Heading into the season we call Easter, I am publishing weekly devotional thoughts. Today’s thought is El Roi.

• Devotion Week #1 – Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord of Peace)
• Devotion Week #2 – Jehovah-Raah (The Great Shepherd)

God meets Hagar—as He meets you, dear one– at a scary and vulnerable time. He listens to her cries and frustrations. He reassures her. He tells her to go BACK INTO the very difficult situation. AND he tells her to change her attitude toward Sarai, her mistress. Her boss. WOW! That is a tough assignment. Does she listen and obey?

Are you learning, with me that God sees it all? In His sovereignty, He permitted whatever you and I (and Hagar) have experienced). And He promises to work it together for your good. (Romans 8). IF you belong to Him! The promise is conditional. You must be one of Jesus’ “sheep” (remember last week’s devo?)

El Roi

The blessing is that Hagar feels heard. She listens and responds to the conversation with God, and realizes He has a plan for her life. She trusts Him and knows without a doubt that He cares. He SEES her, and “She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have seen by the One who sees me.’” (Genesis 16:13) And yes, she obeys and goes back.

I’m asking God to bless you and I’m praying for you, right now to connect on a new and deeply personal level with the God who sees you. He sees you as an individual. Because you matter. You are unique. You are special. You are created for more than you can think or imagine. But the key is getting ahold of your emotions and actions. Let’s learn together how to turn ourselves over to the One Who Sees! The world is loud, distracting, and full of lots of things that vie for your attention and time. A world that craves to be seen. A world that wants to influence you AWAY from God. But in the world, it is a different kind of “seeing” than what God offers. God’s “seeing” is pure and devoted to your best.

I’d like to pray for you right now…

Father, we women in our busy-ness can be tempted by counterfeits, but we need to be seen for who YOU created us to be. When we choose to focus on following after You, and obeying Your still small voice, You fill up every “hole” in our heart and heal every betrayal and loss. Help this sweet woman to see her worth in YOUR eyes. Show her that she doesn’t have to be or do anything to be loved by You. You created her to be the kind of person she is. Please help her to see that You are more than enough for her. That anything else is a blessing, but not a necessity.

In addition, You have given her strengths, talents, gifts, AND the ability to see others’ needs and value. Women are nurturers as You are, Lord. She feels hopeless and helpless until You remind her how much she matters to You. Nurture her. Like You did for Hagar. You feel her every pain and sorrow. Tell her you see and hear her. Then, help her to respond like Hagar did.

Lord, You really actually are always with this amazing woman. Everything that concerns her, concerns You. BUT, like with Hagar, You will tell her to get up, wipe away her tears, and go back and finish what she started. OR You may tell her to go a different direction. But make it clear and give her courage to obey. We learned last week, that You supply ALL our NEEDS (Psalm 23). So, she has nothing to fear or be worried about. You are a GOOD FATHER. She can trust You.

Father, please remind her quickly whenever she is tempted to go her own way. Draw her immediately back to You. You are her TRUE El Roi. With you, all is well. Because You SEE and You care.

During this season of celebrating the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, can you say that God has ever spoken that clearly to you, as He spoke to Hagar? Are you in a close relationship with God, so YOU can speak your heart and believe He sees you? If not, would you like to have that comfort and assurance? I’d love to help you find that place of a deeper walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. You can contact me by clicking on the button below.

Continue to Devotion Week #4 – El-Elyon (God Most High)

Until next time,
Awaiting His shout,


Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Heading into the season we call Easter, I am publishing weekly devotional thoughts. Today’s post is Jehovah-Raah.

• Devotion Week #1 – Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord of Peace)

Sheep need a lot of care

They need constant attention. They fall off cliffs, grazing with their heads down, unaware of their surroundings. Do you ever feel distracted like that? I do, too, sometimes.

Jehovah-Raah

It is true that “all we like sheep have gone astray”. (Isaiah 53:6) . Sheep are sheep. What makes the difference is what kind of shepherd you follow. The shepherd determines the quality of care. It stands to reason then, that the better the Shepherd, the better the sheep.

I’m asking God to bless you and I’m praying for you, right now to connect on a new and deeply personal level with your Shepherd…Because you matter. You are created for more than you can think or imagine. But the key is getting ahold of your emotions and actions. Let’s learn together how to turn ourselves over to the One True Shepherd! The world is loud, distracting, and full of “cliffs” in the form of temptations.

I’d like to pray for you right now…

Father, we women in our busy-ness can be tempted by counterfeits, but what we need is a Good Shepherd, because we are absolutely helpless without one! We often forget that we are totally dependent on You. Remind us when we forget. May we be “enlightened sheep”, determined to look to YOU for all things, all day long! Help us to avoid the “cliffs” of temptation.

