Tabetha’s Devotions

Psalms 119:10-11

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

I was once told a story that King David used Psalm 119 to teach Solomon the alphabet of a spiritual life. It is an acrostic using the Hebrew alphabet. When you read this portion of Psalms 119, it is written like a love letter to God. It is very poetic and beautiful.

Phrases like, “I seek you with all my heart” and “I have hidden your word in my heart” are examples of a very personal relationship with God. The desire to not stray from His commands or sin against Him shows complete devotion. Is this the relationship you desire with God? Is this even close to the relationship you have with Him already?

I am not asking you if you are perfect or is your relationship perfect from your side with God. I know the answer to that. We are human and we cannot be the perfect partner in the relationship. However, there is one thing we can do perfectly. We can desire a relationship. If we do that God will complete the relationship. His grace will cover the rest. I promise this love letter will not go unanswered!

Lord, I am not the perfect partner for our relationship. However, I do love You and will seek You and hide Your words in my heart. I will do my best to follow Your commands and not sin against You. Thank you for being the perfect partner and offering Your love and grace. ~amen

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Matthew 11:28-29

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.‬

Outside today it is dark and grey. As I look out my window, I think of two things. One is depression over such a dreary overcast day. The other thought is one of rest.

Stormy days tend to make me slow down. Yes, as I said before that can make you think of yucky and depressing emotions. However, what if the opposite were true? What if you turned those days into days of slowing down for the sake of slowing down?

We were never meant to go a hundred miles a day, all day, and every day. No, we burn out when we try to take on the world all by ourselves. If God took a day after creating the world to take a rest, what makes you think you don’t need rest?

We all have jobs to do. We were never meant to do them alone. God wants to be there every step of the way to help ease the load. He also wants to give you rest along the journey. All you have to do is take the pit stops in life and find a moment to breathe instead of worrying about the road ahead.

Lord, remind me to stop and rest and not get anxious during the pit stops of my life. ~amen

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Philippians 4:9
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I read Philippians 4:9 today and I immediately thought, “How many people stop after the ‘or seen in me’” part? Seriously, as a parent and a teacher, I have no idea how many times I have taught, and modeled things only for students to go try something on their own and not even attempt to do what I showed them. I totally feel for Paul here!

So, how many times a day do you think God feels this way? How many times has He shaken His head, rolled His eyes, and let out that huge sigh? How many times has He wanted to scream, “Really, and when did you think that was going to be a good idea?” He might even throw in a, “Seriously, I just told you how to do that!”

Yep, there is a second part of that verse that is VERY important. Four little words, “put it into practice” are forgotten all of the time. Studying God’s word, praying, and listening to Him is a must, but then don’t forget when you get that answer, PUT IT INTO PRACTICE!

I am so guilty of doing things my way. Lord, don’t give up on me. I am working on putting your lessons into practice. ~amen.

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Matthew 7:12

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Boy does the world need Matthew 7:12 tattooed on the back of their eyelids and posted on every billboard across every road all over the world!!! Seriously, kids on a playground work together much better than adults all over the world.

We seem to be programmed to react before we think. We want to lash out as soon as someone says something that “offends” us. We never want to take the time to consider how another person thinks or feels. We just want to make sure we are heard loud and clear.

You know at the end of the day, you cannot control others. You can, however, control you. You can take a moment, stop, and think how you would want someone to treat you. Then you can react with kindness, love, patience, and grace. After all none of us are perfect either. We have bad days and certainly make bad decisions also. Don’t you want someone to show you a little kindness when you aren’t at your best? Then extend that to others around you.

Lord, I want to pray that people, including myself, stop and think before they react to others. ~amen

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Psalms 95:6-7

6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
7 for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.
Today, if only you would hear his voice,

Sorry, it is not all about you. We don’t get to know God to see what He can do for us. He is not our own personal shopper, assistant, Santa Claus, or genie in a bottle. Nope, it is not all about what God can do for you.

As a matter of fact, it is all about all that God did for you. He sent His Son to die for your sins so you won’t go to hell forever and ever when you die. If He never sent another single, itty bitty, little blessing your way, I would still say, He did it ALL for you!

We don’t “be good” to get God’s attention. We don’t worship Him to gain His favor. No, we do it because He loved us long before we were ever born. We worship Him because He gave His all for us. We give Him our all because He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.

Let’s make it plain and simple here. We worship and praise God because He deserves it. We love Him because He loved and continues to love us when we never deserve it!

I love You, Lord just because You are You! ~amen

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Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

“It’s funny how day by day nothing changes. But when you look back, everything is different” (C.S. Lewis).

