May 14 – Selected Texts

2 Corinthians 12

7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

2 Corinthians 11

23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.

25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,

26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.

27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

John 16

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Lamentations 3

12He drew his bow

and made me the target for his arrows.

13He pierced my heart

with arrows from his quiver.

James 1

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

1 Peter 5

10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Our Painful Thorns

As we’ve seen, the Apostle Paul had a painful thorn in the flesh that wouldn’t go away. The reality is that all of us have thorns. I know I do. Sometimes these are irritating like a rosebush thorn. At other times they are debilitating, more akin to a dagger or spear. Author and pastor Timothy Keller put it this way: “Suffering is everywhere, unavoidable, and its scope often overwhelms.”

We are all in a sense, sufferers, but not all of us experience the extremity of human pain. Pain doesn’t happen in the abstract. It is personal and screams for our attention. None of us is immune, whether they involve wounds like the agony of betrayal, the tentacles of cancer, the frustration of loss, or countless other disappointments. “Pain is not the islands of our lives but the ocean;” says Dane Ortlund, “disappointments or letdown is the stage on which all of life unfolds, not an occasional blip on an otherwise comfortable and smooth life.”

Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:7 talks about a singular thorn in the flesh, but in 11:24-28, he chronicles multiple painful episodes. As I prepared to write The Point of Your Thorns, I asked friends, “What is your thorn in the flesh?” How would you have answered that? It turned out that most had multiple painful thorns, not just one.

Bible characters like Job, and Jeremiah, had numerous physical, emotional, and relational thorns. Job endured tragic family deaths, agonizing sores all over his body, and unrelenting accusations from his “friends.” The Prophet, Jeremiah, in Lamentations 3:13, describes his thorns as arrows from God’s quiver. Not one, but many.

Jesus, in John 16:33, reminded his disciples that in the world they would experience multiple troubles, but that this need not paralyze them, because he had overcome the world. That’s similar to what Jesus said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 – my grace is overwhelmingly adequate and unfailingly available for every one of your debilitating thorns.

As you consider the pain of your thorns, reflect on three elements of Paul’s thorn in the flesh.

  1. For him, it was a pain that wouldn’t go away.
  2. It was suffering that reminded him how weak he was.
  3. It was a pain that had the potential to drive him into God’s all-sufficient arms of grace.

How do those three elements relate to your own thorns?

May 13 – Selected Texts

2 Corinthians 12

7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

Galatians 4

13As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you,

14and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

15Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

Galatians 6

11See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

2 Corinthians 11

12And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

15It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Numbers 33

55“ ‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.

56And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.’ ”

2 Corinthians 11

23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.

25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,

26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.

27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

32In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.

33But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

Philippians 4

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Paul’s Painful Thorn

Before we uncover some of our own painful thorns, it’s helpful to ask, “What did the Apostle Paul mean by the expression thorn in my flesh? (2 Cor. 12:7) Numerous commentators have speculated about what this thorn might have been. This devotional makes no claim to uncover a definitive answer. I’m intrigued by the thought that Paul was being deliberately ambiguous. If he had been more specific, those of us with a different painful thorn might conclude this passage has little bearing on our lives.

Whatever this thorn was, it was extremely painful to Paul. Thorn is the Greek word skolops meaning “what is pointed,” such as a spear or fishing hook, or rosebush thorn. If he had to cry out to God to remove it on three separate occasions, it must have been substantial, not a minor irritation.

Paul said the thorn was in his flesh, which might mean embedded in his body. Some speculate that he had a recurring sickness like Malta fever or epilepsy. Others, that he had serious eye problems. In Galatians 4:13-15 he talks about his illness, and that the believers in those churches would have torn out their eyes and given Paul theirs. He even refers to writing with very large letters in chapter 6:11. I used to dismiss the theory of Paul’s thorn being failing eyesight until I lost most of my sight in my left eye due to glaucoma. The possibility of going blind would be more like a javelin to me than a mere splinter.

If you have a recurring illness, to what extent is it an unbearable thorn in your life?

Another possibility is that Paul was referring to painful people in his life. Even in our day, when we use the phrase “pain in the neck,” we are usually talking about annoying people, not arthritis in the neck! In 2 Corinthians 11:12-15, Paul refers to a group of false apostles as Satan’s servants. They were his opponents who belittled him and were teaching another gospel (Galatians 1:6,7). The idea that this thorn refers to difficult people harmonizes with Numbers 33:55-56 which talks about painful folk who are like barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides.

Might Paul have been referring to extreme anxiety? In 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 he gives a catalogue of traumatic experiences: beaten to a pulp, shipwrecked three times, pummeled with rocks, and on the run for his life. He certainly was a prime candidate for traumatic stress disorder. Yet in Philippians 4:6 his clarion call is to stop being anxious about anything.

Whether Paul’s thorn was relational, emotional, or physical, one thing we can be certain of is that God’s grace, his unmerited strength, was no mere trickle in his life, it was abundant and always available.