Lord, we all are familiar with the Psalm 23. Give us something fresh. Thank you that you are right here. Right now. Fully present. You actually are always with this amazing woman…please help her to know that if she is one of your sheep, she shall lack NOTHING that she truly needs. You are fully here for her. Thank You that you do sometimes allow her to stumble, so that she can understand and remember that You designed her to need to ask You for help. Thank you for the many ways you remind her that she is not SELF-sufficient. Give her absolute confidence in saying, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23)

You also promise to meet her TRUE deeply felt needs so that she can “lie down” in YOUR “green pastures” (the place where there is provision, protection, and companionship). Gratefully, it is not a forced lying down, but it is a release in her spirit that she CAN lie down and rest content and at peace, because the Shepherd meets the sheep’s needs, so that the sheep CAN lie down and REST.

Father, please remind her quickly when she is tempted to go her own way. Draw her immediately back to You. You are her TRUE Jehovah-Raah, her Good Shepherd. With you, all is well. Because, “Surely goodness and loving-kindness (mercy) will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6)

Ahhhh…Rest in THAT, dear one! Rest in that!

During this season of celebrating the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, are you certain that the Lord is YOUR PERSONAL SHEPHERD? If you are not sure, please immediately contact someone you know who is a true follower of Jesus. I’d love to be that someone for you…to lead you into the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ, the One and Only Savior. So He can be your own personal Shepherd. You can contact me by clicking on the button below.

Continue to Devotion Week #3 – El-Roi (The God Who Sees)

Until next time,
Awaiting His shout,


Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Heading into the season we call Easter, let’s try something different during my blog post sharing time. Today’s post will be about Jehovah-Shalom.

Question:

What do you do and where do you go when your heart is troubled and unsettled? When you need peace. Do you turn to an addiction: food, t.v., shopping, partying, alcohol, drugs? Do you turn to a friend? Or…

Are you learning–like me– to turn to the only One who offers TRUE Peace?

THAT peace is found ONLY in Jehovah-Shalom. The “world” and all its trappings does NOT offer a TRUE Peace.

Jehovah-Shalom

I’m asking God to bless you and I’m praying for you, right now…Because you matter. You are created for more than you can think or imagine. But the key is getting ahold of your emotions and actions. I’ve seen far too many of us, far too often, thinking we have a RIGHT to lose our temper and lash out at others, when we are lacking that inner peace that passes understanding. Women, we are doing harm.

During this season of celebrating the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, I’d like your feedback if this devotional series is helpful. Please share it with others, and please let me know how I can improve it for you. WHAT do you need?

Let’s pray TOGETHER:

Father, Jehovah-Shalom, would you right now…this very moment…remind this sweet woman reading this prayer, that you offer all she needs for every circumstance. In Isaiah 26:3, You promise You will keep her in perfect peace when her mind is turned toward you.

We all want that peace You offer, LORD, but it often seems impossible. Remind her to consciously invite You into every situation. Big or small. Remind her right now to take every thought captive, as You tell us we are to do. Help her focus on You, rather than the circumstances that want to rob her of that joyful connection with You. Hold her tightly. It is a rough world out there and satan wants to destroy our effectiveness for bringing Your Glory into every aspect of our lives. Please, reach into her heart, her mind, her emotions and encourage her in every way.

Help this sweet woman reading this right now, to remember that when peace eludes her, You are always only a breath, and a prayer away. Simple? Yes. Easy? No. Distractions are always trying to disrupt what God intended. Onward, Christian. The REAL battle has already been won. Just believe it!

Here’s a suggestion to get you started on this sweet path to daily peace when you need a pick-me-up during the day:

• Choose to take a moment and just stop whatever you are doing
• Take 3 deep breaths. Slowly. Calm yourself down
• Choose to smile at that very moment (You can’t frown AND smile at the same time.)
• Make a conscious decision to invite the LORD into the situation

Pray with me:

Father, please remind her quickly when she walks out of the Peace that You offer. Draw her immediately back to You. You are her TRUE Peace. Her Jehovah-Shalom. With you, all is well.

Remember our special code: 🙂
KLU (Keep Looking Up)
GIB (God Is Big)

What is your plan moving forward, sweet friend?

Let me help you find that special plan God has for you. He will equip you for what He has called you to. Believe. Let’s figure it out together. Contact me by clicking on the button below…

Continue to Devotion Week #2 – Jehovah-Raah (The Great Shepherd)

Until next time,
Awaiting His shout,


Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com