Mar 27, 2026 – Tasks
JC – “Be still in My Presence, even though countless tasks clamor for your attention.” There are not only countless tasks running through my mind, but also countless ways to start this blog today, so much so that I’ve just been sitting here staring out the window, into the darkness before the sun comes up, for most of this last hour. Jesus Calling reminded me that I haven’t been alone. Thank You for being with me, Lord. “Nothing is as important as spending time with Me. While you wait in My Presence, I do My best work within you: transforming you by the renewing of your mind. If you skimp on this time with Me, you may plunge headlong into the wrong activities, missing the richness of what I have planned for you.”
Coffee. As I’ve been doing for a while, I started my day with water, but it is now time for coffee. I don’t think I necessarily “need” the caffeine jolt, but maybe the routine of fixing it and that first sip does give my psyche the signal that it’s time to get in gear.
That reminds me of one morning during the recent visit with my friend when she was telling me something as we were walking to the car. After we got in our seats, she opened the garage door and started the car and was still talking, but we weren’t backing out. When I suggested that she could drive and talk, she said that she had learned that it’s best for the engine to not take off right away so the oil can cycle through it to make it run better (short and long term), sort of like breakfast does for the body. And, like spending time with God does for the soul and spirit.
The JC devotion continues, “Do not seek Me primarily for what I can give you. Remember that I, the Giver, am infinitely greater than any gift I might impart to you…. Anything can be an idol if it distracts you from Me as your First Love. When I am the ultimate Desire of your heart, you are safe from the danger of idolatry. As you wait in My Presence, enjoy the greatest gift of all: Christ in you, the hope of glory!”
Streams – Today’s story that Cowman shares, about a groom regaining his sight on his wedding day and seeing his bride for the first time, is a compelling foreshadowing of how we will feel on the day we finally see Christ face to face. However, the beginning of Cowman’s entry yesterday, by S. A. Keen, caught my attention as I was turning the page and it spoke to me about where I find myself in this writing lull. “No desire will ever be placed in you by the Holy Spirit unless He intends to fulfill it.” Our giftings and desires are unique to us even though we don’t always see that as we think everyone must like to write or paint or garden or preach or study stocks or race cars etc.
On the other hand, I think that most of us look at that list of what others have done and think we could do them too, but often we can’t (or, if we could, we don’t). One of the pieces of art, by Cricket Flowers (in today’s photo), that I bought at the art fair while visiting my friend, is sitting on the couch across from me waiting for me to decide where it will hang. I would like to paint or draw, but what’s in my mind does not translate to a canvas or even to paper. Certainly, I could take classes and produce something recognizable, but that doesn’t fuel me like writing does, or like oil does in an engine, and like God’s Word does for my attitude and outlook. When I questioned the artist about where she learned this technique, she said it was just something that she began figuring out. To me, that’s an example of someone following the desires of their heart that were placed there by God.
Power – Joyce draws from Philippians 4:13 as she reminds us that, “There may be times in our lives when God allows us to go through serious difficulties to enable us to eventually minister to and comfort others who are suffering…. we can be assured we are able to handle it because He promises never to allow us to go through more than we can bear. That reminds me of something I wrote about yesterday (that I didn’t save) that Don went through the day before, but today’s entry is already long so I’ll save that for tomorrow. Joyce echos the yesterday, today, and tomorrow theme writing, “It may feel as if we’re never going to overcome the challenges we’re facing [today], but if we look back at the lives of believers in past centuries [yesterday], we see that God gave them the strength to overcome [tomorrow, and today] the ‘impossible.’ Let’s remember how David faced Goliath, and take joy in defeating obstacles rather than letting them defeat us.”
Prevail #86 – 2 Kings 6:16 – “’Don’t be afraid!’ Elisha told him. ‘For there are more on our side than on theirs!’” I pulled the ribbon page marker to open the book, but before I could turn the page to #86, some of Larson’s words from #85 jumped out at me, “Things are rarely as they appear in the natural, and God is always nearer than we perceive. Here’s what’s true: God has assigned angels to care for you and to fight for you. The precious powerful Holy Spirit resides inside of you…. Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” Today, Larson continues her study in 2 Kings and shares from the Life Application Study Bible, “We must avoid becoming skeptical of God’s provision. When our resources are low and our doubts are the strongest, remember God can open the floodgates of heaven.”*
Simpson – “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee” (Ps. Ivi.3). Simpson shares this memory and truism, “We shall never forget a remark Mr. George Mueller once made in an answer to a gentleman who asked him the best way to have strong faith. ‘The only way,’ replied the patriarch of faith, ’to learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.’ …Dear one, if you scarcely realize the value of your present opportunity, if you are passing through great afflictions, you are in the very soul of the strongest faith, and if you will only let go, He will teach you in these hours the mightiest hold upon this throne which you can ever know. ‘Be not afraid, only believe’….”
JA – “You need to be made new in the attitude of your mind and to put on the new self – becoming increasingly godly, righteous, and holy. This is a lifelong endeavor, and it is preparing you for heaven’s Glory. So receive this assignment with courage and gratitude. Be alert, and look for all the wonderful things I am doing in your life.” I thank You for going before me today, Lord, helping me be efficient and discerning in the tasks (assignments) on my list.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
*Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2004), 768.
