings that we neglect the Blesser. May we never become so focused on the destination that we forget to enjoy walking with You along the way.

Help us to know You more deeply each day. Let our hearts remain tender, teachable, and full of wonder. Give us eyes to see Your beauty, ears to hear Your voice, and hearts that delight in Your presence.

And as we continue this sacred journey, may we remember that every day with You is sweeter than the day before. Teach us to enjoy the journey, trust the process, and rest in the assurance that You are leading us exactly where we need to be.

In the precious name of Jesus, our Beloved Friend and Savior, we pray. Amen, Amen and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

Credit to Artist Kevin Prosch singing we added words. It’s about the Bloodline and it is His Love. He is calling in all of the remnant.

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 173 of 365: Prince of Peace

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

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

Family, we have been exploring the names of God and what they reveal about His character. But all of these names find their fullest expression in Jesus Christ.

In Him, we see not only the power of God, but the heart of the Father revealed to us in relationship, closeness, and peace.

Tonight, we continue with the names of Jesus that reflect this divine nearness.

Isaiah 9:6
King James Version

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

This is not only a prophetic declaration, it is a revelation of who Jesus is.

Peace is not simply something He brings; it is something He carries within Himself. It flows from His nature.

The world often defines peace as the absence of conflict, noise, or pain. But the peace of Christ is different. It is not dependent on external conditions. It is the presence of God steadying the heart even when circumstances remain unchanged.

This is why Isaiah does not separate His titles. He is Wonderful Counselor in confusion, Mighty God in weakness, Everlasting Father in uncertainty, and Prince of Peace in every storm.

Peace, then, is not something we reach for, it is Someone who reaches for us.

And tonight, in whatever your body is carrying, whatever your mind is holding, and whatever your heart is processing, this truth remains steady: His peace is not distant. It is near. It is reigning. And it is available right where you are.

Let Us Pray

Beautiful Jehovah, we come before You tonight in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

You see what we cannot always put into words, the pain in the body, the weight in the mind, the weariness that settles in the soul. And yet, You remain near.

Lord Jesus, we ask for Your peace to rest where we are right now. Not a peace that ignores what is happening in our bodies, but a peace that holds us steady in the middle of it.

Let Your presence quiet what is anxious. Let Your nearness calm what is restless. Let Your love remind us that we are not alone in this moment.

Where there is discomfort, bring Your comfort. Where there is uncertainty, bring Your assurance. Where there is weakness, be our strength.

We receive Your peace not as something we earn, but as a gift You freely give.
And tonight, we rest, not in perfect conditions, but in a perfect Savior.

In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and  Prince of Peace. Amen, Amen, and Amen. 

Worship Video of the Day

In a world filled with noise, chaos, and uncertainty, there is One who brings peace beyond understanding — Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
A song of hope, worship, and peace.
8/30/2025

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 171/172 of 365: My Abba

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Father / My Father

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

Family, today’s devotional is surrounding an Aramaic word that is very close to my heart. You have read several times when I start my prayers I still call God Abba.

I love the Lord and I have so much reverence for Him, I call Him Abba because he has been the most amazing Father. He makes me feel whole, loved, and seen. I know who I am through his eyes.

Abba is used three times in the Bible.

Mark 14:36
New International Version

36 “Abba,[a] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Romans 8:15
New International Version

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.”

Galatians 4:6
New International Version

6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[a] Father.”

What stands out to me about the word Abba is that it is not distant. It is not formal. It is not reserved for perfection. It is intimate, close, and spoken from the place of trust.

Jesus used this word in His most vulnerable moment in the garden of Gethsemane. In His distress, He did not turn away from the Father, He turned toward Him. Even while asking if the cup could pass, He still said, “Abba, Father…” That tells me something powerful: intimacy with God is not the absence of struggle. It is the presence of trust in the middle of it.

And in Romans and Galatians, we are reminded that this same Abba is not only the Father of Christ, but through Him, He becomes our Father too. We are not outsiders trying to earn access. We are adopted. We are welcomed. We are given the Spirit who teaches our hearts to recognize God as Father, not in fear, but in love.

So on this Father’s Day, I offer this thought:

Even if earthly fatherhood has been complicated, absent, or painful for some of us, there is still a Father who does not reflect those wounds.

