The New Has Come

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come!


As I reflect on all that has happened in this year of 2012, so many emotions fill me, but I am overwhelmed by a sense of victory. So much happened in 2012, much to rejoice over and much to mourn over. In the hardships I endured, I discovered a darkness I never knew existed, and for quite a while, it consumed me. I was broken, beaten down and shaken to the core. And my prayer was that God would restore me. And He has. He has taken my old, broken, beaten down self and renewed my spirit into a new and wonderfully restored creation of His. For that I am grateful beyond words. I look back and marvel at how my Father bent down and picked up the shattered pieces of His daughter's heart that were strewn across the threshing floor. And I rejoice because a victory was won over the darkness that threatened me this year. My Father entered the heart He restored and fought against the war that was waged against my soul, the war that my flesh was too weak to fight on its own. And He was and still is everyday victorious. I could look back on this year and say that it was a horrible year because of everything that hit me. But I can confidently say that this year was truly an amazing year all because my Father reigned victorious in every battle, because He healed all my battle scars and made me a new creation set apart for His purpose. For that I rejoice because I have found worth in the restoring love of the Father. And I rejoice because everything I went through this year brought me to that place of restoration, of renewal and of peace in my Father's perfect purpose.

I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on everything you've gone through this year, good and bad. Bring whatever darkness that is still weighing on your heart to God, and open up your heart to Him. Be honest with Him about the battles you're fighting, for He longs to hear from you, His precious child that He created. If you feel God's spirit pressing on your heart in this moment, invite Him into your heart and ask Him to restore you, to renew you into a new creation set apart for His purpose, and to fight all the battles that your flesh cannot handle, for He will reign victorious. Let your soul be overwhelmed in the satisfaction of this moment, and rejoice, dear child, for the new has come!

Let this message of restoration in Christ be embedded in your heart throughout 2013. I pray that He uses you in powerful ways this year to bring Him glory and to fulfill His purpose for your life. I hope all of you have a Happy New Year filled with new beginnings and adventures with the Lord!

Madelynn

Unshakable

Psalms 16:8

 

I have set the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

 

As we go throughout our days, we are thrown things that cause us shake and that threaten our sense of security. We work so hard to preserve that feeling of safety, to stay strong and grounded on the foundations we have built up for ourselves. However, as soon as a storm hits and the ground beneath us begins to quake, detrimental cracks are made in our unstable foundations and we begin to shake and sway in the presence of our overwhelming circumstance. It's so easy for us to give way to the shaking world around us, to fall and just give up. But we don't have to be conquered by our circumstances, we don't have to be shaken in our storms. The Lord stands before you right now with His arms open, patiently and longingly waiting for you to run to Him and take refuge in his presence. Once we run to Him and embrace His unfailing love, He remains at your right hand, constantly sustaining and protecting you. As we root ourselves in the concrete, unbreakable foundation of Christ, we become unshakable through every season of life. Knowing this empowers us in the darkest nights and the strongest storms, and emboldens us to push through our circumstance with complete trust in the unshakable rock that is our Savior.

 

Come to God with all your burdens, with all the things in your life that are causing you to anxiously shake and sway. Be honest and unveiled with Him about what you are going through, for He desires for you to openly communicate with Him. If you feeling God pressing on your heart, cast off all your anxieties and run to Him to embrace His presence. Commit to making Him the foundation of your life, and take confidence in knowing that He will empower you so that you will not be shaken, no matter how severe the storm may seem. Rest in the security that comes with abiding in the arms of your Father.

I pray that this word would sustain you and empower you today. I hope everyone has an amazing day!

 

Madelynn  

Our Rock and Fortress

Psalms 71:2-3 (ESV)

In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me, and save me!Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.

In the constant chaos that is life, we so often seek to be rescued from our storms. As we are torn apart by the things we are thrown in life, we cry out to anything and everything that could give us refuge, even if only momentary. We struggle against the raging waves in our souls for so long that we began to continually, deeply crave for solid, safe ground to stand on and find sustaining refuge in. These storms are daily struggles each of us battle in different ways. While our storms may vary in type and intensity, we all share one common thing in the midst of our chaos: the need for a secure refuge. We seek refuge in so many unstable things in this world, and we become blind to the sweet truth that God is the only true refuge, the only one who can pull us from our storms and root us in His solid foundation. No matter how chaotic and crazy our storms and struggles may seem, none are too big for our God to calm. His loving hand is outstretched towards you; you only have to reach out and embrace His saving grace that will ultimately be your refuge. Once we come to trust in the Rock that is our Lord, we will not be shaken, but rather grounded in the all sustaining power and love of Christ.

Bring to God any storms you are struggling against in your life, and open up to Him about the damage that has been done to your heart. If you feel God leading you, invite Him into your heart to calm the storms, to be your refuge and your healer. Rest in the the sweet security the Lord our God provides in His loving embrace, and take confidence in that he is the unshakable Rock of Refuge.

I pray that this would bring peace to your heart today, and that you would find a sustaining joy in this message. I hope your all have a wonderful day :)

Madelynn

Offering of Thanks

Psalms 107:19-22 (NIV)

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them;

he rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

Let them sacrifice thank offerings

and tell of his works with songs of joy.


Each and every single one of us has been to a place where we have encountered distress in some form, whether it be through a deep sadness over a hardship, or frustration over an insurmountable task. As hard as this truth is to embrace, hardships are an unavoidable part of human life. Often we are left wounded and empty in the aftermath of our trials, and in the oppression of the damage left on our souls, it's easy for us to lose hope in being restored. However, there is hope for the broken. When we cry out from the bottom of our hearts to the Lord, He hears our pleas and works powerful restoration in our lives. Once we come to Him in our brokenness and desperation, inviting Him to come in to our hearts and be our healer, He restores us with His unfailing love and gives us new life in Him. He liberates us from our sins and give us a hope beyond our expectations, filling us with a joy in Him through it all. As we experience the depths of His grace and love in the restoration He brings to our souls, our hearts can't help but enter into a spirit of thanksgiving. It pleases God to see His children bringing Him offerings of thanksgiving as they have opened their hearts to His love. It makes His heart happy to see songs of joy and gratitude on our lips, to see His creation living lives of worship in adoration to their Father.

Take this moment to cry out to God from the bottom of your soul, bringing to Him all your troubles and burdens. If you feel God leading you, invite Him into your heart to restore you and be your Healer, for He so desires to make you whole in His love. As you experience the power of His grace and love at work within you, allow your soul to be overwhelmed in a spirit of thanksgiving for all that He is doing in your life. Allow this spirit of thanksgiving to fill your heart in all the days to come, and let it sustain you with an ever present joy found in the love of the Lord.

I pray that this would fill your heart with gratitude and joy throughout today. I hope you all have a marvelous day, and a happy thanksgiving!

Madelynn

Kindness

Isaiah 63:7 (NIV)

 

I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord,
the deeds for which he is to be praised,
according to all the Lord has done for us—
yes, the many good things
he has done for Israel,

according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

 

Each of us was designed to thrive off of relationships with others in our lives. God created us to be personal beings and connect with those we encounter everyday. For that reason, when a person shows compassion, love or kindness to us, it resonates in our hearts and impacts us, even if just in smallest way. However, when we open our hearts to experience the steadfast love and kindness of our Father, developing a deep relationship with Him, our souls are shaken by the impact of His greatness at work within us, and we are left humbled in the peace His presence brings. If we were to just sit and think of all the kindnesses He has blessed us with, we would be sitting and meditating on His kindness for the rest of our lives, for they are exceedingly infinite. No matter how dark our circumstances may seem in life, no matter how empty of love we may feel at times, God is constantly at work for our good, orchestrating a divine purpose for each one of us. Knowing that the Lord has done many good things in our lives, we should filled with a passion to show this same loving kindness at work in us to others that we encounter. Every person that we pass everyday has a need for love, and God so desires for us to share the same compassion He has showed us to others, for it is too great of a gift to be kept secret and hidden from others.

