Daily Devotions for Women Morning and Evening Edition by Barbour Books

Daily Devotions for Women

MORNING & EVENING EDITION

Daily Devotions for Women

MORNING & EVENING EDITION

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Scripture quotations marked kjv are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked nlt are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked msg are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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Morning and Evening. . .

REFRESHMENT

FOR YOUR SOUL

Evening, and morning. . .will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Psalm 55:17 kjv

It’s our prayer that this beautiful book will help you experience an intimate connection to the heavenly Father through a devotional thought, prayer, and scripture—twice a day.

Enhance your spiritual journey with the refreshing readings, and come to know just how deeply and tenderly God loves you.

Be blessed!

Morning Fixed and Focused

I trusted in, relied on, and was conﬁdent in You, O Lord; I said, You are my God.

Psalm 31:14 ampc

Trusting God might sometimes seem attainable. Other times, not so much. Factoring in things like your background, upbringing, childhood, and the relationships you have experienced throughout life, trust might be a very di cult thing to do.

If trusting God seems like it’s nearly impossible, you might be tempted to put your faith and hope into things and people. This is because they might seem able to provide a quick ﬁx or instant gratiﬁcation. Yet the paradox is that as you abide in Jesus, all you need is to trust Him with things and people.

In Psalm 31, David petitions for God to shower His grace and mercy on him, for help and protection in regard to his enemies. He cries out to God in desperation for the challenges in this life, looking for—and expecting—God to ﬁght for him.

Can you relate to David’s pleas when you consider the stories and struggles both you and your fellow brothers and sisters face? No matter what’s happening, know that God is able. Have mustard-seed faith to trust in, rely on, and be conﬁdent in His faithfulness, and He will lead you to victory.

Jesus, I trust You in the good and hard times. Holy Spirit, please fill me with the ability to stay fixed and focused on You.

Evening The Hand of God

For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Isaiah 41:13 niv

If there is a scripture you need to have handy in times of trouble, this is it! Post it on your fridge; write it on a sticky note to tack up in your car; commit it to memory so that the Spirit of God can bring it to mind when you need to hear it most.

Psalm 139 tells us that God created us and knows everything about us. He knows when we sit and when we get up, and He knows every word that’s on our tongue before we speak it. Psalm 139:7–10 tells us that no matter where we go, His hand will guide us and hold us.

Heading to the emergency room? Repeat Isaiah 41:13 and remember that God is holding your hand. Afraid of the future? Stop worrying and trust the God who loves you and has great plans for you. Facing a problem that you cannot possibly bear? Take hold of God’s mighty hand and believe that He will help you.

Father God, help me not to fear. Take hold of my hand and guide me. I put my faith and trust in You alone. Amen.

Morning As Pure as Rainwater

Hatred stirs up conﬂict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Proverbs 10:12 niv

Have you ever seen a rain barrel ﬁlled after a good storm? That water is clean and refreshing. But if you take a big stick and whip up the contents, soon the dregs will rise and whorl. Suddenly what was clean is now a dirty mess. That visual is a good one for Proverbs 10:12, which reminds us that hatred stirs up old quarrels.

When we choose to hold on to grudges, then hatred seeps into our hearts. It’s like we’re carrying around a big stick, and we’re more than ready to whip up some dregs by bringing up an argument from the past. This is a common way to live, but not a godly or healthy one.

What’s the answer?

Love.

When we love others, we will overlook insults, whether they are intended or not. Does that seem like an impossible task using these feeble shells of ours?

It is impossible in our own humanness.

But with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome this need to stir up trouble, and we can forgive freely and love abundantly—just as Christ has done for us. So let us come not with a big stick but with a spirit as refreshing and as pure as rainwater.

Holy Spirit, please take away any tendency in me to bicker, but instead make me into a woman who loves with my whole heart and who is an instrument of Your peace. Amen.

Evening I Forgive You

A person’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an o ense.

Proverbs 19:11 nasb

Great power comes in these three little words: I forgive you. Often they are hard to say, but they are powerful in their ability to heal our own hearts. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” He knew we needed to forgive others to be whole. When we are angry or hold a grudge against someone, our spirits are bound. The release that comes with extending forgiveness enables our spirits to commune with God more closely and love swells within us.

