Devotionals

Proverbs 15:13

2 Corinthians 3:18

Proverbs 31:30

External beauty is ephemeral. Internal beauty is eternal. The former is attractive to the world; the latter is pleasing to God.Peter describes this inner beauty as a "gentle and quiet spirit" (1 Peter 3:4).

This might be paraphrased "a gentle tranquillity."Without question, this is any woman's most powerful quality—true character.

Luke 1:50

I have a dear friend who stayed by his wife's side for almost a year as she was dying with ovarian cancer. He told me of such occasions, when the Lord gave merciful relief from the pain. He said it wasalmost as if an angel of mercy hovered over their room.When we're suffering the consequences of unfair treatment, there is mercy with God.

When we're enduring the grief of loss, there is mercy.When we struggle with the limitations of a handicap, there is mercy.When we're hurting and in physical pain, there is mercy.

Proverbs 17:3

Ask yourself three questions of discipleship:As you think through the major decisions you have recently made (during the past six to eight months), have they pleased the Lord or fedyour ego?Have you begun to take your personal goals and desires before the Lord or fed your ego?

Ecclesiastes 11:8

Happiness is for today. Joy is available now. We are not to put it on hold.

Happiness isn't something that will secretly open up to us when we turn 55 or when we reach some goal or find the right marriage partner. Happiness is fornow. It is inseparably linked to the living Lord.

A catechism in the Presbyterian church begins with the question, "What is the chief end of man?

Psalm 32:6

Never underestimate the place of prayer.I'm convinced that one of the reasons we are so lax in prayer is that we have never prepared a place to meet with God. When you want to draw near to the heart of God, you have to get away from the din, awayfrom the confusion, away from the noise and distractions.

You need a place apart—a place where you can separate yourself from the distractions of daily life and meet, alone, with God.

Then, be specific in your prayer life.

Proverbs 22:6

When it comes to rearing children, developing a strong home where happiness and harmony can flourish, there is a primary starting point: knowing your child.

This is the most profound insight, the single most helpful secret I can pass on to you on the subject of childrearing.

Do not think that just because you have conceived, carried, and finally given birth to your little one, you automatically know your child. Nor can you say you know him or herjust because you live in the same house. I must say, categorically, you do not.

Psalm 5:8

God's voice isn't all that difficult to hear. In fact, you almost have to be closing your eyes and stopping your ears to miss it.

He sometimes shouts through our pain, whispers to us while we're relaxing on vacation, occasionally He sings to us in a song, and warns us through the 66 books of His written Word. It's right there, ink on paper.

Count on it—that Book will never lead you astray.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

There's an old Swedish motto that hangs in many a kitchen: "Shared joy is a double joy. Shared sorrow is half a sorrow."

The secret of survival is not simply enjoying life's joys and enduring its sorrows, it is in sharing both with others.

We gain perspective by having somebody at our side. We gain objectivity. We gain courage in threatening situations. Having others near tempers our dogmatism and softens our intolerance. We gain another opinion. We gain what today, in our technical world, is called "input."