 

Open up to God about how these verses have touched your heart. Maybe you're yearning for the kindness and goodness of God in your life, or maybe you are struggling with showing kindness to a certain person. However these verses speak to you, bring it to God with an unveiled honesty. If you feel God leading you, invite Him into your heart so that you may experience His steadfast love and kindness powerfully at work within you. Give thanks to Lord for all the good things He has blessed you with, and bring praise to Him for his loving kindness. Rest in the peace the compassion of the Lord brings and anchor your soul in the goodness of His love. Allow your soul to fully cherish this moment and this time with God.

 

I pray that this brings peace to your heart today. Always remember that you are incredibly loved! I hope you all have an amazing day!

 

Madelynn

Worthy of Praise

Revelation 4:11 (ESV)

 

Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.

There are so many things today that people deem worthy of praise. Celebrities. Appearances. Relationships. Wealth. We have a never ending list of things that we praise in the world today. But how often do we stop and give praise to the one who is worthy of all praise, who created the Earth and all that is within it? So often we get caught up in singing the world's praises that we forget to give our praise to the one who is truly worthy of our adoration. God knows that He is truly the only One who can fill us up, and it breaks His heart to see us glorifying and worshipping the things of this world. He so desires for us to sit humbly at His feet in awestruck adoration of all that He is, giving thanks to Him for all that He has done. It is in that moment when we humble ourselves before the Father that we are overwhelmed with His powerful presence and experience the greatness of our creator God.

Come to God with all the things that you praise and worship today, no matter how big or small they may seem. If you feel God leading you, cast down all those things that you put on such a high pedestal and humble your heart before Him. Simply meditate on the indescribable greatness of our God in this moment, and allow your soul to enter into a spirit of adoration and thanksgiving to the Lord. He deeply desires for you to come to Him and love Him with reckless abandon just as He has loved you. Take this time to give God all glory, honor and power, for He is worthy and He divinely designed you with a purpose to live your life as an act of worship to Him.

I pray that this would bring you peace and joy today in the greatness of our God. I hope you all have a fantastic day today!

Madelynn

Be Still

Psalms 46:10-11 (NIV)

 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

 

 

As the world seems to constantly increase its pace and thrive on busyness, being still is something that is often disregarded and overlooked. We push through our days with our sights firmly set on our plans and goals for our lives, going to any means to reach our desired destination. Many of us become overwhelmed as the pressures of the world grow heavier and heavier on our souls until we reach our point of breaking. Our bodies and souls were not designed to barrel through our lives without taking a moment to rest. We need rest and peace to sustain both our bodies and our souls. What we need is not an earthly peace that is fleeting and misleading, but rather a divine, heavenly peace that refreshes and nourishes our souls. If we allow our souls to truly rest in the presence of the Father, taking comfort and joy in simply knowing that God is sovereign, our souls become deeply rejuvenated as the Father restores us in His love. The peace that comes with ceasing to push our souls to the brink of breaking, and taking refuge in the greatness of our God is indescribable and is vital in allowing our souls to thrive and be sustained.

 

Take a moment to simply just pause in the middle of the chaos of your life and rest in the presence of the Lord. Be still in this moment and cherish the divine purpose of God that is working powerfully within you. Allow the Holy Spirit to move in you and instill in you a confidence in the sovereignty of our Father. Continue to allow your soul to rest for a few moments longer, truly savoring every sweet peaceful second that comes with resting in the presence of the Lord. As you rise from this moment of rest, let the peace you have found this moment be carried with you through out your day. God is here, He is with you and He will restore and sustain your soul.

 

I pray that this would give you peace in God's presence and restore in you a confidince in God's powerful purpose at work within you. I hope everyone has an amazing day!

 

Madelynn

Restoration

Psalms 51:10-12 (NIV)

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Many of us in our lives will come to a point when we feel so far from being fixed, so tainted by what we've done and guilt ridden from our actions. It is so easy to get pulled into the mind set that we are too far from grace to be healed, too deeply immersed in our sins to be purified. It breaks our Father's heart when we allow our hearts to be weakened and starved as we are fed the lies that our sins our too great to be forgiven. God holds in His heart an infinitely deep mercy that is readily available to all who seek His grace. He desperately wants for us to run into the refuge of His heart and experience His healing grace. As we come to Him with our brokenness and impurities that heavily burden our souls, seeking His forgiveness, He creates in us a pure heart, cleansed of sin and guilt and liberated in the unfailing love of our Savior. With this pure heart beating for God's purpose within us, a steadfast spirit embedded with a deep hunger for the love of God is continually renewed within us as we seek our Lord. The presence of the Holy Spirit moves powerfully within us as we experience a deep restoration through God's merciful love. With the rhythms of grace overwhelming our souls, we cannot deny the immense joy that comes with this deep restoration. As we are deeply filled with a merciful restoration overflowing with a sustaining joy, God creates a passion in us to pursue His perfect will that is constantly at work in our lives. All we have to do is run into the refuge of the heart of our Father and allow His restoring grace to heal our burdened souls.

Come to God with anything that is weighing you down in this moment, anything that is causing your heart to break or feeding any guilt within you. Let your heart be unveiled as you bring your wounds to your Father, for He so wants for you to humbly come to Him with raw honesty. If you feel God stirring in your heart, ask Him to create in you a pure heart and restore you with His unfailing grace. Be still in this moment and take joy in His love that is at work within you.

I pray that God's restoration in your life would fill you with an uncontainable joy throughout today and relieve you of any burdens that may be weighing on your heart. Let His will fill you with a passion and purpose as you carry out your everyday tasks. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Madelynn

Set Apart

2 Timothy 2:21

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

 

 

Everyday we walk through this world and are ambushed by the conformed standards that prove to hold such a gripping presence in our lives. We become weighed down by the darkness and the impurities that slowly creep into our hearts as we are molded and distorted by the world around us. Our hearts become buried beneath the filth that the world drags into our hearts, and as we attempt to push the dirt back further and further, we find we are only piling it higher and higher. It is so easy to be over burdened by the dishonorable things we accumulate throughout our lives, but our impurities are not something we have to be bound to; they are not permanent stains that we are forced to bear the shame of. Our hearts are able to be completely cleaned of every haunting transgression within us through the love filled purpose of Christ as we allow Him into our lives. Once we accept Christ into our hearts and bring to Him every burden of sin, He purifies us and fills us with His presence. As we are overflowing with the greatness of Christ at work within us, we become not of this world and are set apart through the purpose God has destined for each of us. Opening our hearts to God allows Him to use us in powerful ways for His good and perfect purpose. All we have to do is daily humble ourselves to His purpose that sets us apart and embrace God's love at work within us that is purifying us and guiding us down the straight paths He has set before us.

 

Open up to God about anything in your heart that is causing you feel guilty and burdened. As hard as it may seem, be completely open and honest with Him, for He so desires to hear from you, His child that He loves. If you feel God leading you, invite Him to come into your heart, purify you and set you apart for His incredible purpose in life. Take comfort in knowing that you no longer have to be chained to your mistakes but rather you can embrace the freedom that is found in the grace of God.

 

I pray that this empowers you today as a new creation in Christ, set apart for an amazing purpose. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

 

Madelynn

A Refuge in the Storm

Psalms 46:1-3 (ESV)

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

As much as we may go to great lengths to avoid trouble and desperation, hardships are something each one of us will encounter in some form in our lives. Often we turn to the things of this world or our own devices for refuge during the storms of life. We seek help in our Earthly desires in hope that they will satisfy us and make us happy, but come out more empty and broken than before. And when all things in the world fail us, we result to running away from our problems, running away from any help and pushing our burdens into the back of our hearts and minds, only giving them more room to grow and infect our thoughts and emotions. We run around confused and torn in the midst of our hardships, never knowing where to go to escape and experience a deep joy that heals all our wounds. God so desires to be the solution to our confusion, to be our healer in the midst of our pain. The doors of His heart are wide open for us to run in and take refuge in His perfect, all sustaining love. All we have to do is run, allowing God to break the chains of our burdens that ensnare us and free us to live in the protecting shadow of his overpowering love. For while it may seem that our world is giving way beneath our feet, like the mountains are crumbling around us and the storm is overwhelming us, we don't have to fear, we don't have to remain in despair. God is our refuge, our all sustaining one, our healer and He will guide us through our seemingly unconquerable circumstance. For through His strength and love that are constantly at work within us, all things are possible.