How do you forgive? Begin with prayer. Recognize the humanity of the person who wronged you, and make a choice to forgive. Ask the Lord to help you forgive the person(s). Be honest, for the Lord sees your heart. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you and cleanse you. Then step out and follow His leading in obedience. By forgiving, we can move forward, knowing that God has good things in store for us. And the heaviness of spirit is lifted, and relief washes over us after we’ve forgiven. A new sense of hope and expectancy rises. I forgive you. Do you need to say those words today?

Father, search my heart and show me areas where I might need to forgive another. Help me let go and begin to heal. Amen.

Morning God as Paradox

“Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.”

Job 42:3 niv

Satan challenged God to a kind of duel, with Job as the test case. God let Satan destroy Job’s wealth, children, health, and reputation. No wonder Job complained about paradoxes with God (see Job 7:20−21; 9:22−24; 10:3; 30:20−24). So God showed Job paradoxes in nature.

The ﬁrst was that God spoke out of a storm (Job 38:1; 40:6), yet lightning and wind had caused most of Job’s losses. God also presented paradoxes in the animal kingdom. Wild animals cannot be tamed and seem to have no purpose, yet God made them (Job 39:5−12). Likewise, there is no sensible explanation to undeserved su ering except that God wills it, even allowing Satan to cause it in Job’s case. The ostrich cannot ﬂy, yet it runs faster than a horse (Job 39:13−18). No one controls Behemoth (Job 40:15−24) or Leviathan (Job 41). If Job cannot explain the natural world that God created, how could he understand the spiritual world or try to “tame” the Creator Himself?

Job realized he should not question God, demand answers, or think he can advise God (Job 42:2−4). God is a paradox—we can know Him, and yet He remains inscrutable and incomprehensible. He is just, because that is His nature, but we cannot prove it. We simply believe it. Satan’s challenge was to see if Job would keep believing God for who He is, apart from the blessings He gives. Job did. Do you?

You know what You’re doing in my life, Lord, and that means I don’t have to. I trust You and Your ways, no matter what. Amen.

Evening Open the Book

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Romans 15:4 niv

“Out with the old and in with the new!” is unfortunately some Christians’ philosophy about the Bible. Yet the Old Testament scriptures are vital to every believer. We cannot understand the power of the New Testament until we embrace the teachings, wisdom, and moral laws of God revealed in the Old Testament. After all, the Old Testament points directly to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, and our salvation.

The apostle Paul reminds us that everything in the Bible was written with purpose—to teach us that through our trials and the encouragement of God’s Word, we might have hope.

Life is tough, after all. We get discouraged and, at times, disheartened to the point of such despair it’s hard to recover. Yet the Word of God ignites the power of a positive, godly ﬁre within.

Reading all of God’s Word is paramount. It is the source of hope, peace, encouragement, salvation, and so much more. It moves people to take action while diminishing depression and discouragement. As the writer of Hebrews put it, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12).

Need some encouragement? Open the Book.

Lord, help me read Your Word consistently to empower me with the hope and encouragement I need. Amen.

Morning The Next Step

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Psalm 119:105 niv

Change is unsettling. It doesn’t matter who we are—old or young, rich or poor, married or single. Change can be exciting, but it also brings with it the unknown. And that can be a little unnerving. When we face changes, the path ahead often looks dark and twisted. We squint and strain to see down the road, but we just can’t see clearly. But we don’t always need to see into the distance. We only need to see the step ahead of us. Then another step. Then another step. When the path ahead is obscure, we can go to God’s Word for guidance. His Word will light our way. Oh, it may not tell us exactly what’s coming a year from now, or even a month from now. But if we depend on Him and follow the guidance He’s given us, His Word will act as a road map for the step ahead. It will light the pathway at our feet so we know we’re not stepping o a cli .

When we rely on His Word and follow it consistently, we can trust His goodness. Even when the future is unclear, we can move ahead with conﬁdence, knowing He will lead us to the best place for us, and His goodness and love will stay with us every step of the journey.

Dear Father, thank You for lighting my way. Help me to follow You today and trust You for my future. Amen.

Evening

Don’t Refuse Instruction

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Proverbs 8:33 kjv

Have you ever made the statement, “I wish I had listened to what they told me.” Most people have either spoken or had that thought at some point in their lives. When we’re young and naive, we think we know more than our elders. As we grow and mature, we realize just how smart and wise they were. By then, it’s sometimes too late to sit at their feet and learn.

