“He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV
Battle Belongs by Phil Wickham
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:11-12 NIV
(This photo was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
1 John 2:15-17 NIV
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2 NIV
Father God, forgive me for the times I have not be “all in.” Forgive me for the ways I have turned away from You physically, spiritually and emotionally. It You are not the center of my life, nothing else matters. Please lead me to live differently. Show me how to live a life that draws near to You and is devoted to honoring You and loving others. In Jesus name, Amen.
“But that is not the way of life in Christ that you learned about. 21 You heard about Christ and were taught about life in him. What you learned was the truth about Jesus. 22 You were taught not to live the way you used to. You must get rid of your old way of life. That’s because it has been made impure by the desire for things that lead you astray. 23 You were taught to be made new in your thinking. 24 You were taught to start living a new life. It is created to be truly good and holy, just as God is.”
Ephesians 4:20-24 NIRV
(This photo was taken at Falls Park near Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
John 14:26 NIV
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NIV
Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli
“If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. “
John 14:15-17 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 15:13 NIV
Father God, thank You for sending Your only Son to save us. Thank You for creating a way for us to know You personally. Becasue of Jesus’ sacrifice, our sins are forgiven! Please help us never take that for granted. Help us to recognize and glorify You in every area of our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
Galatians 5:13-15 NIV
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV
There Is Freedom by Josh Baldwin
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[a] of God.”
1 Peter 2:16 NIV
(This photo was taken while traveling through southern New Mexico)
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
When life is difficult and frustrating, where do we get the ability to move forward? What could possibly renew us? What makes some people so resilient? It has been my experience that there is only one thing powerful enough to lift us up out of any tragedy or trial…and His name is Jesus.
A relationship with Jesus Christ in the way to strength in the battle and rest when we are weary. To experience His presence, we must do our part and be willing to spend time in devotions and prayer building our relationship with Him. God made a promise, He will never leave you nor forsake you and He always keeps His promises. Invite Jesus into your heart and into your life daily and you will be renewed each day. May God’s peace be with you. Amen.
There Is Power by Lincoln Brewster
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10 NIV
(This photo was taken in September of 2022 at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23-24 NIV
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
Galatians 5:16-26 NIV
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
1 John 1:8-10 NIV
(This photo was taken in May of 2023 along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota)
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
Galatians 5:13-15 NIV
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV
There Is Freedom by Josh Baldwin
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[a] of God.”
1 Peter 2:16 NIV
(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling through southern New Mexico)
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
John 14:26 NIV
“May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy. May you have perfect peace as you trust in him. May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.”
Romans 15:13 NIRV
Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli
“If you love me, obey my commands. 16 I will ask the Father. And he will give you another friend to help you and to be with you forever. 17 That friend is the Spirit of truth. The world can’t accept him. That’s because the world does not see him or know him. But you know him. He lives with you, and he will be in you.”
John 14:15-17 NIRV
(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
1 John 2:15-17 NIV
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2 NIV
Wash your heart and mind with the truth in God’s word. We all are broken and sinful in this world and we need Jesus. The world will flood us with lies about what to believe and turn us away from God. We need to seek the wisdom that comes from God not from the world…plant the Word deep into our hearts daily to guide our attitudes and perspectives and to live out the love He has given us in every aspect of our lives. Amen.
“But that is not the way of life in Christ that you learned about. 21 You heard about Christ and were taught about life in him. What you learned was the truth about Jesus. 22 You were taught not to live the way you used to. You must get rid of your old way of life. That’s because it has been made impure by the desire for things that lead you astray. 23 You were taught to be made new in your thinking. 24 You were taught to start living a new life. It is created to be truly good and holy, just as God is.”
Ephesians 4:20-24 NIRV
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at Falls Park near Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
Take Your Faith With You 