Come to God with any troubling circumstance that is oppressing you in this moment, no matter how big or how small. Allow your heart to be honest and unveiled before Him in this moment, openly admitting to Him how your hardships have affected your soul and any confusion you may be experiencing. If you feel God leading you, run to His heart and take refuge in His love. Pray that God will guide you through this storm and instill in you a confidence in His power. Simply rest and be still in this moment, allowing the peace that comes with taking refuge in God to overwhelm your troubled spirit.

I pray that this would give you peace in your storms today in knowing that God is an ever present help in through every obstacle life may throw you. I hope you all have a fantastic day!

Madelynn

Lavish Love

Ephesians 1:7-10 (NIV)

 
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

 

It is so easy for us to go through our lives and be overwhelmed by the guilt and emptiness within us. The conformity of the world that we live in can often starve our souls of the deep spiritual nourishment we need to be sustained in life. Our souls begin to wander in a dry and desert land, exhausted from the burdens of sin that we carry, longing for life water to quench the drought within us. God so deeply desires for us to come to Him with our burdens, our sins and our emptiness so that He may break the chains that bind us. He sent his beloved son Jesus to take our place on the cross and bear the weight of our sins. He has paid the price for our transgressions that burden us and so desires to lavish our thirsty souls with His unfailing grace and love. He wants for us to no longer walk in confusion as we stumble in the darkness, but rather allow His light to illuminate our souls and reveal to us the mysteries of His perfect purpose that he crafted for each one of us. The riches of His merciful love are held in the scarred hands of the Savior as He waits longingly for us to run into His arms and experience the grace-filled purpose He has designed for our lives. He is calling us to run, with open arms and open hearts, to fully embrace redemption and walk in the light of His wisdom and love at work in us.

 

Look into your heart in this moment and come to God with any burdens or sins you find weighing down your heart. If you feel God leading you, ask Him to search your heart and purify you of the sins that leave you empty. Pray that He would take your weary, empty spirit and lavish it with the amazing riches of His grace. Ask Him to allow His love and wisdom to work within you that He would reveal to you the incredible and unique purpose He has laid out for your life. He loves you deeply. Come to Him, lay down your heart and allow His redemption to work powerfully within you for restoration.

 

I pray that this gives your heart peace and a deep joy as you experience the riches of God's grace being lavished on your Soul. He loves you, and truly has an incredible purpose at work in your life. I hope everyone has a fantastic day!

 

Madelynn

From the Dust

Psalms 119:25-28 (NIV)
 
I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life according to your word.
I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;
teach me your decrees.
Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.

We go throughout our day to day lives fighting our own battles and living our own ways, and while we may not always see it coming, many of us hit rock bottom, lay low in the dust as we are knocked to our knees in the battles we face. Life can be so taxing, so exhausting and there is only so much our souls can take until we hit our breaking point. We lose whatever strength we collected on the battlefield and collapse in an instance of hopelessness, not knowing were to go or how to rise from the dust. But here we find where we are to go, how we are to rise from our weakness and be empowered: God. When we are broken on the ground amongst the dust, he restores and perseveres our lives through the promises in His word. He takes our sorrow and turns it into strength, empowering us in a way we could never fathom as we are being powered with His strength. As we come to Him, confessing our ways, both wayward and straight, His holy spirit comes over us and lays on our hearts a gentle answer. As we go through this cycle of restoration, God fills us and causes us to hunger for His word and His ways. And just as this prayer of David comes to God with a raw and broken honesty filled with a desire to grow closer to his Healer, so God desires for us to come to Him with that same unveiled honesty and grow an insatiable desire for His word.

Regardless of whatever you may be going through, whatever circumstance you may be facing, pray this prayer to God with all your heart. Personalize it and come to Him with a raw, unveiled honesty. He desires to hear from you, for you to communicate with Him as a Father and a Friend. If you feel God leading you, invite Him into your heart to restore you and ask Him to guide you to walk in His ways, growing in a sustaining relationship with Him. Rest in this moment, and meditate on the words of this Psalm, allowing peace and restoration to settle on your heart.

I pray that this word of God would empower you and give you peace throughout your day. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Madelynn

Cry Out

Psalms 40:1-3 (ESV)
 
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.


It's so easy to get caught in a slump in life. Where everything seems to either come to a standstill or work against you. We begin to feel down-cast and our vision is fogged as we stumble through our lives, unsure of where to go. We cry out for help to friends, to addictions, to relationships and things that bring us comfort in the world. We all cry out in our own way to the things we think will pull us out of that slump, which often will bring us momentary pleasure. But how often do we cry out to the One who always hears, who always responds, and is the only One who can pull us out of that slump? God is waiting patiently for you to cry out to Him and reach up to His hand so that He can pull you out. He wants us to wait patiently as His purpose is constantly at work in us, guiding to the place we need to be. Once we truly reach out and trust in God from the pit that we are cast into in our lives, He stands us upon His solid foundation and makes us secure in Him. All this gives us a joy beyond anything we've ever experienced and pours out into our lives. As we see the power that God has and how He cares for us with such a passion, we find ourselves trusting in Him with reckless abandon, letting go of anything that would hold us back from the love of our Saviour.

Take this moment to dig deep into your heart and cry out to God. Be honest with Him about what's weighing on your heart, for He desperately desires to hear from you, the one He loves so deeply. If you feel God leading you, ask Him to come into your heart and draw you out of whatever pit or slump you find yourself caught in. Pray for patience to wait on His purpose, and allow God to move in you in this moment, filling you with a new song of praise on your heart. Really rest in this moment and cherish the comfort that God is bringing. And let hope fill you for the days ahead that God has planned for you.

I pray that this word would empower you greatly today in God's purpose for your life. I hope you all have an amazing day! :)

Madelynn Marlow

Building Plan

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
 
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Our day-to-day lives have a way of wearing on our hearts and breaking us down. Long days and the emotions they carry can often be very taxing on our bodies and hearts. As this world constantly persists in its attempts to break us down, we search for things to build us up. We dig frantically through whatever rubble the world leaves us with to find anything that would make us stronger and build us up. The more we dig to find something to build us up, the more we come out empty and more worn down than before. We were not made to be broken down by this world, but rather to be built up in Christ. Christ gave His life so that we may have life in Him and be built up on the foundation of His love. As we surrender our lives to God's building plan for us, we are spared the wrath that was before pressed on our hearts and we experience true life in Him. We no longer go through life merely surviving, but truly living with the divine purpose God has laid on our hearts. And with this love filled purpose, we find that what God has placed within us can't be contained as God begins to work through us so that we and those around us may built up in Christ.

Open up to God about ways that you feel you are suffering in this moment, and what you are building your life on now. If you feel Him leading you, invite Him into your heart and give your life over to Him so that He may build you up in His incredible purpose. Ask God to work in you so that with His love, you can build others up in Him too.

I pray that this word would empower you in the plan God has for your life, and that it would guide you to build others up in Christ as well. I hope everyone has a great day!

Madelynn

The Healer

Psalms 147:3-4
 
He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars
    and calls them each by name.

There is one thing that is inevitable for every person to experience in life: hurt. Whether it be physical, spiritual, or emotional pain, we all have to face some sort of hurt in our lives. It's a truth that some have great difficultly accepting while others embrace the hurt in their lives far deeper than they ever should. It's not something that we want to face or dwell on, but it holds a gripping presence in our lives when it does creep in. And for many in the world, there is a hurt that cuts deeper than any physical wound, and that is the pain of a broken heart. It leaves us broken even if for just a moment, and causes us to be weak as we become vulnerable. When most reach a heartbreak that runs so deep, they give up and lose hope. But God designed our lives for such a greater purpose than to lose hope. He designed us to live in the stronghold His infinite love, holding on to an unbreakable hope in Him. It breaks His heart more than we'll ever know to see the hearts of His children breaking. He so deeply desires for us to let Him nurse our wounds and heal us into a new and stronger creation in Him. If He so divinely crafted every star that is held in the vast night sky, how much more does He hold an incredible purpose for you, the child of His that He so fearfully and wonderfully made with an astonishing purpose in life. He is our maker, our healer and our hope. We just have to open the door in our hearts and let His healing spirit move within us.