  • If you have a recurring illness, to what extent is it an unbearable thorn in your life?
  • In what ways are you experiencing relational pain that feels more like a dagger than a rosebush thorn?
  • To what extent are you paralyzed by intense anxiety? Why?

Take this as an opportunity to write or express a prayer that relates to Paul’s thorn in his flesh and yours.

We would like to thank Gracecity Church for providing this plan.

May 12 – 2 Corinthians 12; 1 Corinthians 15; Psalm 23

2 Corinthians 12:7-9

7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

1 Corinthians 15:9-10

9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

Abundant Grace

As we meditate on the pain and purpose of the thorn in the flesh that the Apostle Paul was given, a good place to start is the more than adequate grace of God. It’s a good and wise starting point because focusing on the pain of our thorns can be overwhelming. We might be like Peter on Lake Galilee, sinking because he focused on the waves, not on the Master of the waves.

Pause for a moment today and reflect on God’s all-sufficient grace from 2 Corinthians 12:9.

My grace: it is God’s undeserved strength that was available to Paul and is poured into us by the Holy Spirit.

is sufficient: God’s grace is lavish. There is an abundant supply, a never-ending store, an overflowing measure. God is not saying to you today, “My grace will help you to scrape through.” He’s underlining that his grace is more than enough for every challenge you face.

John 1:16 captures the endless supply of this grace: Out of his [Christ’s] fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. When we stand at the edge of the ocean of God’s grace, wave upon wave of his blessings come splashing onto our shores. They are endless.

That’s what Psalm 23 so beautifully describes—a life in which we lack for nothing that really matters. He says: The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Because the LORD is his shepherd the psalmist receives: more than sufficient surroundings (green pastures and quiet waters); more than adequate healing for his broken soul (he restores my soul); more than enough protection and in the process, elimination of fear (even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me); more than generous, banquet-like provisions (you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies); and this abundant grace, divine goodness, and endless love pursue him to the end of his days and into eternity (surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever).

Before we plumb the pain of our thorns in the flesh in the rest of this devotional, accept the timeless reassurance of these words. My grace is sufficient for you…God’s grace is individualized. It was for Paul; it is for you.

  • Consider writing or verbalising a prayer as your response to this abundant grace.
  • Or use this prayer:

Heavenly Father, please pour your more than adequate grace into me today.

Lord Jesus, I long for more and more of the waves of your completely sufficient grace.

Holy Spirit, I confess my weakness, my inadequacy, and as I experience painful thorns, I ask you to infuse me with the strength I need, not just to scrape through,

but to rejoice in my weaknesses.

Blessed Holy Trinity, I worship you.

Amen.

We would like to thank Gracecity Church for providing this plan.

May 11 – Proverbs 22; Matthew 26

Proverbs 22:28

28Do not move an ancient boundary stone

set up by your ancestors.

Matthew 26:33

33Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

Matthew 26:69-70

69Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

70But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

Boundaries and gut feelings

“Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.” (Proverbs 22:28, NIV)

I could have made some very different choices in my music career. I could’ve signed very lucrative record contracts. But I have set limits for myself, limits that you could simply call “gut feelings.”

These gut feelings didn’t just appear. They have developed through my personal relationship with Jesus, my daily communion with Him. Through this time spent together, I’ve come to know in my heart that He wants the best for me, so I’ve often turned down tempting offers because I felt a boundary inside.

Keeping boundaries isn’t always easy. Simon Peter had also set a boundary for himself: “Peter replied, ‘Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.'” (Matthew 26:33, NIV) But when Jesus was on trial and Peter’s worst apprehensions became reality, he shifted his boundary and denied knowing Jesus. (see Matthew 26:69-70) How terrible. How disappointing. It must have torn Peter apart. Thankfully, he reset that boundary.

Have you consciously set limits for yourself? Especially in your areas of weakness, it is very important that you set boundaries before you’re in danger of crossing them.

Do you find it difficult not to complain when others speak negatively? Then decide ahead of time that when they do, you’ll get up and leave.

Perhaps you watch too many Netflix series and don’t get to bed early enough? Then set limits on your screen time.

Does it feel like love is waning in your marriage? Then remember your promise of “till death do us part,” and hold fast to that boundary.

Godly boundaries protect you from hurting yourself and others.

Yes, setting boundaries can be difficult! But through your personal relationship with Jesus, your communion with Him, it’s absolutely possible. 🙂 And do you know what? He wants to help you honor Him and yourself and keep those boundaries!

I encourage you to prayerfully ask the Lord today: which boundaries should you set, and which ones do you perhaps need to put back into place?

You are a miracle!

We would like to thank Jesus.net for providing this plan.

May 10 – Mark 8

Mark 8:36-37

36What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

37Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

What if you said “no”?

The withdrawal of 24-year-old artistic gymnast Simone Biles from the all-around team final at last year’s Tokyo Olympics caused quite a stir. Perhaps you followed some of the news coverage of her decision. During an interview, Simone explained her mental struggle by saying, “Since I have no idea where I am in the air, I also have NO idea how I’m going to land. Or what I’m going to land on. Head/hands/feet/back…”

Because of these concerns, she set a boundary, a limit, to protect herself and her teammates, too. We’re not talking about an easy decision here—at the end of the day, Olympic medals were at stake. She had spent a lifetime training for this moment.

