“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”  Psalm 40:2

Years ago, I fell into a season of total despair. And although I knew God was with me, the more time passed and my circumstances didn’t change, I struggled deeply with trusting Him and keeping hope alive.

Misery, confusion, destruction… these are all areas in which the enemy lurks and uses to keep us from believing that God is good and that we can fully put our hope and trust in Him.

God loves to get in our business. In fact, nothing is too messy for God. No slimy sin, vile deeds, or dreadful situations can keep God away when we turn our hearts towards Him.

Not only does our God stoop down into the muddle of our life, He delights in pulling us out. He places us on well-founded ground, established in Him.

John 3:17 says that Jesus came to save us and not to condemn us. His perfect love for us overwhelms any darkness that tries to overtake us.

Whatever pit you might be in that is trying to keep you from being secure and established, keep trusting in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. You will come out of the pit not only being more assured and confident in God, but also with a fresh and active testament to God’s amazing grace and works in your life, as I did with my situation.

Heavenly Father, I thank You that I can trust You and know that You are a good God who is always with me. I put my hope in You alone and ask that You would enter into this area of my life that I am struggling with and deepen my faith, making me more assured and confident in You. Amen.

By Brigitte Straub
Used by Permission

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The post Out of the Pit can be found at Thoughts about God.

“I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 2 Samuel 24:24

Several years ago while going for a walk, I noticed someone on a bike and felt an immediate impression to talk to her about God. However, I argued with myself against doing it and kept walking the other way. With feelings of immense remorse, I told God, if I saw her again, I would speak to her. And I did. I shared with her about the love of Jesus but also gave her the gold cross I was wearing around my neck, which held sentimental value.

What costly thing am I giving to God who has given me EVERYTHING?

When Araunah offered to give David oxen for an altar that he wanted to build, David insisted on paying for them out of a deep desire to give to God something that would cost him something. He did not want to give to God something that would be of no expense to him. David understood that true worship meant sacrifice (2 Samuel 24:18-25).

It is easy to serve God when it doesn’t require much from us. When it does, and we dare go to that place which demands that we fully trust in God in a way we haven’t experienced before, God looks upon that sacrifice as a measure of our deep love and devotion to Him.

Heavenly Father, I love you and thank you for offering your Son to me so I can have eternal life with you. My desire is to offer to you ________ [fill in the blank with the area that God shows you]. I choose to give you this part of my life to show my love and thankfulness to you. Amen.

By Brigitte Straub
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• A Sobering Sacrifice
• This is Hard
• A Hard Road Ahead?

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The post The Cost of Worship can be found at Thoughts about God.

“Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?”  John 11:40

Our relationship was blocked. For years I experienced the loss within my family, even though I wanted desperately for this member and I to be reconciled. I almost lost hope that we would ever connect again. Then someone came alongside me and filled me with encouragement that one day it would be restored.

When Jesus came to the tomb where Lazarus lay dead, He told his sister, Martha, to take the stone away so He could get to him. She immediately gave him the excuse that there would be a repulsive smell since he had already been dead for four days.
Jesus responded, “…if you would believe….”

Unbelief is an obstacle in our life, like a stone rolled over an entrance. It can keep us from knowing God. It drives us to make excuses, as it did Martha, eventually hindering us from experiencing all that God has to offer.

Just like the stone kept the mourners from Lazarus, it also kept Lazarus from becoming free from the bonds of death. It kept Lazarus from experiencing Jesus.

Sometimes we need to help remove the stone for someone else that is keeping them dead inside. And at other times, we need to allow people in our lives to help take away the barriers that are keeping us from being truly alive in Jesus.

Jesus, I come to you and ask that you would help me in my unbelief in _______________ (name a specific area you are struggling in). I want nothing in my life to keep me from experiencing all that you have to offer me. Forgive me for my unbelief, and give me strength so I may know you more. Amen

By Brigitte Straub
Used by Permission

https://thelife.com/devotionals

FURTHER READING

• Overcoming Unbelief
• Our Complex Negotiations with God
• Mighty Things Through Faith

The post The Stone of Unbelief can be found at Thoughts about God.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him.” Psalms 28:7

Not too long ago, I had a professor make me aware of something she saw that I was struggling with. What she said touched me so deeply my eyes immediately started welling up with tears. I needed healing in an area of my life I was choosing to ignore and hoped would just go away.

Trusting God with our hearts so He can heal us takes courage.

When Jesus confronted the Samaritan woman at the well and her sin was exposed, she had a choice as to how she would respond. It took courage when she ran back to her town and shared with everyone how Jesus knew everything about her. “Then they left the town and made their way to Him” (John 4:30).

Being vulnerable with God and trusting Him with areas of our life that are difficult to face is exactly what He desires. God is the only one who can forgive us, heal us, love us through the situation, and give us the guidance we need.

The Samaritan woman received healing in her own heart; her testimony helped to heal the many that came to God that day.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and always being here for me in my times of need. I give you ______________ [state the areas you need God to heal], and ask that You would heal me. I desire to be close to you and to know You more. Amen.