Open up to God about any pain you are experiencing right now in your life, big or small. All of us encounter hurt, and it's something that God wants us to come to Him with. If you feel God leading you, humble your heart before Him and allow Him to move within you. Ask Him to heal you in this moment and guide you live in the new life that He is creating in you now. Cherish this moment and the strength that God is empowering you with.

I pray that this would heal any hurt you are facing in your life, and that this word would empower you greatly with God's incredible purpose for your life. I hope everyone's day is amazing!

Madelynn

Passion

Colossians 2:6-7

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

The moment when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior in our hearts is truly an incredible, indescribable moment. It's one that completely changes the course of our lives, and gives us true life in the life of Christ. In that moment we are left on a spiritual high with a fire burning brightly inside of us with a new found passion for God. We want to go all in for Christ, to live out our lives in this the light of the newly restored lives we have received. However, it is so easy in that moment to get lost in the excitement and not know where to go. So many of us slip and slowly lose that passion God graced us with when we received new life in Him. And so many of us finally come to a point when we stop and wonder where that passion went and how we could ever get back on track we we've fallen so far. God is a God of restoration through love, and He so desires for us to experience that love through life in Him. He calls us to come back to Him, to hold on to that passion we first had when we fell in love with Him, and to continue to feed that fire within us burning for God. Once we give our lives to Him, He becomes the foundation of our lives in which our souls are firmly rooted. He takes our weaknesses and strengthens us, and continues to strengthen us as He reveals to us His ways through His word. And with all this flowing into us, we can't help but overflow with thankfulness. This amazing cycle of love and grace that God so calls us to is right in front of us, ready to be grasped and used. All we have to do is step out and take hold of the beautiful rhythms of grace we are called to.

Read over this word of God a few more times. Open up to God about what this word lays on your heart. If you feel God leading you, invite Him into your heart and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Take a moment and think about what new life in Christ means to you, and let the fire for God grow deep within you. Cherish this moment and the fresh passion for God's love that He is putting on your heart. Ask God to guide you so that you never lose this passion, that you are always rooted in Him, that He would strengthen you through His word and that you would always overflow with thankfulness for Him. Truly rest in this moment, and the sweet restoration it brings.

I pray that this would strengthen you greatly as you are rooted in the love of God today. I hope everyone has a fantastic day! :)

Madelynn

Holding it Together

Colossians 1:16-17

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

If we stop and take a look at the world around us, we find that a lot of things are falling apart. The economy. People's relationships. People's lives in general. People's health. And if we pause from the craziness of trying to hold everything in our lives together on our own, we often find that many of us are tearing at the seams on the inside as well. We all strive so hard to keep our lives together, to give our lives purpose, and in doing so we miss out on the true purpose our lives were designed to uphold. The God who created us holds us, along with all things in this world, together in his supreme power, and He is the one who gives our lives purpose. God was at the center of all things when the Earth was created. He is still at the center of all things today. And God and God alone will continue to hold all things together in our lives, in this world, and in the universe He created. Our lives were fearfully and wonderfully designed to have Christ at the center. We just have to stop fighting to have control and give control to the one who was meant to have control in the first place: God.

If you feel like you are fighting to hold all the things in your life together, and you're not sure where Christ plays a part in alll of this, open up to God about it. If you feel God leading you, invite Him into your heart and surrender all control to Him so that He may reign your life in the center of your life, holding all things together with His perfect purpose.

 I pray that this word would give you confidence in the power of Christ throughout today. I hope everyone has a great day!

Madelynn

Content

Philippians 4:12-13

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

In today's western culture, there is one thing that reigns in supreme importance over the minds of most of society: convenience. We are so focused on getting things done as soon as we need them done. We get frustrated over slow computers, long lines, dysfunctional technology, traffic and anything else that hinders our "need" to have the things we want right away. We are so easily discontented with situations that inconvenience us, and so often this discontent can overwhelm and control our day-to-day lives. God calls us here in His word to do something so counter-cultural, so unheard of in our society: to be content in whatever situation we face and do everything in the Lord. Once we allow God into our lives and allow Him to become our strength, we are filled with an incredible joy that overpowers any circumstance we face, and we are greatly empowered in the power of our God. With God's strength within us, even the most impossible situation we face in life becomes possible because God enables us to do all things through His strength. All we have to do is lay down our guard so that He may come into our hearts, and His strength will enable us to do all things through Him.

Open up to God about what you are not content with in your life, and how it's affecting you in this moment right now. Talk to Him about what being strong means to you, and about the weaknesses you are facing in your life. If you feel God leading you, invite Him into your heart and allow His presence to fill you life. Ask Him to empower you with His strength so that you may be enabled to do all things in Him, even to be content in every situation. Rest in this moment, and the joy the presence of the Lord brings into your life.

I pray that the strength of God would empower you greatly throughout today that your soul may rest and be content. I hope everyone has a marvelous day!

Madelynn

Hope

Psalms 42:11

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God

It's so easy to go throughout life and become downcast over even the littlest things. Even when life seems to be going fantastic, we always find a way to uncover something to worry about and bring us down. Many of us let all the little things that bring us down build up, until it overwhelms us and almost controls us. We search for hope in so many of the things that this world has to offer us, and yet we always come up empty and short-handed of hope. But here in God's word we find that there is a true source of hope that will always uplift us: God. His unfailing love and matchless light shines so brightly on our souls that we cannot help but turn our faces up to the God of grace and find the hope we seek in Him. He takes our lives, even in our most broken state, and restores us into a beautiful masterpiece. In Him there is no sadness, nor hurt, nor pain of any extent. There is only hope that will never fail and fills us whole. A hope that He so deeply desires for us to take hold of and trust in. And a hope that draws sweet praises from our lips and illuminates a contagious joy within our souls.

Talk to God about the things that are weighing on your soul and causing you to become downcast, even the littlest thing. Open up to Him about what hope you have, and where you have been seeking that hope. If you feel God leading you, invite Him into your heart and allow Him to lift up your face to His light and love that will shine the brightest hope into your life. Allow the presence of His Holy Spirit to work within you in this moment, and rest in this moment and the hope that has been unveiled in your heart.

I pray that this word would fill you with a deep, sustaining hope in God throughout your day and empower you in Him. I hope everyone has an amazing day!

Madelynn

The Perfect Friend

John 15:13-15

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Look back for a moment and reflect on the friendships you have right now in your life and the ones that you've had in the past. Think about how long they've lasted, how they started and maybe how they ended. Friendships often have a huge impact on us and others, and sadly are temporary in most cases. Friendships are designed to share love between friends and build others up here on Earth. And while many of us feel that there is at least one person that none could compare to, there is One who surpasses any relationship we could ever form here on Earth. God is the best friend we could ever invest our lives in if we just let Him into our hearts. He laid down His life for us so that we may have life in Him, and He is love itself. He has every right to call us His servants with all the power He holds, but He chooses to humble Himself and call us His friends. He shares unfathomable wisdom with us through His words, and He builds us up in a way that none other can. God truly is the perfect friend to which none could compare, and He so desires for you to embrace this incredible friendship that He offers you. All we have to do is accept Him in our hearts as our friend and savior and walk in the light of this divine relationship.

Open up to God about the relationships in your life. Talk to Him about any conflict you may be facing, or even if things are going fantastic, simply open up in conversation to God. If you feel Him leading you, accept His love in your heart and ask Him to guide you to walk in the light of this amazing friendship between you and Him. Rest in this moment knowing that the best friend you could ever have is living and breathing within you, guiding you all the way home.

I pray that this incredible relationship with God would give you peace and guidance throughout today. I hope you all have an amazing day!

Madelynn

Greatness

John 3:30

He must become greater; I must become less.

We live in a world that has a major focus set on greatness. Ever since we were born, we have been pushed and taught to perform our best so that we can achieve the best. And any achievement of greatness that we obtain satisfies our hunger for pride that the world causes us to deeply crave. We build ourselves up on pride and what the world defines as greatness, constantly working to make ourselves greater and better. However, whenever our lives revolve around making ourselves greater, we end up empty because we are chasing after an endless cycle hat never fully satisfies us. Our lives were designed before we were even born to revolve around God. It's a necessity in every part of our lives for God to be at the center. God desires for us to humble ourselves before Him so that He may flow abundantly into our lives and become our life source. Once we remove ourselves from our worldly pedestal and focus on the greatness of God, that is when we are satisfied and carrying out the purpose that God crafted us to fulfill.

