by Stacey | Jan 8, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Oh, my precious child, it is hard, so very hard to watch you struggle against the enemy who battles for your affections. I see the way you do what you wish you didn’t and can’t seem to do what you wish you could. I see how much you long for love—but how you push back against the one who loves you. You dare love to give up, choosing the most cutting words, lashing out in frustration.
But love never fails. It never gives up. It pursues. It waits. It demands everything from you and everything from me.
I am praying for a heart of flesh, for blind eyes to see, for this brokenness to result in full surrender, for God to make you whole again. I’m praying for you. Faithfully. Without end. Praying against your desire to push away the hard instead of working though it. I’m praying you will see your sin in contrast to God’s holiness and at your young and tender age you will choose repentance.
As this battles rages, I will do for you the only and best thing I can. Pray. Through prayer I enter into the battle and fight with you, for you. Lifting you before our Father who loves you even more than I do. Motherhood is more than caring, providing and loving. It is interceding. Faithfully interceding. Always.
My precious child, Seek wisdom which begins with a fear of the Lord. Seek insight which comes from knowledge of the Holy One. Seek Love.
by Stacey | Jan 1, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Sometimes the best new resolution is an old one. The same one that God has whispered into my heart from the very first day that I surrendered my life to Him.
Make everything about God. Know Him better. Love Him more. Completely trust Him. Prioritize Him above all else.
Here are some other great resolutions for 2015 graciously shared by godly woman who I admire:
That God would awaken my soul morning by morning to meet with Him. That I would hunger and thirst for more of Him and less of me. That I would live a more obedient and humble heart before Him. That I would graciously follow His plans for my day-to-day and trust His ways far above mine. I thank God for my husband who gives of himself endlessly to love and care for our family. I thank God for my kids who are teaching me so much these days. And I thank God for old and new friendships who keep me pointed to our Saviour.
Seek God’s will for us to live out the great commission with intention. Practise daily gratitude and be faithful to what he has called me to do THIS day. Take better care of the body God has entrusted to me. Pray more with my husband. Find a Titus 2 woman to mentor me…really the list is endless.
Watch my words. Make them kinder, more loving, more gracious. Pray that the words I speak and the meditations of my heart will be acceptable in my Saviour’s sight. Be thankful for every day of life the Lord grants me, and in the spirit of thankfulness enjoy what each day brings (Psalm 19:14, Psalm 90:12).
If you have made a God honouring resolution, leave it in the comment section to encourage others.
by Stacey | Dec 23, 2014 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
It’s that time of year. When the busyness of the season threatens the heart of Christmas. When we are so caught up in the what that we neglect the who and our adversary twiddles his fingers in glee.
I thank God for the beautiful women who have committed to doing life with me, who have committed to pray for me and pray against the very real temptation to miss Christ in the midst of hurry. They boldly pray Psalm 17 and reclaim Christmas for Christ.
This prayer prayed for me, I now pray for you. This is the best Christmas gift that I can give my readers—a Christ-focused Christmas. Merry Christmas from It’s Personal and enjoy Thursday’s post a few days early.
Hear, Oh LORD, our righteous plea: listen to our cry. Give ear to our prayer – let it rise from lips free of deceit.
May our vindication come from you that your eyes see what is right. As you probe our hearts, may you find nothing as we have resolved that our mouths will not sin.
May our steps hold to your paths and may our feet not slip.
We call on you, Oh God, for you will answer us, give ear to us and hear our prayer.
Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their enemies. Keep us in the apple of your eye, hide us in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail us with wrong images of Christmas, from the mortal enemy who tries to remove the joy of Jesus from our Christmas. Their hearts are calloused, their mouths speak with arrogance. They track us down and surround us with unrealistic expectations they throw us to the ground in busyness. Rise up Oh Lord and confront them, rescue us from this wickedness.
You will still our hunger, You give us plenty. And we -in righteousness we will see your face. When we awake we will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
by Stacey | Dec 18, 2014 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
You know me. You know my deeds, my thoughts, and the deepest longing of my soul. You know it well. Before a word leaves my tongue, before a thought fully forms, before a step is complete—You know.
And You love me anyway.
You are behind. You are ahead. You are right now. You are here, in the deep aching despair. You are here, in the joyous celebration. My gut wrenching cries and my songs of praise rise to You—a fragrant offering of dependence.
You scatter darkness. The night is as bright as the day because You are Light. You hold me. Your right hand guides me. When evil presses in, You lift my head and fix my gaze upon You. My whole being trembles and I fall down and worship.
You are inescapable. You never let go. You are God.
by Stacey | Dec 11, 2014 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
It always comes. The valley of the shadow follows the mountain. The struggle intensifies and the road becomes hard but you are with me.
The lessons from high are lived out in the depths, and the ache to be faithful overcomes the ache to give-up. You comfort me.
You gather the shards of the shattered in your pierced hands. Jagged edges and razorblades mar your flesh, still your grip tightens. You press in, never letting go. You restore my soul, for your namesake.
Piece by devastated piece you build something new. Something that never would have been without the broken, without the wounds that burrow even deeper into You. You prepare something good for me.
Each splinter epitomizes your love, your mercy, your promise to restore. And the broken becomes beautiful.
My cup overflows. You are my shepherd. I shall not want.