By Brigitte Straub
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Not the Walking Wounded

The Gift of Woundedness

Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks

The post Hidden Wounds can be found at Thoughts about God.

“When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” Exodus 17:12

God created us for relationship. He made us to be dependent on each other. We were never meant to live life alone. Just as the different parts of a body are dependent on one another to work most efficiently, we need each other — especially during the most difficult times.

The Israelites were in a time of war against Amalek, and when Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed, and when he let his hands down, Amalek prevailed. When Moses could no longer hold up his hands on his own, his friends came around him.

I have a friend who is currently battling breast cancer. Like all who have gone through times of despair where perseverance is vital, she is in great need for people to come around her and hold her up with encouragement and support.

To feel alone and abandoned while fighting your own internal war is an overwhelming and frightening feeling. Just as Moses had friends to surround him and help anchor him for the sake of victory, we are called to do the same for those around us who need to be lifted up.

And we should also be willing to ask others to lift us up when needed. There is a tendency to isolate ourselves during challenging periods in our lives. It is the enemy’s goal to make us believe that we are alone in our circumstances and that we don’t have anybody who will come along side us and “hold up our hands.” This is so we’ll lose hope. Remember, we were never meant to “go it alone.” It may be hard, but reach out so you, too can be held up in your battles, just like Moses and my friend.

Father God, thank you that I am not alone and for being my ultimate source of strength to endure what I am going through. Help me to be the kind of friend that people can lean on during their times of difficulty so they can feel your presence around them and have a sense of hope and victory in their situation. Amen.

By Brigitte Straub
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

•  How to Pray

•  Asking Specifically when you pray

•   Hailing the Chief– a story about how we all pray differently but often don’t even stop to fellowship with God while we are praying.

The post Held Up can be found at Thoughts about God.

“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!”
Psalm 139:17-18 (NLT)

I will never forget the day I was sitting eating dinner with my family when I was six years old. My Dad came home from work and surprised me with something special. I didn’t see him often growing up, so the moment when he walked through the door and handed me a doll I’d had my heart set on for a while, it meant the world to me.

Just like my dad showed me I was in his thoughts and on his heart, so does our Heavenly Father. God pursues His children in different ways, but He does it because His desire is for us to know Him and His love for us.

Psalm 139 shows us that God pursued us even before we began to pursue Him, and that He knows us even more than we know ourselves. He knows our joys, our fears, our grief, and every thought we have.

Before Jesus was crucified, He fell down with his face to the ground in prayer. Jesus knew he could go to His Father during one of the most agonizing and excruciating moments in his life because He knew the love God the Father had for him.

As a child, I missed knowing my father more, but I know he loved me. God never leaves. He’s always there. Knowing our Heavenly Father is the only way to fill the emptiness we can so often experience. The more we nurture a relationship with Him, the more we will know and cherish Him and His pursuing love for us.

Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me that you love me and desire to have an intimate relationship with me. I want to know you and know your purpose for my life so that your will is done through me. I pray that you would open my heart and mind to know you and love you more. Amen.

By Brigitte Straub
Used by Permission

Are you at a place in your life where you want to know Jesus and have him in your life?   You can start a life surrendered to Christ today. This is a sample, simple prayer, but the words are powerful and full of meaning.  If  you truly believe them Christ will enter your life and start you on a wonderful journey. (not always easy, but never alone)

Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to You and ask You to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

It starts now!

We’d love to hear from you.  If you don’t see our response form, please go to  https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/blog/brigitte-straub_the-pursuer/

Further Reading

• Buried in Grace – Devotional by Rand Kreycik

• God’s Loving Pursuit – A Devotional by Max Lucado

• How to be Saved

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The post The Pursuer can be found at Thoughts about God.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

My son was complaining recently about a throbbing pain in his legs. It was so painful that we went to the doctor to have x-rays taken. The result? It was merely something we have all felt at one point when we were younger. Growing pains.

Growth hurts. The ache and discomfort of pain can be agonizing, but it is necessary and always beneficial. God created us, not to stay stagnant, but to always be growing in Him and becoming more like Jesus. But it’s not easy, and we can certainly stunt it.

“Failure to thrive” is a term used to describe an underlying condition causing physical growth delay. The reason behind it is inadequate nutrition. Just like we need to feed our bodies with the necessary nutrients to grow, we need to feed ourselves spiritually for growth to occur.

God’s Word is the essential nourishment for your being. King David, described by God as a man ”after my own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), deeply loved and valued God’s Word with such passion that he not only meditated on it all day, but all night (Psalm 119:97, Psalm 119:148). Maybe we should be more like him so we can grow in faith.

Know that in the midst of heartache and pain, God is molding and growing you. Be confident in the promise from God that He is perfecting you as you allow Him to do the work He desires to do in you.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your promise that you are growing me into the person you have created me to be. I pray that your Word would fill my being. Open my heart to hearing all that you have to say to me and give me wisdom and knowledge while I meditate on your Word. Amen.