Open up to God about what greatness means to you, and how it has played a part in your life. Talk to Him about any battles with pride or insecurity you may be facing. If you feel God leading you, humble yourself in this moment before Him that He may come into your heart and bring you to life in His light. Commit to God to always strive to put Him before yourself that you may satisfy that need of humbly living in the greatness of God.

I pray that this word would humble you and give you peace throughout today in knowing that God is in control of your life and that He is guiding you in the incredible purpose He has set before you. I hope you all have a fantastic day!

Madelynn

Wake Up Call

Ephesians 5:14

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

It's so easy to live out our lives and come to a point where we feel like we are just sleep walking through life. We go throughout our day-to-day lives often in the same mundane pattern, and often we find ourselves stuck in a rut, not really going anywhere but through the motions. When we enter into this deep period of spiritual sleep in our lives, we feel lifeless and a little empty, like we're missing that something that we need to wake us up from our slumber. God is that thing our souls crave and desire when we've been caught in the motions of this life. He is the wake up call telling us to rise and experience the light of the morning, to no longer live in the dark. Even when we know we need to wake up, so often we hit snooze on our spiritual wake-up calls and go back into our sleep because we don't want to leave the comfort of what we already know. But when we wake up and answer God's call to life, we are overwhelmed by the light our souls need in order to live. As we rise from the dark and lift our faces to God's morning light, we absorb the light Christ so willingly shines on us and find ourselves incredibly satisfied in the light of true life.

Open up to God about where you are in your life right now, whether it be in a deep spiritual slumber or a light filled life in Christ. He deeply desires to hear what's weighing on the heart inside you that He so fearfully and wonderfully created. If you feel God leading you, ask Him to come into your heart and wake up any part of your life that may be caught in a spiritual sleep so that you may experience the fullness of life in Christ. Cherish this moment as your heart wakes up to a beautiful new life in Christ's light.

I pray that your new life in the light of Christ would give you an incredible joy throughout today.I hope you all have an amazing day!

Madelynn

Give to Get

Mark 10:45

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Serving. It's something few want to do to others, but many want done to them. It's an action that requires us to humble ourselves and put the needs of someone else before us. Many of high position are reluctant to do it, while others often have serve to in order to survive. However, the one man that walked this Earth who held the highest position of all- the king of kings and perfect in every way, with intelligence and wisdom not even the wisest could understand, and hands that crafted the universe and the very world in which we live- He was the humblest of all. Even though He was the son of God, He still served those He created, even when He was not served in return. He served in the greatest way possible, in a way that none could ever live up to: He humbled himself to the death of a cross, and put all in the world before Himself in that moment. And He calls us to serve too. We don't have to give our lives on a cross for others, but God does desire for us to serve even in the smallest way so that others may see His love in us. When we serve, we are giving a gift to the people we are serving. Serving is a gift that is not fleeting, and leaves a lasting impact on the person you reached out to. And it is not only a gift to others, but a gift to ourselves. Serving bring us joy and peace in knowing that God is working through us. It allows God to work powerfully with purpose within us to show the world His love. And it creates a positive transformation on the lives around us and in our own lives as we serve.

Open up to God about what serving means to you, and how serving and being served has impacted you in your life. If you feel God leading you, invite Him into your heart that He may transform you into the beautiful creation that He designed you to be, and ask Him to guide you to show His love to others through serving. Ask Him to lay on your heart anyone that He wants you to serve. You'll be surprised who He brings into your life sometimes. Rest in this moment knowing that God is working powerfully within you.

I pray that this word would challenge you to serve today, and empower you as God works within you. I hope everyone has an awesome day! :)

Madelynn

Equality

Galations 3:28 (NIV)

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

All of us are guilty of judging someone at some point in our lives. All of us have looked down on a person for something, and all of us have looked up to and compared ourselves to others. No matter how much we may hate to admit it, we have all struggled with facing inequality in some form at one point in our lives. And it seems today that inequality is a struggle that is growing more and more, something that is becoming a monster and overtaking many people's views. Inequality is a monster that so many of us try to passionately fight and defeat, however, in that process so many of us become the monster itself. The God who fearfully and wonderfully crafted each and every single one of us did not design us to be monsters. He created us all equally with a love filled purpose. Every person from every background and every view is one of God's beloved children that He willingly sacrificed His life for by an incredibly painful death. He didn't die just for the Christians. He didn't die just for the broken. He died for all, because in His eyes we are all His equally loved children. God calls us all to step up to a challenge that all too many deny: to reflect Him by loving everyone equally, completely abandoning any circumstance or condition, just as Christ did on that cross.

Open up to God about any struggle you face with inequality. Talk to Him about any person you may look down upon, or show special favoritism to and why you do so. Come to Him honestly, not holding anything back. As hard as some things are to admit sometimes, God wants desperately to hear from His child. If you feel Him leading you, invite Him into your heart that He may overwhelm you with His unconditional love. Ask Him to guide you to share this vast, uncontainable love to every person you encounter, abandoning any judgements or conditions. Rest in this moment and cherish the love that God willingly gives you.

I pray that God's word would drive you to reach out to someone today out of the love He's given you, and I pray that this love would give you peace and strength throughout today. I hope everyone has an awesome day! :)

Madelynn

Complaints and Conflict

Philippians 2:14-16 (NKJV)

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

While complaining and constantly arguing with others rarely ever brings us the joy we seek, it's something we get caught in so often. Most of us feel a strong need to defend ourselves and look out for our needs and desires. However, when we pursue a life only concerning our needs and disregard the needs of others, we find we rob not only others of joy but also ourselves. It's so tempting to act on impulse and complain and argue and push to get what we need, because that's what is at the forefront of so many of our minds. I know I am very guilty of causing conflict because things didn't go the way I planned, and it's something I still struggle with today. Here in God's word He challenges us to do something so counter-cultural. He calls us to be humble peacemakers in a world at war built on pride. Selfish arguments and endless violent wars have caused a vast darkness to settle on the world. God calls us to surrender our selfish ambitions and give up our whining and disputing that God may overcome us and work in us. As we are humbled and overwhelmed in the light and power of God, God shines His light to the world through us and provides a hope to the world through peace.

Open up to God about any arguments or tension you've been involved in lately. Come to God with the frustration you felt and how the outcome of the conflict affected you and others. If you feel God leading you, forgive those who have debated against you and give all the conflict over to God. In doing so, God will renew you and fill you will His light as you empty yourself of any darkness that the tension has caused within you.

I pray that God's word would cause a peace to settle over you as He makes way for peace around you. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Madelynn

Sweet Revenge

Romans 12:20-21

On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We all have or have had at least one person in our lives whom we just couldn't stand, who got under our skin. Whether it be that person who cut you off in traffic or some one who has deeply hurt you in many ways, all of us have had some sort of enemy at one point in our lives. Many of us have that inner instinct to defend ourselves and constantly look out for what's good for us. And this world constantly tells us that revenge is the only way to overcome our oppressors. So when someone becomes our enemy, most of us don't think twice about conjuring some form of revenge. But here in God's word, God calls us to do something that completely goes against what this world trains us to do: Love one another in actions. God died on the cross for even the most hateful and evil human you can imagine. He calls us not to pursue revenge against them, but to reflect God's grace and serve them out of love. It may seem completely crazy to humble yourself before your enemy and actually serve them, but in doing so you are giving them more of a punishment than if you actually pursued revenge against them. When someone is truly against you, to see you acting kindly out of love towards them makes them more angry and distressed than if you were to react the way they expected and give into the anger they're fueling. God knows that you need to be filled and sustained with His good and pure love instead of being overcome of this evil that the world sugar-codes and feeds you. God has given us the power to overcome evil with His powerful love that produces good. It's up to us whether we pursue that love or the revenge that ruins us.

Think about that one person in your life whom you strongly dislike, someone you desire to pursue revenge against. Talk to God about it, and be honest with Him. He wants to hear from you and to listen to everything that's on your heart. If you feel God leading you, confess forgiveness against your enemy, surrender your pursuit for revenge, and commit to serving even your enemies. Rest in this moment knowing that a great burden has been lifted off your shoulders, and that you don't have to live in the clutch of revenge and any longer.