There is an Abba who does not abandon, who does not withdraw love, and who does not misunderstand our hearts.

He sees fully. He stays fully. He loves fully.
And maybe today, the invitation is simple:

To let the heart learn again how to say, “Abba, Father,” not as a concept, but as a refuge.

Let Us Pray

Abba, Father,

Thank You for being near when life feels heavy and for being steady when everything else shifts. Thank You for adopting us into Your family and calling us Your own.

Teach our hearts to trust You more deeply. Heal what has been broken in our understanding of fatherhood. Replace fear with peace, and distance with intimacy.

Abba, for those who struggle today, those who miss a father, those who never had one, or those whose wounds are still tender, meet them gently and clearly.
Remind us that we are seen, known, and loved by You.

We rest in You today, Abba. In Jesus name, Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

Official audio of Chris Tomlin’s “Good Good Father”
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Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 170 of 365: Jehovah Shammah

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

The Lord Is There / The Lord Is Present

יהוה שמה

YAHWEH SHAMMAH

The Lord is There

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

Family, I have truly enjoyed this two-week journey of writing about the Hebrew names of God found in the Old Testament. Part of me truly wants to continue this journey into next week.

Tonight’s choice of Jehovah Shammah is especially meaningful to me. Throughout this two-week journey of learning about the Hebrew names of God, I have realized one very important truth: God is still the same today for me as He was for everyone in the Old Testament. God has always been there for me. No matter what I was facing, God has been forever faithful. It is also the reason that I lift my hands when I worship or just sit and cry. I am continually amazed at the never-ending love of God.

As we look at Jehovah Shammah in the context of where it is used in the Old Testament, the message is beautiful: God’s greatest promise is not that we will never walk through difficult places, but that we will never walk through them without Him.

Let’s look at Ezekiel 48:35 as it is the first and only time that Jehovah Shammah is used.

Before I share the scripture, I feel I should give it context. Ezekiel was a prophet used by God to rebuke and warn Israel—whom God called a “rebellious and stubborn” people. I know that I often encourage you to read the entire chapter to gain understanding of the text. The Book of Ezekiel is different. It is one where it is necessary to start at Ezekiel 1:1 and study the entire 48 chapters.

I know that sounds like a lot, but the chapters are very short. Unless you read Ezekiel in its entirety, you will never understand the full weight of our scripture selection today.

Ezekiel 48:35
New International Version

35 “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits.[a]

“And the name of the city from that time on will be:

The Lord is there.”

Oh how I wish I could adequately explain the loving grace that has taken place and resulted in this verse. More than anything, what I want you to take away is this:

Love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Jehovah Shammah will walk with you through the journey—just keep your eyes on Him.

There is an old church song that says:

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND….STAYED ON JESUS

I WOKE THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND, STAYED ON HIM.

I WOKE THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND STAYED ON JESUS, HALLELU, HALLELU, HALLELUJAH!!

Let Us Pray

Father God, Jehovah Shammah, The Lord Who Is There:

We come before You with grateful hearts, humbled by the truth that You are not a distant God, but a present One. You are the God who remains, the God who dwells with Your people, and the God who never abandons what He has created.

Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness through every season. Thank You that even in the places of struggle, even in the seasons of waiting, even in the moments of uncertainty, You are still there. You have never left, and You will never leave.

Teach us to recognize Your presence when life feels heavy. Teach us to see You not only in answered prayers, but also in the quiet strength to keep going. Open our eyes so that we stop mistaking silence for absence.

Father, as we walk through our daily lives, remind us that we do not walk alone. Go before us, walk beside us, and uphold us when we are weak. Let Your presence be our peace, our strength, and our steady place of rest.

For every heart reading this today, let there be a renewed awareness: The Lord is there. In the home, in the workplace, in the waiting room, in the night season, and in the early morning hours, You are there, Lord.

And Lord, we thank You that this promise is not dependent on our perfection, but on Your unchanging nature. You are Jehovah Shammah, and Your presence is our assurance.

We give You honor, we give You glory, and we give You our trust. In the name and authority of Christ Jesus we pray, Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

May 27, 2010 Rayshan Booker / Sunday Morning service at Eastside OK

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)