This week I had an ah-ha, get it together moment. It wasn’t something that I didn’t already know, but something we need to sometimes be reminded of in this busy life. 

This week, my youngest daughter messaged me from her boyfriend’s phone to let me know that her fairly new iPhone 17 was not turning on. I went through the proper questions of did you try a different charger? Try a different outlet plug? The answer from her was of course – yes. So , I told her to say a prayer over it. 

Within 5 minutes she had messaged me back letting me know that she did, and it was back on. I said see, He just wanted to hear from you today. He whispered so gently, “I want to hear from you too!” 

He wants to hear from all of his children. Not just to ask for help with the newest iPhone, or healing for our neighbors, or help with our financial woes, or to please lead us to our lost keys. He wants all of those things too, but even more He wants us to talk to him like a friend, our very best friend. The one we come to with our joyful times, our most memorable moments, our gratitude, our praise. 

When is the last time I talked to Him as soon as I woke up instead of reaching for my phone? When did I have the last meaningful time talking to Him and listening for His answers instead of just going down my prayer list? I apply this to myself because it spoke to me so heavily, but I know in the busy day to day we live in that I cannot be the only one that needed this gentle reminder. 

Wake up and choose Jesus. Talk to Him like your best friend, and come to Him with more than just life’s troubles. He’s such a good father, and I thank Him for the gentle reminder He brought this week.

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭141‬:‭3‬ 

Last week, I should have prayed that verse. I was in the last week of school, tired, ready for a break, a bit stressed with all that was going on, and I had a moment where I spoke words that I should have kept to myself. Have you been there? I had to apologize for the words I spoke, and I still feel bad about it. The person forgave and so did God. I am so thankful for forgiveness. 

I have pondered that moment a lot over the last week. I have beat myself up and I have regretted my uncontrolled words. Yes, I’m forgiven, but moving forward, how do I keep it from happening again? This morning, I was thinking about that moment and God reminded me of Psalm 141:3. The answer is there. Pray for God to set a guard and watch over our words. I must allow the words that come from me to be filtered by God. 

We live in a society that thinks it’s ok to say whatever in the name of “freedom of speech”. “Freedom of speech” does not allow us as believers to speak ugly words, say mean things, or express our opinions in ways that do not glorify God. We must speak and post words that are filtered by God Himself because our words have consequences. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬ 

The words that come from us have the power to give life and they have the power to destroy. May God be the filter for our words so that we are spreaders of life and not destruction.

Let’s be real, ladies: midlife can feel like a cosmic joke where your metabolism slows down, your joints start making sound effects, and your internal thermostat is permanently set to “hellfire.” But those hot flashes? Think of them as a physical manifestation of the holy fire God is brewing inside you. You are not fading into the background; you are being upgraded. The world might tell you that your prime is in the rearview mirror, but God says your most impactful season starts right now. Your ministry is found where you have been broken, because you can’t guide others through a valley you’ve never walked yourself.

Think about the absolute trainwrecks you’ve survived over the last few decades. Remember the heartbreak, the career pivots, the parenting crises, and the hairstyles you deeply regret from the ’90s. God didn’t let you survive all that chaos just so you could sit on the sidelines of life. Your testimony is found where you have been restored, and it is meant to be shared loudly. You are living, breathing, wrinkle-creamed proof that God can pick up shattered pieces and build a woman who is fierce, fabulous, and completely unstoppable.

The Scriptures back this up, proving that age only seasons us for greater battles. Isaiah 61:3 reminds us that the Lord will “provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” If He can swap ashes for beauty, He can easily swap your midlife crisis for a divine commission. You have traded the naive insecurity of your twenties for the battle tested authority of a woman who knows exactly who she is in Christ.

So, put on your reading glasses, lace up your New Balances, and get ready to run enemy territory amok. Do not hide your scars, your laugh lines, or the wisdom you bought with tears. The younger generation is desperate for mature women who aren’t afraid to get messy and show them how to fight the good fight. Your history of brokenness and restoration is the exact weapon God wants to use to shake up this world.