I pray that this would give you peace and encouragement today to go out and serve with the love God has filled you with. Hope everyone's day is amazing!

Madelynn

What to Wear...

1 Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Everyday we have put on clothes according to what our day is going to be like. We dress for work, dress for school or for just hanging out with friends. All of us have different outfits for different occasions, and though it may seem like a small choice, it's a choice we make everyday. Here in God's word, He calls us to wear something that prepares for not just one day, but everyday in our lives. God wants us to cover ourselves with 7 things: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love. He wants us to reach out to others who are suffering with a gentle and kind spirit, just as He does for us when we are wounded in life. He also knows that pride ruins us deeply, and He calls us to humble ourselves before Him and the world that He may work through us to show the world His glory. He desires for us to be patient, to wait on His purpose and His timing instead of giving into our impatient impulses and living the way we want. And just as He forgave us by giving His live on the cross to cover over our sins, He wants us to forgive one another and live according to His grace. But above all these things that God wants us to clothe ourselves in, there is one critical piece of spiritual attire that we are called to wear: Love. God is love, and He knows that we need to submerge ourselves in Him in order to truly live at all. His love covers over all sins, and is the source of our lives. His love is what gives us breath and causes our hearts to beat. Once we cover ourselves with His love, we find life and a satisfaction we have never known. God knows that the world calls you to wear the riches of this world that soon turn to rags. He knows the emptiness that comes when you fill yourself with the world. And He so desires for you to be richly clothed in His love and His virtues, that you would be clean and pure and satisfied in your submission to the Lord because you are His beloved child that He crafted with His incredible love.

Talk to God about what you feel you are spiritually clothing yourself with, and how it's affecting your life. If you feel God leading you, commit to clothing yourself in Him and living by these virtues that He calls you to live by. Invite Him into your heart that you may be filled beyond measure with His amazing love. Rest in this moment knowing that you adorned in the love of the Father.

I pray that this word would guide you and give you joy throughout today. I hope you all have a fantastic day!

Madelynn

Unchangeable

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Every day in our lives we are faced with changes, big and small. Whether it be a simple change in clothes, or a dramatic change in your work place, change is something we can't avoid in life. Some of us thrive on change and variety in our lives to keep our attention from day to day. Some of us despise it because it often takes us out of our comfort zone and into a situation we can't control. Change can tear us apart or push us forward in life. In the craziness of all the changes we have to face in life, both good and bad, it's easy to get lost in the chaos of this constantly changing and moving world. While the shifting state of this world creates a shaky, unstable foundation, there is something we can build our lives on that will never shake, never change and never falter: God. He's unlike anything in this world that's constantly conforming. He is God. The great I AM. Unchangeable. Unshakable. Immovable. God. There is no darkness in Him, only light that produces pure and perfect peace. He is good when there is nothing good in us. He is God. And He desires for you to run to Him, recklessly abandoning the changing world around you. He wants to be the strong foundation in your life that you need. And once you base your life on Him, you'll find yourself stable and sustained in the strength of your God.

Talk to God about the changes in your life that you're facing, both good and bad. Open up to Him about how those changes are affecting you, and about any chaos that may be running your life. If you feel God leading you, give your heart to Him and make Him the strong foundation in your life. Ask Him to guide you so that you don't shift to another foundation crafted by this world, but that He we would root you in His unchangeable foundation.

I pray that God's word would give you confidence in God's unshakable foundation throughout your day. I hope everyone has a marvelous day!

Madelynn

Purpose in Life

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Whether you're a planner or a go with the flow kind of person, we all have an idea set in our heads of just how we want our lives to be. We make all these plans in our minds of how we want our lives to go, and of all the things that come along with achieving what we perceive as an ideal life. The more we think about our perfect little plans and build them up in our heads, the more we begin to pursue those plans and act on them. While most people see nothing wrong with mapping out their life and sticking to that plan, there is one problem with it: we were never meant to plan our lives or pursue that plan. The God who created the universe, the world, and each of us has an incredible purpose laid out for our lives that is greater than anything our minds could ever conjure. A perfect God has a perfect purpose laid out for our lives and He desires for us to grow closer to Him that we may know and live by that purpose. The more we try to fight God's purpose by sticking solely to our little plans, the more we find that our plans were never meant to be and will never work out the way we want them to. Once we surrender to God and commit to living by His purpose, we'll find that our plans small greatly in comparison to God's grand purpose for our lives. God does have an incredible purpose for our lives. We just need to give into that purpose and let it be the driving force in our lives.

Talk to God about whatever plans you may have for your life, how they came to be, and how they are working out for you. If you feel God leading you, surrender all of your plans over to Him and ask Him to guide you by the purpose He has planned for your life. Rest in this moment and take joy in that God's purpose will run the course of your life.

I pray that God's grand purpose for your life would guide you and give you joy throughout today. I hope you all have a fantastic day! And also, this will be my last blog post for a while as I am leaving to go out of town until Wednesday. So no Litte Wisdom Nuggets until then! I really encourage all of you to dive into God's word on your own, and let God's word move powerfully within your heart. Have an awesome week, and I'll be back to blogging soon! :)

Madelynn

The Definition of Love

1 John 4:10-12
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

So many of us go throughout our lives searching to find what love really means. We seek to find the definition of love in the search for our significant other. We seek it in bonds with friends. And we seek it in things that we can be passionate about in our lives. We search so desperately on Earth for this perfect love and find ourselves only temporarily satisfied in the various forms of love that this world offers us. However, the love that this world offers us is not the true love that we crave and need to sustain our hearts. That true love we chase after can only be found in God and God alone. That true meaning of love, that definition of love we try so hard to unscramble is laid out in God's love letter to us: God is love. And God gave us a perfect picture of just how deep His love runs for us as His Son hung on that cross for our sins. The definition of love was spelled out for us on that day when Jesus gave life so that we may live in God's love. God is love. Purely. Simply. Truly. Love. And once we allow this pure love to manifest within us, we find that we can't contain it. God's love is so grand and infinite that it overflows from our hearts and pours out into the empty, love starved hearts of those around us. God desires for you to know and embrace this love in Him that your brokenness within may be mended by His love which is made complete in us as He lives in us. God is love. Let Him be the true love of your life.

Read over the verse above once more. Let it really soak in and resonate within you. God is love. And in this moment, your heavenly Father wants you to live the life that He has planned for you in His incredible love. Come to Him with what is going on in your life with love. Open up to Him about how you've been chasing after love, and how that chase to discover the definition of love has worked out for you. If you feel God calling your heart, invite Him into your heart that He may overwhelm your heart with His infinite and unfailing love. Rest in this moment, knowing that the search is over. The definition of love rests within you as God moves powerfully in your heart.

I pray that the true definition of love would rest on your heart today, and fill you with a peace you've never known. I hope you all have an amazing day today! :)

Madelynn

Control

Jeremiah 32:17

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

I remember when I was a little girl what an independent and bold child I was. I went through most of my childhood days with an attitude of "I can do this all by myself". I liked feeling like I was in control of what I was doing, especially at the young age of 3 or 4 when I was just beginning to take hold of my new abilities. Even when my parents were there to guide me and take care of the things that were too big for me to handle, I still fought to do it all by self because, as a child, I cherished that feeling of being "all grown up". As strange as it may sound, many of us, including myself, still battle with that same problem I encountered as a child. We go throughout our lives wanting desperately to control the environment around us, to have things go the way we want them to go. We fight daily to control our circumstances and to reach that level of perfection we all crave in our lives. And even when someone steps in and offers to take care of something we can't handle, we still stubbornly hold on to whatever control we think we may have. Why? Because just like me when I was an independent little girl, we love and desire that feeling of being in control of our lives. The only problem with that strong desire within us to have control is that we were never meant to be in control of our lives. God is. The God who crafted the universe with the very hands that bled for us on the cross. The God who fearfully and wonderfully designed us all. And the God who created the purpose in our lives. The God who has had control since the very beginning is the One who is meant to be in control of our lives. But just like a stubborn child, we fight to control our lives the way we think they should be controlled instead of giving it to the One who was meant to be in control. Nothing is too hard for Him to handle, not even the biggest battle in our lives that we struggle to control. He is here. And He will never leave us. His powerful arm that created the heavens is outstretched, waiting for us to take it. We just have to step out and take the hand of our Saviour, and surrender all to Him.