As a young girl, Vickie often heard her grandfather talk about how he rode in a covered wagon and the fact that his grandmother was part Cherokee. He experienced and endured many trials Vickie will never know about. When all that information was available to her, she thought it unnecessary. It was the past; it didn’t apply to her life. Now she wishes she had learned more about the events that made her ancestors the hardworking individuals who loved their families and endured much hardship.

God has instruction for His people if they will listen and accept what He has to say. We’re no longer children, but we still need instruction even as adults. We need the instruction of God’s Word. The writer of today’s proverb tells us to be wise and not refuse the instruction given to us. God’s instruction means eternal life or eternal damnation. We would be wise to accept His words as our own.

God, give me instruction and the wisdom to receive it and learn from it. Amen.

Morning Truth That Is in Plain Sight

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32 niv

In the original Greek language, the word for truth in John 8:32 means that it’s truth that is plain in sight; it’s obvious. It’s truth that is right before your eyes.

When I read this, I thought, Wait a minute! Truth that is right before your eyes? We hardly feel like truth is right before our eyes! It seems like it’s hidden and so very di cult to apprehend. Why is this? As I mulled this over, the thought that immediately came to mind is that our hearts are often so unbelieving.

God tells us who He is; we doubt it. He confesses His love for us in scripture; we ignore it. He tells us how to live; we do things our own way. And so, it is with us like it was with the disciples when Jesus asked them, “Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?” We see but we don’t see. We hear but we don’t listen. We know it but we don’t understand. All of this means that we miss the truth that is right in front of our eyes; we remain bound when we could be set free. It’s not the person who just intellectually knows the truth who is set free; it’s the person who knows and believes that is set free.

Lord, help me to believe You so that I can see You at work. Give me a tender heart so that my spiritual eyes will be open. Amen.

Evening Different Kinds of Love

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:12 kjv

Not all love is the same according to the Greek translation of God’s Word. For instance, philia is deﬁned as a loyalty and friendship for family members or friends. Eros is a passionate, sensual desire. Storge is a natural a ection shown between parent and child.

The one most familiar comes from the word agape, meaning not only general a ection but to hold someone in high regard. The New Testament applies agape love in the relationship between Jesus and His disciples. It is one of self-sacriﬁce and a giving spirit to all, both friend and foe.

Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). He doesn’t say, “Love your neighbor as long as they keep their dogs from barking or if they maintain their yard and stay on their side of the fence.” Rather, He commands us to love as He loves us.

That’s God’s agape love. It’s unconditional and powerful. Agape love builds not destroys; it accepts others’ imperfections and is tolerant of people who do things di erently than we do.

What’s your deﬁnition of love? Take some time today and exercise God’s love in the same manner He loves you, and see what happens!

Lord, thank You for loving me unconditionally with all my faults and flaws. Help me to love as I am loved. Amen.

Morning Let God Reign!

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Romans 11:33–36 nlt

It’s easy for us to believe that we carry the world on our shoulders. We tend to believe, though we may not admit it, that we alone make the world turn. We convince ourselves that worry, ﬁnances, or power will put us in control. But in truth, God is the one who controls all. What a blessed peace awaits us! As you go about your day, rest in the assurance that God, not you, is in control. God understands every feeling you experience, and He can comfort you. God knows the best steps for you to take in life, and He is willing to guide you. He is above all and knows all, yet He is not out of reach. Set your eyes ﬁrmly on the Lord, and He will care for you.

Lord, please let this truth sink deep into my heart today so that I may live in joy and peace. Please guide me by Your wisdom and provide for me according to Your riches. I praise You because You are good!

Evening My Help Comes from Above

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:5–6 nlt

Have you ever been on a quest to ﬁnd the right doctor to cure a particular ill? Maybe you go to your primary care physician and he sends you to a specialist. Perhaps that specialist sends you to a subspecialist. At every step along the way you groan and say, “I just want someone who can help me!” Aren’t you glad to hear that you have a straight shot to your heavenly Father? You don’t need a referral. You don’t need to wait in line. And He’s got the solution to any problem you might be facing. You won’t need a second opinion because He’ll have things ﬁxed up before you make it that far. Run to Him. Trust Him. He will give you all the help you need.

How wonderful to know that I don’t have to go looking for help. You’re standing nearby, ready to plead my case and to bring about justice when I face unjust situations. Have I mentioned how grateful I am, Lord? I am! Amen.

