Weekly Devotional - Raquel Simmons
Growing up, I remember success being defined by the culture around me as going to a big college, making a lot of money, and people knowing your name. As the years have progressed, I realize that I was believing a lie. Striving to be a “boss babe, or a “hustler” is not the life God intended for us. That lifestyle can leave us feeling burnt out, disconnected, anxious, and depressed.
Let’s pause. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath…. I mean it. Don’t just keep reading on. There is a purpose to this pause…
In…. Out….
Be honest with yourself. Did you close your eyes and take a deep breath when you initially read it? If not, it's okay. We have been conditioned to always be in a hurry. To take matters into our own hands and “git ‘er done!” We see this parallel with people we read about in the Bible. Moses was denied entrance into the Promised Land because he chose to do things his way rather than the way God instructed him to. We read this story, and it sounds harsh. It’s because it is. It displays the seriousness of listening and being obedient to God’s instructions and commands. If we don’t, there may be consequences.
But what about when we are obeying and remaining faithful, and life still isn’t going our way? We fast, we pray, and we wait patiently. We do all the “right things,” but still, we don’t get the miracle. We still don’t get the answers we were looking for. Well, we focus on what is known. Psalm 57: 2,7 “I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me… My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!” So, we remind ourselves daily who God is, how much He loves us, and remember He is faithful. We continue to pray. And wait. And trust.
Psalm 27:14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. We will inevitably experience trials and detours in life. With the Lord, these detours can be divine appointments. I lost my job suddenly and was terrified. During that time, I was heartbroken and confused, but I remember praying to God and asking for answers. I didn’t receive an immediate answer, but looking back now, I see that He was in the middle of all of it, slowly working things out. I just needed to rest. We yield, and let God be God.
The Holy Spirit gave me this phrase a couple of years ago, and it has saved me from a lot of trouble. He reminds me of it a lot. “Self-control is one of the greatest forms of love.” Look at the self-control Jesus displayed while he was being mocked, spit on, and beaten. He could have called down all the plagues and killed everyone with a snap of his finger like Thanos. But He chose to have self-control and endure the most brutal death. Why? Because of his great LOVE for us. He trusted the Father and yielded to His will. He was obedient to the point of death. As followers of Christ, I believe we can do the same. Let’s keep our minds fixed on Jesus every day. Let’s let God’s truths be the ones that echo in our ears throughout the day. Let’s trust that He really does have a purpose and plan for all of it.
Raquel Simmons
Let’s pause. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath…. I mean it. Don’t just keep reading on. There is a purpose to this pause…
In…. Out….
Be honest with yourself. Did you close your eyes and take a deep breath when you initially read it? If not, it's okay. We have been conditioned to always be in a hurry. To take matters into our own hands and “git ‘er done!” We see this parallel with people we read about in the Bible. Moses was denied entrance into the Promised Land because he chose to do things his way rather than the way God instructed him to. We read this story, and it sounds harsh. It’s because it is. It displays the seriousness of listening and being obedient to God’s instructions and commands. If we don’t, there may be consequences.
But what about when we are obeying and remaining faithful, and life still isn’t going our way? We fast, we pray, and we wait patiently. We do all the “right things,” but still, we don’t get the miracle. We still don’t get the answers we were looking for. Well, we focus on what is known. Psalm 57: 2,7 “I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me… My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!” So, we remind ourselves daily who God is, how much He loves us, and remember He is faithful. We continue to pray. And wait. And trust.
Psalm 27:14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. We will inevitably experience trials and detours in life. With the Lord, these detours can be divine appointments. I lost my job suddenly and was terrified. During that time, I was heartbroken and confused, but I remember praying to God and asking for answers. I didn’t receive an immediate answer, but looking back now, I see that He was in the middle of all of it, slowly working things out. I just needed to rest. We yield, and let God be God.
The Holy Spirit gave me this phrase a couple of years ago, and it has saved me from a lot of trouble. He reminds me of it a lot. “Self-control is one of the greatest forms of love.” Look at the self-control Jesus displayed while he was being mocked, spit on, and beaten. He could have called down all the plagues and killed everyone with a snap of his finger like Thanos. But He chose to have self-control and endure the most brutal death. Why? Because of his great LOVE for us. He trusted the Father and yielded to His will. He was obedient to the point of death. As followers of Christ, I believe we can do the same. Let’s keep our minds fixed on Jesus every day. Let’s let God’s truths be the ones that echo in our ears throughout the day. Let’s trust that He really does have a purpose and plan for all of it.
Raquel Simmons
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