Talk to God about what you're battling to control in your life and how it's affecting you. Open up to Him as if you were opening up to your closest friend about your biggest problem in your life. If you feel God leading you in this moment, surrender all control of your life to Him. Give your heavenly Father all your problems that are too big for you to handle, because nothing is too hard for God to handle.

I pray that this word would give you peace in knowing that nothing is too big for our God to handle. I hope you all have a great day!

Madelynn

Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

All of us seek comfort in our lives, something that will satisfy us and guide us away from the jarring emptiness that so threatens us everyday. We search for it most in material things, things that will temporarily make us feel better. We look for it in clothes that make us look good. In money that gets us what we want. In people that make us feel better. In all the latest and greatest things that this world tells us we have to have in order to be satisfied in life. There's an infinite amount of things we race to for comfort and satisfaction in our times of emptiness and suffering. But when we really think about it, how many of those things in which we search for comfort actually provide us with the lasting comfort we need? Nothing here on Earth will ever give us the lasting, sustaining comfort that we need like our God. We run blindly to the comforts of this world but ignore the God of all comfort who has His arms outstretched, ready to embrace us. No matter what you're going through, no matter how comfortable or uncomfortable you may be, He will always be there to comfort you in His unfailing love. And the amazing thing about God's comfort is that it doesn't just stop within us. Once we have it in us, it's infectious, and we are able to spread that same comfort that we've found in God's love to those who are suffering and in desperate need of comfort as well. God pours compassion into our comfort and shows us that a purpose can come out of our past pain.

Open up to God about what is driving you away from experiencing lasting comfort, and about what you are running to for comfort right now in your life. If you feel God leading you, invite Him into your heart to embrace you with His love that you might find comfort in the God of all comfort. Once you find that comfort in God, ask Him to lead your heart to anyone who needs this same comfort you have in Christ.

I pray that your comfort in Christ would cause a peace to settle in your heart today. I hope you all have an awesome day!

Madelynn

No Fear

Psalms 27:1-3

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.

Fear. It's a powerful force in our lives that grips us and hold us back from accomplishing anything. It belittles us and drains us of the potential we were destined to yield in our lives. We were all born with a light that was designed to guide us through our lives, a light that we were meant to follow so that we would not captured by the fear of the darkness. But everyone falls prey to fear, some more than others. However, when we do, we don't have to remain prisoner to that fear. The key to unlock our chains is right in front of us in the scarred hands of Christ. We just have to reach out and allow Him to unlock our chains and free us from the grip of fear. Once we do, we are no longer held by fear but guarded in the stronghold of Christ. With Christ on our side, nothing on Earth could ever separate us from Him, not even our most powerful oppressors. With this ultimate protection and security, we are empowered with a bold confidence given to us by our all-powerful savior. And He will always hold you tightly within the perfect safety of His love that is unbreakable and unchangeable.

Talk to God about what you are really afraid of in your life, what grips you so strongly in fear. Talk to Him about what you think caused that fear, and how it's affecting your life. If you feel God leading you, hand over all your fears to Him and embrace that freedom that is in Christ. Ask Him to guard your heart for all of your life and to guide you away from the powerful fear that so threatens us all.

I pray that your new confidence in Christ will empower you throughout today, and ease whatever fears that may be in your heart. I hope everyone has a fantastic day! :)

Madelynn

The Pressure to be Perfect

Psalm 18:30

As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.

All of us, at some point in our lives, have felt the pressure to be perfect. For me, I felt that pressure the most in middle school. I know for most people, middle school seems like an insignificant season in our lives compared to everything else we encounter later down the road. However, I remember going through most of my middle school years feeling like I was never enough. I wasn't pretty enough. I was smart enough. I wasn't popular enough. And I felt like I was the only one who didn't have a boyfriend.  All this pressure caused me to push my self to satisfy the emptiness within me, because I wanted so desperately to be what the world around me considered "perfect". So many of us experience that same pressure to be perfect in different ways. At school. At work. At home. Or with friends. We've all been there, and we've all tried to fit into what the world considered "perfect". The hard truth is that we are not perfect, nor will we ever be perfect and the more we pressure ourselves to be perfect, the more we come out empty. But here in God's word, we find that God is perfect and He is there for us even though we are far from perfect. Once we run to Him and embrace His love, His ultimate perfection covers over our imperfections as He protects and holds us in His arms. And we know that we can have confidence in His perfection because His word is flawless and unchangeable and will sustain us through all our days.

Open up to God about how you feel the pressure to be perfect in you life, and how it's affecting you. If you feel God leading you, embrace His love and let His perfection cover over all of your imperfections. Live you life knowing that you are being guided by a perfect, unchangeable God who loves you deeply.

I pray that God's flawless word and His perfection resonates with you today. I hope you all have a marvelous day!

Madelynn

Freedom

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

When people think of the Fourth of July, most people think of freedom. Freedom from the oppression of another country. Freedom to be our own country and build up our own nation. And the freedom to choose what we want to do with our lives. America is a Nation of freedom, but our God offers far more freedom than any nation or any constitution ever could. God sent His one and only son that we might be free, not to sin, but from sin. Because of that ultimate sacrifice God made for us, we have the opportunity to live free from the bondage of sin that so entangles us and controls us. Once we accept and embrace the love of Christ, we are completely free. Free from the dark oppression of a sinful life. Free to be built up as the person God designed us to be. And free to walk down the path of true life in God. In Christ, we are free. Purely and simply free.

Open up to God about what freedom means to you, and what you feel may be holding you back from embracing freedom in Christ. If you feel God leading you, invite Him to break anything that chains you down in your life, and come to embrace the freedom that God has in store for you.

I pray that your freedom in Christ gives you peace throughout today, and I hope you all have an awesome Fourth of July week!

Madelynn

Divine Destination

1 Corinthians 2:9

What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived
the things God has prepared for those who love him.

When we think of love, we often try to measure it by humans means so that we can understand it, so that it can become real to us. And far too many of us walk away from a life of love because we can't wrap our minds around the love itself, and we can't see past the love that is in front of us. That scares us like nothing else- not being able to see what's ahead, not being certain of a path that we can't control. We try so hard to piece together the puzzle of an earthly love, that when it comes to figuring out the depths of a Godly love, we are completely dumbstruck. Here in God's word it tells us that no eye has seen, no ear has heard and not even the most ingenious mind has perceived what God's love has in store for them. If an earthly love perplexes us and leaves us clueless, surely this divine love leaves us lost and overwhelmed in its vast, inconceivable depth. And although its complexity may seem too complicated for us to ever embrace or understand, the grandness of God's love and the plans within it lead us with a blinding light that fills us whole. The fact that we can't fathom what God has in store for us shows us just how great God's plan really is and gives us more of a reason to trust His plan. Because a path that was divinely created surely has a divine destination. We just have to choose to embrace that plan and allow God to guide us down that path.

Open up to God about any obstacles you feel may be blocking the path God has laid before you. Talk to Him about the path you are on now, and where you feel it's leading you. If you feel God leading you, invite Him to clear the path in your heart of anything that would separate you from Him and ask Him to guide you down the incredible path that He has prepared for you.

I pray that the incredible purpose that God has in store for you empowers you greatly throughout today. I hope everyone has an amazing day!

Madelynn

Temptation

Hebrews 4:15-16

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

So many of us have this picture of God as someone who is distant and unreachable, someone who can't relate to us and has no idea what we're going through. We look at God as someone we honor on Sundays and as someone we that we ask to give us the things we want every now and then in prayer. But God is someone so much deeper that what we perceive Him as, someone who can relate to us on so many levels. Jesus faced more temptations that you can imagine, just as you and I face everyday. He also endured an incredible amount of pain and struggles, both physically and emotionally, in ways that we could never wrap our mind around. Jesus has been through your struggles, your temptations and your pains and was still able to carry out His purpose here on earth. He can most definitely relate to you and guide you through whatever temptation or pain you may be dealing with. He is more than just the big man upstairs. He is a Father. He is a friend. He is love at its purest. And He is God- through every season, every trial and every change in our life, He remains constant and can get you through what you're going through. Why? Because He has been there, faced that and has the scars to prove it. He will always bee there to help you face it too.