It is no surprise to everyone that life seems to evolve without us. Technology makes everything change at the speed of light. In a world of constant movement we all search for that one rock of stability. That place or thing that can anchor us. That idea that we have a spot that is home and doesn’t change. Well, I can tell you that you will not find this in the world. The only thing that never changes is Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Jesus is our stability in an ever-changing world. You can always depend on what He does and says. He is not a fickle friend who loves you one minute and then stabs you in the back the next. He is not that technology that always has to be updated. He isn’t even that new gadget that every year comes out with a newer, brighter, and better version that you just have to have. No, Jesus is Jesus yesterday, today, and forever.

So when the world spins all around you and everything looks different, know you can trust your anchor to keep you tied to the shore. You have stable ground to walk on as long as you put your trust in Jesus.

Lord, I am relying on you to keep me stable in an ever-changing world. ~amen

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Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Evil is everywhere and we will not get rid of it on this Earth. We are always surrounded by it. Evil will beat us up and down. It will cause chaos to swirl around us and press in on us until we feel suffocated. Boy, I am a Debbie downer, aren’t I? Not really, I am just laying out the obvious. So now on to the truth about what we can do about it!

Just because evil is there, I do not have to succumb to it. I can fight! I can turn it around and make it run away. How do you ask? Well, that is simple. Replace it with good. You know the old saying, “I laugh in the face of fear”? Guess what? Learn to laugh in the face of evil. Learn to smile and offer words of encouragement and love. Yes, I will even say, “Think happy thoughts”. This is not just Biblically proven (not that we need more) but it is actually scientifically proven. Stress reduces when you think about good things. Your mind becomes clearer and problems become smaller.

Yes, evil is going to be there. Sadness, anger, confusion, depression, and anxiety are part of this world. However, you can start a flame in the darkness with just a simple smile in the face of evil. Soon that flame will turn into a bonfire and evil will flee in the presence of the light of goodness!

Today, I choose to laugh in the face of evil! ~amen

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Mark 8:35
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

The tighter you hand on to something, the more you risk crushing it and losing it forever. I could give you about a million idioms about this idea. However, I think Mark 8:38 points to it best. You can’t hang on to all your old life and remain in Christ. In order to gain your new life, you must let go of the old one.

How about I throw this phrase at you, “I did it my way” (Frank Sinatra). Nice thought but ignoring God’s way and going through life doing everything your way isn’t going to get you very far. I am sure it isn’t going to get you what you are looking for like joy, peace, hope, and love.

I am guilty of getting impatient and going ahead and doing things my way. When I find myself stuck and not in a good place, I am sure I hear God say, “Are you done yet? Now can we try it My way?” With tail tucked and head hanging, I reply, “Yes.”

The moral of the story is if you want to save your time, oh, and your life, don’t try to do it your way. Change to words to your song, “I did it God’s way!”

Lord, I want to do it Your way. ~amen

Copyright © 2022 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

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Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

Anxiety is a nasty little bugger. It sneaks up on you slowly and then pounces. Once it sets in, you think it will never go away. You question everything and are never satisfied with any answer you get. It can be the catalyst to so many mental and yes physical ailments. It is an especially sharp and dangerous tool in Satan’s toolbox. If I had to take a guess, I would say it is one of his favorite weapons.

We may struggle to battle anxiety within ourselves, but I know a wonderful weapon that helps battle it. It is called kind words. Here is a bonus! You have heard God’s word is more powerful than a double-edged sword? Well using your words to cheer someone up is using God’s double-edged sword. It is so powerful, it will destroy both others and your anxiety at the same time.

Kind words make your brain reset. It changes its focus for a moment. It opens a door to a new path of thinking. When you get your foot in that door it starts to open wider and wider. Now, I am not dismissing mental illness. Some of us need that extra help through medicine to unlock that door, but once it is unlocked, look out Satan! We have the power of kind words to destroy your little tool!

Satan’s tools are strong, but God, Your weapon of kindness is so much stronger! ~amen

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Psalms 94:19
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

I read today’s verse and at the same time King and Country’s song “Joy” started playing on my iTunes.

Gotta get that fire, fire, back in my bones
Before my heart, heart, turns into stone
So somebody please pass the megaphone
I’ll shout it on the count of three
One, two, three
Oh, hear my prayer tonight, I’m singing to the sky
Give me strength to raise my voice, let me testify
Oh, hear my prayer tonight, ’cause this is do or die
The time has come to make a choice
And I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move you, let it move you
Yeah, I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you

God has heard your prayer. He has brought you joy. Are you ready to accept it? If so then grab onto it and don’t let go. Let it move you! Make your choice today. Don’t look at the world. Look up and choose joy. In the end, the choice is yours. Are you going to fight for it?

Lord, today I will choose and fight for my Joy! ~amen

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