Lord, thank You that while my collagen is fading, Your grace is ever-increasing. Grant me the patience to handle my changing hormones, the strength to survive another night of night sweats, and the wisdom to remember why I walked into this room. Holy Spirit, ignite a fire in my soul today that burns hotter than any hot flash. Use my mess, my mileage, and my midlife wisdom to shake things up for Your kingdom. Amen.

June 19th will mark 10 years since I rededicated my life to Christ, and shortly thereafter will be the 10 year anniversary of God calling me into ministry. This decade has had so many ups and downs, lots of “I laugh so I don’t cry” and numerous: 

• “God what are you doing right now?!” 
• “This is what you wanted for me?”
• “Why are you leading me here?!” 
• “Where do you want me to go?”

I’m sure that we all have asked these questions a time or two in moments that might not be our best. When I have asked them, I had been, and still sometimes am, searching for God’s direction for my future. 

When we talk about God’s direction/provision/His will, we are actually often seeking for clarity on what’s coming next. Clarity is fantastic when you have it, don’t get me wrong, but it can easily distract us from what we really should be seeking out. 

There’s a quote by Mother Teresa that has changed my mindset when it comes to asking God for clarity. A man once came up to Mother Teresa and asked for her to pray for him to have clarity from God. She simply responded with, “I will not pray for clarity for you. Clarity is the crutch of the Christian. I will pray trust for you, that your trust will increase.” 

…what a gut punch!

Because we all do this right? We all desire to know what is just around the corner or what may be in store for our future. And the tricky part to this, is that this desire “to know” can grow from a good place like excitement and the ambition to be prepared. Yet – seeking out clarity for the next step can often cause us to miss out on where God has us. 

Yes – this is a spiritual “Stop and smell the roses” devo – you’re welcome 🙂

If we’re being honest, we often seek out clarity because we don’t trust God with making the plans. Or if we do trust in His plans, we don’t trust in His timing. When we don’t trust in His timing, we often seek out the next step prematurely so that we know it is indeed on the way. 

This tends to be me when I think about the future. Seeking clarity for me isn’t about knowing what’s coming up, it’s seeking out that something is coming. If you are anything like me, you know that this is a tricky place to be, and I’m so glad God knew we would need reminders in His Word for this exact situation:

• His timing is perfect (Is. 60:22).
• His timing is intentional (Ecc. 3:11).
• His plans are for good (Rom. 8:28).
• His plans will be made complete (Phil. 1:6).

So – God perfectly and intentionally placed you where you are for your good and your growth! Seek to grow your trust, not your need to know what God has in store. He will make known your next steps in His timing, so be present in the place God has you for right now. The future will come in His time, but the present is already here. Enjoy it the best you can:)

At the end this month, my husband and I will be married for 6 years. My name has long been changed and we have moved several times, yet, every now and then I will still get something in the mail that has my maiden name on it. It’s usually some subscription service that I’ve long discontinued and it’s always something along the lines of “We miss you; we want you back! Save X-amount when you restore your account.” It’s probably something embarrassingly expensive that I never should have gotten into in the first place, but they try to reel me in with the limited time offer of “savings” or additional benefits. 

The world calls you by your old name and tries to get you reinterested in places you had no business being in the first place. The world tries to convince you that you are “missing out” if you choose not to be involved. The world tries to woo you with suspiciously convenient too-good-to-be-true benefits at a price that ends up being much higher than it initially seems. 

Romans 6:21-23 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We now have a new name and a new address! Return that mail back to sender because they no longer live here! The old identity is cast away and we get to take on our new identity in Christ. As God’s children, not only do we belong at the Father’s house, but we have a place prepared at His table because He already anticipated protecting us and providing for us. Our heavenly benefits far surpass the maximum satisfaction that this world can offer. These benefits are eternal; there is no time limit, and the price was already paid on our behalf. How can we possibly miss out on anything when we have unlimited access to the One who has authority over all things?

Matthew 16:26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Isaiah 43:18-19 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!