About Devotionally Yours

So smoothly we can transition from one day to another, one week to another, one month to another, one season to another… Sometimes, Lord, without much thought or effort, and many times without any activity or participation on our part; change and transition just happen on their own. 

Just like in nature, Lord, some flowers and plants just seem to spring up all around us without any help or activity on our end, but others take work. We envision an area in our yard and diligently weed and till, plant and pull and trim until the look we see in our head takes shape. 

Is that what You do with us, Lord? When You formed us in our mother’s womb You had a vision for our life. Made in Your image You know exactly how You need to work with each one of us. Knowing we won’t automatically become people who are loving, forgiving, compassionate, kind-hearted and the like. And just like our gardens we work so hard at, we need to be weeded, tilled, pruned, turned, and tended to reflect Your image—not just outwardly, but inwardly also.

Thank You, Lord, for Your careful tending and for the Holy Spirit whose presence transforms us—many times, without our even realizing what’s taking place. I hope and pray, as You look down from heaven You can see how I’m transitioning; changing through the years—not just chronologically, but emotionally and spiritually. Hopefully You see how, under Your careful tending I am growing, and blossoming. The old has gone and the new is here—or at least I’m showing signs of being that new person You’ve had in mind all along! 

Soon enough, June will turn into July don’t let me waste a minute of it, Lord! May I continue to grow and increase and may You be pleased in all that I become. Amen       

A Promise to Remember at the Close of Day

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 1:6

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”—2 Corinthians 5:17

“They are like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season…”—Psalm 1:3

 Gracious God, closing out the day can make us shift our activities. For some it’s going to be helping their little ones quiet out their day and doing things with them that help them prepare for their night: warm bubble baths, soothing lotions, bedtime stories… For the older ones it may be reminding them to put away devices until tomorrow… If we’ve been working outdoors, once the sun starts going down, we might start collecting and putting our gadgets and tools back in their places. Evening breezes or a disappearing sun can remind us that our day’s work is complete and now it’s time to shift our attention and close-up-shop, so to speak. 

Thank You Lord, for these good days we get to enjoy!

The Bible has all kinds of counsel about things we should put away: greed, selfishness, anger, worry, vain ambitions and empty pursuits…Thank You Lord, for wise counsel and reminding us to let go—put away those things that have no lasting value.

So tonight, Lord, as I put away the tasks of this day, help me also put away anything in my heart that does not honor You. 

Put away the attitudes that drain my peace, the thoughts that stir up worry, and the habits that pull me from Your presence. Teach me to release what is heavy, to lay down what is unhelpful, and to hold onto only what draws me closer to You.

As I settle into the quiet of this evening, cover me with Your rest, renew me with Your Spirit, and prepare my heart for a new day in Your grace. Amen.

A Promise to Remember at the Close of Day

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander be put away from you… and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”—Ephesians 4:31-32

“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander… and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.”—Colossians 3:8-10

“Search me, O God, and know my heart… see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”—Psalm 139:23-24