Morning Redemption Stories

Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story.

Psalm 107:2 niv

For just about as long as the entertainment industry has been around (or longer), redemption stories have been the basis for popular movies and novels and plays. Everyone loves to follow the story of the bad guy turned knight in shining armor, the down-on-his-luck everyman who receives big blessings, the orphan in rags who gains a family and great riches all at once.

If you are a follower of Christ, there’s a good chance you’ve had to exchange something for the path to eternal life. You’ve had to let something go or give something up. Or perhaps you’ve been changed in some signiﬁcant way. No one encounters Jesus Christ and comes away exactly the same.

Let these words encourage you today to tell your story. If you have not told it before, start now. Pick a few small details to share, or give the whole general outline. Tell a loved one. Tell a coworker. Tell your pastor. Tell a friend. Tell a stranger on the subway. Tell anyone who will listen. You never know how your story might impact someone else. You will never know the strength and love and hope you have to give until you open your mouth and let your story out.

Everyone loves a redemption story. Why not give them yours?

Dear Redeemer, thank You for dying for us, for saving us, and for preparing a place for us in heaven. Help me to have the courage to share my story of You. Amen.

Evening The Old, Old Story

I have inherited Your testimonies forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

Psalm 119:111 nasb

Aren’t family stories the best? No family reunion would be complete without their telling. For the hundredth time, Grandma tells of the day she and Grandpa met, Grandpa tells what it was like to storm the gates of Normandy, and everyone laughs about the day when Susie sold the neighbor’s dog for a quarter. These family stories provide us with a sense of connection and identity. They link us with family members who died before we were born and give us common ground. In a sense, we inherit the stories of our families. We don’t have to experience the event to relish the details as if we were there.

And so it is with the testimony of God. No, we weren’t there when He parted the Red Sea and carried the Israelites out of captivity. We weren’t with Moses when he received the Ten Commandments, nor were we with young David when he killed the giant. But as God’s children, we have inherited these testimonies. These stories are a part of our legacy and give us a common connection with believers throughout the centuries—our brothers and sisters in Christ. Relish the stories of God; they are the joy of your heart.

Father, thank You for the testimony in scripture. I praise You for my family legacy—thank You for sharing these sweet stories with me. I want to pass them down to my loved ones and experience the joy of family togetherness with all the believers throughout the ages. Amen.

Morning Ups and Downs

Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5 nkjv

Living according to our ﬁckle feelings is like riding a roller coaster: one day up, one day down. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing those thoughts more than what God says in His Word. Don’t let every emotion that surfaces dictate the direction of the day. Capture loose thoughts with a Christ-centered net.

To begin this process, we should latch on to God’s promises and steady our course. We need to line up our feelings with what we know the Bible says. The apostle Paul said, “We walk by faith and not by sight.” Sometimes we won’t sense God’s presence, but because He’s promised He’ll never leave us, we must believe He’s there. Jesus said, “My peace I leave you.” Accept that peace. Let it rule in your heart. Concerned about having enough? “My God shall supply all your needs.” Proven promises to stand on. Promises we can live by. Search the scriptures for promises. They are there.

God is a God of faithfulness, and He works in ways that faith, not feelings, can discern. Trust Him. We must—even when we don’t feel like it.

Dear heavenly Father, I choose to accept Your promises as a child of the King. Thank You for all You’ve done for me. Amen.

Evening What Next?

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without ﬁnding fault, and it will be given to you.

James 1:5 niv

Ever been lost in an unfamiliar place? Trees block street signs, and other streets aren’t marked at all; construction causes confusing, squiggly detours. Embarrassment or even panic grows as the minutes pass.

In life, we hit unexpected detours that make us unsure where to turn next. They might be di cult decisions involving family, healthcare, jobs, or relationships at church. Maybe the weight is migrating from the tension in your shoulders to settle in your heart.

The good news is that our heavenly Father knows the way out of our confusion and will help us when we are at our most frantic. James tells us that God promises to give wisdom to those who ask for it in faith; He gives wisdom “generously” and “without fault.” Sometimes it’s intimidating to ask for advice from others, but God doesn’t look down on us for admitting our weakness. He chooses to lavish His love and His gifts on error-prone people because they are a part of His family in Christ. We can entrust ourselves and our lives to our heavenly Father, knowing that through Christ, we have access to “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” that our Savior possesses (Colossians 2:3).

