“The Ability to Soar” A Devotion from Sharon Rene

THE ABILITY TO SOAR

By: Sharon Rene

www.facebook.com/creativegraceSRD

Isaiah 40:28-31 (KJV)

I don’t know about you but sometimes I don’t want to face another day. I dread the sun rising and pouring its golden rays into my room. The alarm sounds or the cell phone beeps and I roll over in bed, pulling the covers over my head. Have you been there? Can you relate?

Thank God His strength never fails. Isaiah writes in verse 40:28, “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding.” God never gets tired or runs out of strength. He’s never sad to see the morning sunrise. He doesn’t dread what the day will soon reveal. So we shouldn’t either. Not if we’re a child of God. We have the greatest power in the universe living inside of us. The precious Holy Spirit directs us and travels with us every step we take.

Isaiah goes on to tell us in verse 30, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall.” So it doesn’t matter if you’re nine or ninety, male or female. We all get tired, physically and spiritually. At times every one of us reaches the point where we just want to lay down and give up. It would be so easy to stay hidden under those blankets and let life pass us by.

But that’s not God’s plan for us. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” God will give us the majestic grace and power of an eagle soaring through the morning sky. Most of the time I feel more like a squawking chicken than a soaring eagle, but God’s word clearly tells me that I have the ability to soar. But I have to lay aside my worries, fears and incessant sins so God can enable me to soar.

Look in the sky and watch the birds as they easily rise, dip and glide. They’re not carrying burdens on their backs. You’ll never see a hawk soaring with a pile of rubbish on her wings. We can’t soar if we hold onto the past, dwell on present problems or worry about the future. We will soar if we give all of these issues to our loving father.

Does this mean life will go smoothly and we’ll never face another problem? Of course not. We still have to go to work, deal with family problems and confront obstacles. The path isn’t always clear and sometimes our hopes and dreams seem to be nothing more than morning mist. But, God will be with us through every struggle. He will not leave or forsake us.

So tomorrow when you start your morning, take a deep breath, lay your burdens down and whisper a prayer to God. Ask Him to give you peace and strength and lift you up on wings like eagles. Then watch out, because you are about to soar!

 



Sharon Rene works as a legal secretary at a large corporation. She loves to write, and is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She enjoys writing young adult fiction, children’s short stories and devotions. Her short story StageFRIGHT was published in the September 2015 edition of the Kid’s Ark Magazine. Her Facebook page is entitled Creative Grace with Sharon Rene.

“I’m Peter” a Devotion from Joi Copeland

by Joi Copeland

I’m Peter

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

When I first became a believer in 1990, my faith pretty much exploded. I knew that God could do anything, even the impossible. I’ve seen God work so many miracles in my many years of following Him, I still believe He can do the impossible.

Yet, as my family and I prepare for the mission field, I have found my faith wavering. We are supposed to leave by the end of August, and we don’t have all of our support raised. This has been tough. I began to doubt. I began to listen to what others have been saying. Things like, “You aren’t going to make it by August.” Or “What happens if you don’t make it? Do people who support your get their money back?” or “What if you never make it to the mission field?”

To say the least, this is discouraging. VERY discouraging.

And so I became Peter. Peter, the man who had faith to walk on water. I’ve got the faith to walk on water. But like Peter, I took my eyes off of Jesus and began to sink. I sank for a few weeks. It was tough.

Then one day, all of it began to change. No, not because God provided all the money we need. But because I’ve started focusing again on Him. I believe we can still make it on the mission field by the end of August. I’ve seen God do miraculous things! But no matter what, my eyes will remain on Jesus, His calling, and His timing. My eyes are back on the One who controls the sea, the wind, and the challenges.

Prayer: Jesus, sometimes the wind and the waves of our lives take our focus off of You. As we go through these storms, help us to look to You, to trust You, and to know that You are always with us, guiding us, walking through the storms with us. We love You, Jesus, and will trust in You. Amen.

Tweet this: [bctt tweet="Are you a Peter? Find out what Joi Copeland means by that. #WednesdayWorship #WhispersinPurple" username="pegphifer"]



Joi Copeland is married to a wonderful man, Chris, and has three amazing boys, Garrison, Gage, and Gavin. She lives in Denver, Colorado, but within the year, hopes to be living in Galway, Ireland.

Joi’s love of writing began at a young age. She wrote short stories for several years, and in 2009, she began writing her first novel, Hope for Tomorrow.

Joi’s books include:

• Hope for Tomorrow, book 1


• Hope for the Journey, book 2


• Hope from the Past, book 3,April 2013


• Letters of Love


• Christmas Rayne, a novella


• Sheriff Bride Rob's Story, a novella

www.booksbyjoicopeland.blogspot.com

www.joicopeland.com