Open up to God about what temptations you are facing in your life, big and small. Be honest, and talk to Him as if you were a friend seeking advice in hard times. If you feel God leading you, ask Him to lead you through your temptations and give you the strength you need to face the. Once you do, you will find yourself incredibly empowered and restored in Christ.

I pray that this empowers you with great confidence in Christ throughout today. I hope you all have a wonderful day! :)

Madelynn

Be Happy

Psalms 37:4

Be happy in the Lord. And He will give you the desires of your heart.

We all go throughout life desiring things that will make us happy. Cars. Money. Popularity. Love. The list could go on forever of the things that we all desire to have to make us happy. We seek happiness in all these things that fade quickly, and we come out from it very empty and unsatisfied, desiring more of anything to bring us happiness. However, when we no longer seek our happiness in the world but find our joy solely in the love of our father, we are incredibly satisfied beyond measure. When you become happy in the Lord and commit to resting in His presence the rest of your life, He will give you the desires of your newly restored heart. And once you have Christ abiding in your heart, your desires reflect that of Christ, and you are contently filled with the will of the Lord. The Lord our God is happiness in its purest form, and we have that same happiness in the Lord awaiting us, ready for us to embrace it fully with reckless abandon.

Open up to God about what truly makes you happy, and really think about if that happiness is derived from God. If you feel God leading you, invite Him into your heart to fill you with His everlasting happiness that will sustain you. Once you do, you'll find yourself happier and filled 'till overflowing with the love of God.

I pray that God's word fills you with an indescribable happiness throughout today, and I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Madelynn

Holding Hands

Psalms 73:23-24 (New Life Version)

Yet I am always with You. You hold me by my right hand. You will lead me by telling me what I should do. And after that, You will bring me into shining-greatness.

I remember being a little kid, always getting into things and wanting to go places. I know that for my parents, taking me anywhere as a child must have been quite the challenge with the energy and curiosity I had. I remember going places with my parents as a child, and because of my impulsive, child-like nature, they would always hold my hand to guide me where to go. At that time, I never understood why my hand had to be held, but I trusted them all the same because they were my parents, and I did understand that they were far wiser than I. They would just patiently hold my hand despite my annoying anticipation until we reached our destination. Without them holding my hand, I'm sure I would've gotten lost on several occasions or hurt myself in the midst of my mischief. It's very much like that with us and God too. We go throughout this life with an impulsive, child-like mind. We want what we want when we want it and don't think twice about trying to get it. Often we don't consider the path ahead, but rather live to satisfy the temporary pleasure we desire. However, God knows what we need and He divinely designed the path ahead. He's always there to guide us to the place we need to be, and He will never leave our side. His hand is outstretched for us to take it and to be guided by Him. But we have to take that first step of reaching out to hold the open hands of our heavenly father and embrace His loving guidance.

Open up to God in prayer about where you feel you are going in your life and the desires of your heart. If you feel God leading you, reach out and take His hand so that you may submit to His guidance over you life. Rest for a moment in awe that your heavenly Father is guiding you all the way to bring you to the greatness He has planned for you.

I pray that this will guide you throughout today to be the incredible person that God divinely designed you to be. I hope everyone has an amazing day!

Madelynn

A Guarded Heart

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

Think for a moment about the things that you guard your heart from and why you do it. As humans, there's something within us that causes us to constantly defend ourselves. So often we shut out things in our lives to protect ourselves from harm, disappointment, or failure. Because we fear being broken down by certain things in life, many of shut out even the good things that were intended to build us up. Here in God's word, it's made clear that guarding our hearts is essential in our lives. But just what are we supposed to guard our hearts from, and how? God's word also tells us that everything we do flows from our heart, so we want to let our guard down for something that will flow into our lives in a positive way. If we let our guard down for the destructive things of this world, we find that negative influences flow strongly into our lives. However, if we let our guard down for the greatness of God to flood in, positive, sustaining and uplifting influences overflow into our lives. And as the goodness of God overwhelms us, that same uncontainable goodness overflows out into our day-to-day actions, filling our lives with an incredible sense of satisfaction. When we let our guard down for God, our defenses are raised against the world so that no darkness can enter our newly light filled lives. As we are vulnerable to God but guarded against the world, that's when we find ourselves our most secure.

Open up to God about what you guard yourself from and why you do it. If you find that it's God your shutting out in your life, be honest with Him about why you do that and how it's affecting you. If you feel God leading you, let down your guard and allow Him to flow into your heart. Ask Him to guide you to always guard your heart from the darkness, but to always be open to Him. Once you do so, you'll find yourself incredibly satisfied and secure.

I pray that your security in Christ empowers you to live today with a boldness only found in Christ. I hope everyone has a wonderful Day!

Madelynn

Rock of Refuge

Psalms 62:5-8

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

Read over these verses one or two more times. Allow this message to really soak into your heart. So often we go through this life weary and burdened by the day to day pressures we face in this world, and the storms of this life can shake us near to the point of breaking. All of these stresses become too heavy of a load to carry on our own, and many times we find ourselves burned out from what we've endured in our lives. But here in God's word we find hope beyond what weighs us down and beyond what breaks us. Through His word, God reveals to us that we can find rest for our souls in Him, as well as security in His unshakable power. Our souls that have carried such heavy burdens can finally rest in the strong arms of the Lord. And our shifting lives and circumstances will no longer shake us because our God is our unshakable rock and refuge. When we trust God and pour out our hearts to Him, we find ourselves empowered with an incredible strength that can move mountains because we are strengthened by the God who created them.

Open up to God about what's weighing you down and shaking you up in your life. Talk to Him about how those things are affecting you, and how your handling it. If you feel God leading you, pour out your heart to Him and put your trust in Him. Once you do, you'll find yourself secure, empowered and revived by your new life in God.

I pray that this empowers you greatly throughout your day with strength and security in Christ. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Madelynn

Cornerstone

Acts 4:11-12
Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone."

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.


A cornerstone falls under the following definitions:

 

cor·ner·stone
/ˈkɔrnərˌstoʊn/ [kawr-ner-stohn]

1. a stone  uniting two masonry walls at an intersection.
2. a stone  representing the nominal starting place in the construction of a monumental building, usually carved with the date and laid with appropriate ceremonies.
3. something that is essential, indispensable, or basic.
4. the chief foundation on which something is constructed or developed.

Here in God's word we find that Christ is meant to be the cornerstone of our lives. Jesus is meant to be the foundation laid in our hearts, the base off of which we construct our lives. Our new lives begin in Him, and the change that manifests within us on the day that we begin our new lives is forever engraved within us. Christ is also absolutely essential to truly living our lives, and He is the only one who can unite us with our heavenly Father.

While we were designed to have Christ as the foundation in our lives, so often we throw Him out of our lives as if He were useless debris rather than the essential cornerstone that He truly is. We go throughout our lives being fed the lie that we have to build ourselves up on the world in order to be built up at all. The problem with that is, though, is that everything from this world fades. There is not one thing in this world that will last forever, and if we build ourselves up with the world, we will find ourselves falling from an unstable foundation. However, if we base our lives off of the cornerstone of Christ, we will find ourselves being built up on a stable, unchangeable, unshakable foundation that will never fall on us. We all crave stability, that sense of being rooted in something that will support us. All we have to do is surrender our lives to Him so that Christ will flood in and become the solid base in our lives.

 Open up to God in prayer. Talk to Him about what you have based your life on in the past, and what you are basing your life on in this moment. If it's something other than God, bring it to God. Talk to Him about why your basing your life off of that thing, and how it's affecting you. If you feel God leading you, invite Him into your heart so that He may become the cornerstone of you life. Once you do, you'll find yourself rooted in Christ's unshakable love, and thriving on the stability that comes with Christ as your foundation.

I pray that Christ as the cornerstone of your life empowers you with purpose, strength and boldness throughout today. I hope everyone has a fantastic day!

Madelynn