gail rodgers - Thoughts About God

Stepping Up

Devotionals — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 07:03:49 +0000

“May the God of peace… equip you with everything good for doing His will and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him through Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 13:21

Sheila loved children. She had a natural ability to make them feel welcome as they came into daycare. Yet when she was asked to help out in Sunday School she felt inadequate and uncertain if she could teach little ones about Jesus. She was still learning herself!

Sheila reached for her Bible to take a few quiet moments with God at the end of her day. She was tired and morning came early yet she knew His Word was a lifeline to her.

As she read that verse from Hebrews, she immediately recognized the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to her. Yes, she was to teach that children’s class. If she relied on God to help her and diligently studied the lessons, He would equip her. What an amazing thought. A peace flooded her heart as she chose to step up, confirming for her that this was indeed the right decision.

Yet there was more… God also promised to work in her what was pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ. Sheila realized that God had brought this opportunity her way. He would help her do it and He would also work in her, stretching her and growing her in new ways. Excitement stirred within her.

Father God, You alone know how inadequate I feel for the task You are calling me to. Help me to have the courage to say “yes”. Flood me with Your peace as my confirmation that this is Your will for me right now. Grow my faith and my character as I allow You to work in me what is pleasing to You. Thank you for this privilege. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

By Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

What’s the Tone in Your Home These Days?

Devotionals — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 08:03:54 +0000

“A soft answer turns away wrath,but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

Words, and how they are said, set the tone in our homes. Have you stopped to listen to the tone in your home lately? I did. I listened to those around me and I paid close attention to what came out of my own mouth. I saw some patterns that were good and others that I didn’t like.

Taking inventory of the words spoken in our homes is a good exercise especially when we inventory ourselves along with it. Sometimes we don’t even realize what has crept in or what is missing. Tones of disapproval, sarcasm, or annoyance can wrap the words we say and impact the way they are received often creating an edge of hostility. Or tones reflecting kindness, caring and gratitude can bring the opposite attitude into our homes.

One winter we cut out the shape of a sword and a Band-Aid and taped these on our refrigerator door to remind our family that our words can bring hurt or healing. They can sting and cut or they can strengthen and build. Words are very powerful. The tones they are spoken in imply so much. A soft answer can turn away anger but harsh words can stir it up. Words and tones create the atmosphere in your home. Start with yourself and watch the results. You won’t be disappointed as you invest intentionally in your words and your tones.

Father God, In these hurried and changing times we live in, I want our home to be an oasis where we can refuel to face the challenges of our days. Please help me to be aware of my words. Help me to inventory the words and tones in our home and to become the change agent to move the bar higher. I need Your help, Lord. Remind me to speak softly and kindly and to model the words and tones that can change the atmosphere in our home. Thank you Lord. I ask this in the name of Jesus, amen.

By Gail Rodgers
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Words – Thoughts by Katherine Kehler
The Power of Kind Words by Laura Rath
Lessons from Life: Words – by Mike Woodard

The post What’s the Tone in Your Home These Days? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

In His Presence

Thoughts_About_God — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 09:01:16 +0000

Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”

When our feet hit the floor in the morning and the day rushes in, it can be easy to forget that the very presence of God is with us!

The presence of the Lord is with each believer in Jesus. His presence is also IN each believer by the power of the Holy Spirit. As we embrace His presence it will change our day.

As I’ve pondered just what it looks like, on a busy morning, to embrace the presence of the Lord in me and with me, the familiar words of Psalm 23 took on a fresh depth. God is so practical. His presence with us is so real and so powerful in us. As we embrace His presence we will begin to engage in His presence and enjoy our walk with Him in a fresh way.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
In His presence I am supplied with all I need for today.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
In His presence I am quieted from the turmoil in and around me.

He restores my soul.
In His presence I am built up, forgiven, refreshed.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
In His presence I am guided along the right paths for me, paths that will honor His name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
In His presence I can be fearless in trusting Him even with destruction and death are all around me.

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
In His presence I am comforted because I know He is equipped to watch over for me.

You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies.
In His presence I am nourished and protected even when I’m in unfriendly territory.

You anoint my head with oil;
In His presence He anoints me with healing and with love.

My cup overflows.
In His presence I am filled to overflowing regardless of outer circumstances.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
I am pursued by His mercy and His goodness every day.
His presence calls me.

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
In His presence I am secure for today and forever.

What treasures await you today in His presence!

Lord God, Before my feet hit the floor in the morning please wake me up a few minutes early to ponder Your presence with me and in me. Please help me to embrace Your presence for the day. Please help me to engage in Your presence and lean into all You have for me as I go. Help me to enjoy Your presence as I go through my day. Remind me of Your wonderful Psalm of complete care and may I rest in You. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, amen.

by Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

You are Loved

Devotionals — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 08:03:43 +0000

Question: Do you find it easy or hard to accept how much God loves you?

You are precious in His sight. Today… yes, right now!

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19

Father in Heaven, What wonderful understanding Your word gives me. Today I ask that You would give me strength in my inner being. Thank you that You reach out to strengthen me from Your vast store of riches. Help me to remember that today I have the living Christ dwelling within me. Remind me that this is my Source today in all I need to do or face.

Lord God, help me today to grasp how very much You love me. Help me to see in fresh ways how I am grounded by that love and rooted in it as a sure anchor for my life. Help me to believe it! What a heritage I share with other believers… this wonder of Your equipping love in my life. How we need to remind each other of this strengthening power that we have access to through Your Spirit.

Today when I am tempted to fall into thinking thoughts that drag me down, remind me of this rich love that You pour over me and into my life. Remind me, by Your Spirit, that this love is wider and longer and higher and deeper than I can ever imagine. Let me feel wrapped and encased in that love today. Help me to grasp this truth when I am tempted to feel less because of my own limited abilities or resources or circumstances.

Father, thank you that growing in this understanding of the riches of Your love will fill me up with a fullness and a completeness that can come from nothing else. Set me on a journey today to reply on You in every detail of my life. Let me live in the fullness of Your love today like never before. I ask this in the powerful name of Jesus with thanksgiving. Amen.

Question: Do you find it easy or hard to accept how much God loves you? How does His love change the way you face the day?

By Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

gail rodgers - Thoughts About God

Stepping Up

Further Reading

What’s the Tone in Your Home These Days?

In His Presence

Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”

Further Reading

You are Loved

Question: Do you find it easy or hard to accept how much God loves you?

Further Reading