Thought:  it’s vital to commit yourself to putting time aside to read and meditate on God and His Word. Before you begin your day as well as at the close of your day, take some moments to be with God, strengthening and encouraging yourself with what He desires to show you.

By Brigitte Straub
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Going Deeper with God

•  Personal Stories of Choosing God

•  Salvation Explained

The post Growing Pains can be found at Thoughts about God.

“For God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

I will never forget the day when God asked me to give away something that meant a great deal to me. In our early years of marriage, my husband bought me a beautiful gold pendant cross necklace. He was in the military at the time, and through seven deployments over a 10-year period, I never once took it off. It was a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness to me in difficult times.

Yet one day, while going for a walk, I sensed God was asking me to give this necklace to someone else. I didn’t hesitate; I can remember walking over to him, taking it off, and sharing God’s love for him. As he proceeded to cry, I put it around his neck and gave him a hug.

When our hearts and hands are open to giving, they are also open to receiving. When God asks us to give, whatever that may look like, He often has something to give back to us in return that is just as meaningful and special.

A cheerful giver reveals a life of someone who has put full trust in God, believing He is a good Father who loves to bless His children and enjoys watching His children bless one another in return. This is the life God has called us to.

A while later while opening up Christmas gifts, my five-year-old son handed me a little box. Within it lay a beautiful cross necklace made of bone that he had bought with his small amount of chore money. He didn’t know that I had given away my special necklace, but God knew, and used my little boy to bless me more than I could have even imagined.

You are a good Father: kind, caring, gracious, loving, and eager to bless Your children. May I always be willing to give where You ask me to, and may my heart always be joyous in doing so. Use me to love others the way You love them. Amen.

By Brigitte Straub
used by permission

FURTHER READING

•  The Generosity Habit

•  Try Tithing

•  Salvation Explained

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HIS LINK

The post A Cheerful Giver can be found at Thoughts about God.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

Several years ago, my husband and I went through a difficult season. My husband had just lost his job; it was unforeseen and was a challenging time in our family life and in our relationship with God. Although we put our trust in Him, we definitely lived moments where our hope seemed weak and our faith, small.

Mark 2 shares a unique story of faith. Large numbers of people were gathered together after hearing that Jesus had come home. There were so many people crowded around Jesus that there was no room left in the house, including outside the door of the place! But that didn’t stop four friends of a paralyzed man from having their friend see Jesus. Since they couldn’t get to Jesus through the front door, they made a hole in the roof and lowered the man into the house so he could be healed.

Faith sometimes looks radical.

The paralyzed man had four friends full of faith, willing to risk looking like fools. Yet, “when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’” (Mark 2:5).

We don’t know how long this man had been paralyzed. We know nothing about his own personal struggle for faith in God’s goodness and healing for himself. But what we do know is that he had people who loved him and came alongside him who were full of assurance in who God is and what God intended.

Sometimes, we need others to stand strong in faith with us. When my husband lost his job, others cam alongside us in faith, full of hope in an awesome God, and trusted that He would end up making something beautiful out of a difficult situation. And He did — God provided my husband with a better job than what we could have ever asked for!

Heavenly Father, I thank You so much that I can trust You and put my hope in You. You are a good God, always compassionate and loving to Your people.  Help me grow in my faith in You. Mold me and make me into the person You want me to be. Amen.

By Brigitte Straub
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•   Articles on Struggles & Despair

•  Hope for the Hopeless

•  Salvation Explained

SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL: FOLLOW THIS LINK

The post A Fighting Faith can be found at Thoughts about God.

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:12

I came to a place in my relationship with God when, for the first time, I felt I was able to openly talk to Him. I shared my heart, my pain, my sin… anything and everything. I didn’t hold back.

That day marked something very special because it meant that my relationship with God had changed into something I desperately needed — and something He desired. It was a freedom I thought I would never experience. My perception had always been that I could not approach God easily because of my sin. Once I began to understand His unconditional love for me, my perception changed. I couldn’t help but want to be close to Him.

In John 15:15, Jesus says,

“I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.”

The enemy would like nothing more than to keep us from an intimate relationship with Jesus, because that is what we were created for. He’d love to keep us from realizing that our worth as God’s children allow us to fulfill our true purpose: knowing Him.

When we know the love God has for us, we can become connected to Him in such a way that we don’t feel ashamed for Him to know us for who we truly are. We can freely go to Him. In truth, He already knows us… but He’s been waiting for us to desire Him also, so we may know Him and all He has for us.

I love you God… with my whole heart! I love you and desire to know you more intimately. Thank you for loving me and that I can come to you with anything that’s on my heart and my mind. Amen.

By Brigitte Straub
Used by Permission

Further Reading

• Serving the Lord Wholeheartedly

•  We Plan, God Directs

•  Salvation Explained

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The post No Holding Back can be found at Thoughts about God.