Dear heavenly Father, thank You that You have my days planned out for me and I am safe in Your hands. Please grant me wisdom when I am at a loss and help my spirit be sensitive to Your Spirit’s leading. Amen.

Morning Known and Loved

I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

John 10:14–15 nasb

Do you fear being known and rejected? Do you feel that if someone truly knew you they couldn’t possibly love you? In these verses, Christ asserts that He knows you. But He doesn’t just know you as a casual acquaintance or even an intimate friend. His knowledge runs deeper than that. He knows you in the same way that He knows the Father. In the Trinity, Christ and the Father are one. So He is saying that He knows you in the same way that He knows Himself. There could not be a deeper or more intimate knowledge. He knows all the things that you hide from everyone else—He knows the temptations, the frustrations, the lost hopes, the rejections, the insecurities, and the deep desires that you may hardly acknowledge to yourself.

Even though Christ knows the darkest and most secret parts of you, He still loves you. He doesn’t love you because He can gain something from it. He doesn’t love you on a surface, nonchalant level. He laid down His life for you. There is no greater love. He knows you better than anyone else does, and yet He loves you with a deeper, purer love than anyone else can give you. You are deeply known and deeply loved.

Lord, I can’t comprehend that You would love me in spite of all my faults. Thank You for bestowing on me a love I don’t deserve.

Evening A Persistent Love

“O Israel,” says the LORD, “if you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more.”

Jeremiah 4:1 nlt

Reading the Bible can be scary at times, as we see God threaten to destroy entire nations. All throughout Jeremiah the Lord speaks of the punishment that is about to befall His people. He goes on and on about the destruction that will come to their cities and families. And yet He continually says things like, “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me” (Jeremiah 15:19).

God’s love for us is vast and deep, and He o ers more than second chances! Even though some may never decide to choose Him—and He must deal with them as He sees ﬁt—He continuously o ers us the chance to return to Him. What wonderful news this is for us!

If you are feeling like you are past redemption, take heart! Read through the book of Jeremiah and be reassured that He desires you. Use a highlighter to mark every time He o ers redemption. As you do this, you will begin to see that He ultimately desires for you to be with Him.

Lord, I am amazed by Your love for me! Every day You are ready and waiting for me to trust only in You. Father, I choose to do so today. Thank You for not giving up on me and for giving me second chances. May I walk in confidence of Your great love today.

Morning Moving in God’s Strength

I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD. . . . In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. . . . I am for peace. . . . My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. . . . . Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. . . . Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

Micah 3:8; Psalm 56:11; 120:7; 121:2; 63:7; Nehemiah 6:9 nkjv

At times, when a task lies before us, we begin to doubt our ability. Writers hesitate, their hands hovering above the keyboard. Mothers look at their to-do lists, the words blurring before them as overwhelmed feelings creep in. Businesswomen consider the meeting they will soon be leading, not sure of the words to say. Unfocused, unsure, untethered around the tasks before us, we ﬂounder.

Let God take over. Tap into His power and claim it for yourself. Put all your trust in the God who vanquishes fear, who can help you do all He has called you to do. He’s done so in the past, and He will deﬁnitely do so in the present. Rejoice in His presence, and allow Him to work through you as your hands begin moving in His strength.

Lord, truly I am full of power by Your Spirit. Trusting You, I will not be afraid but at peace because You are my help. As I rejoice in You, I feel Your energy move through me, Your strength moving my hands. And I begin . . .

Evening Secret Desires

Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 37:3–5 nkjv

Some of us never pursue our deepest desires out of fear of what people will think or fear of failure. But such fears can keep us from living the life we long for. So how do we slay the dream killers? We lean on God and become confident in Him. We do things His way. It is then we find ourselves dwelling in His territory and being fed on His promises. Such faithfulness sustains us in a way worldly fears cannot. And when we find joy in God’s presence, allowing Him to be our guide and giving all our secret plans and dreams over to Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts.

So put all your faith in God, the dream maker. Take your desires before Him. Listen for every whisper, every leading He sends your way. Then simply trust as you commit your way to Him, not forcing the issue but conﬁdent that in His will, His way, His timing, He’ll bring all your dreams into being.

Lord, I sometimes hesitate to tell You what my soul really craves. But I know that You alone can satisfy my longings, can make my dreams come true. So as I delight in You, lead me in the way You would have me go. I am putting all my hope in You. Amen.