After all was said and done, what did you think of her decision? I personally am very happy this young gymnast received so much encouragement from all sides for her courageous choice. She herself said, “I didn’t expect this.”

Maybe there’s also something in your life that you should say “no” to, something you should back away from. Perhaps it doesn’t even belong in your life anymore, but you’re afraid of what others might say if you set a boundary.

“‘And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?'” (Mark 8:36-37, NLT)

Like Simone Biles, perhaps right now you’re feeling uncontrolled somewhere up in the air, unsure of how or where you’ll land. If so, then it’s high time to set a boundary! I encourage you to take an important step back today. Consider the potential your decision has to impact you and those around you in a positive way.

YOU are worth it! 🙂

You are a miracle!

We would like to thank Jesus.net for providing this plan.

May 9 – Psalm 27

Psalm 27:14

14Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.

Have you allowed yourself to process?

Oh, how excited I was to finally get the smartphone I’d wanted for so long! I quickly prepared everything to transfer the data from my old phone to the new one, but then when the process started, it didn’t go nearly as fast as I’d expected. For what felt like an eternity, all I saw on my screen was “transfer in progress.” I asked myself, “Is this right? Isn’t something else supposed to be happening here?” I also briefly considered whether or not I should abort the process. When I asked a friend, he said, “That’s absolutely normal. There’s a lot happening in the background, and it takes time.”

Then it clicked for me. How often does a significant event happen in our lives—a wonderful evening, a tragic incident, or a nostalgic reunion—and we just move on without fully processing it? Without taking the time to properly “transfer” it into our hearts? In Judaism, for example, after someone passes away, the bereaved sits on the floor or a low chair for the first seven days. Seven days! Time is set aside to process what has happened.

If you take time like this when it’s needed, you will ultimately gain time.

I encourage you to consider when you last took the time to process something significant that happened in your life. Only you can set this kind of boundary, and it’s very important! In moments like these, please don’t cancel the transfer process, even if you feel like nothing is happening. Allow yourself to stay in God’s presence while the process is underway:

“Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart…” (Psalm 27:14,)

Meanwhile, as you trust Him, God will help you fully process what you’ve experienced and rightly settle it in your heart. You’ll then be able to go on with strength and courage!

The miracle often happens in the background, as you wait on the Lord! 🙂

You are a miracle!

We would like to thank Jesus.net for providing this plan.

May 8 – Psalm 34; Matthew 6

Psalm 34:10

10The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Matthew 6:33

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

I “should” be…

“I should be going over the flow of my evening performance right now. A few people are urgently waiting for me to respond to their emails, so I should respond. I should also make that quick call to my insurance company…” Should, should, should…

But instead, I was sitting backstage and had opened the Bible to be with the Lord and ask Him what He was up to. At that moment, my eyes fell upon the following verse:

“…those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” (Psalm 34:10, NIV)

Reading this verse touched me very much because honestly, there was so much to do! In particular, I wanted to plan more details for my upcoming performance. But I also knew that the evening could only be a blessing if I didn’t overlook what was most important: seeking the Lord.

Take a moment to allow this verse to really sink in: “…those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” What “good” might you be missing right now?

That afternoon, I personally was missing a full night’s sleep; good ideas for the evening’s performance; and helpful feedback for solving the problems waiting for me at home.

But what does this verse say again? What are we to do so that we lack no good thing? Yes, “seek the Lord.” It almost sounds too simple to be true! Yet it is true. Have you already planned time in your daily life to seek the Lord, or are you still caught in neverending “should”s?

Today, before tackling all your other responsibilities, I encourage you to say “I choose to seek You, Lord, first!” Set a boundary so your “should”s don’t crowd out your time with the Lord. When you do, you will see your everyday life in a totally different light!

I can reassure you of this: it is absolutely worth it. That evening of my concert, I didn’t go on stage with a perfectly thought-out plan, but I did go on stage with my mind and heart close to Him. I was then able to love and minister to others much more effectively! 🙂

I pray this promise resonates in your heart today: as you seek first His Kingdom, all the rest will be added unto you as well! (see Matthew 6:33)

You are a miracle!

We would like to thank Jesus.net for providing this plan.

May 7 – Mark 6

Mark 6

32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

34When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

35By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late.

36Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

37But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

38 “How many loaves do you have?”he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

39Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.

40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

41Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

42They all ate and were satisfied,

43and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

44The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

45Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

48He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,

49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out,

50because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,

52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

How is your work-life balance?

When you lie in bed at night, where does your mind go? Do the thoughts that have been subconsciously stressing you out all day start to emerge? I know this feeling all too well, so I’d like to share a Bible story with you today that has really helped me.

Yesterday, we talked about Jesus telling His disciples to take a break in the midst of their busyness: “So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” (Mark 6:32, NIV)

Shortly afterwards, Jesus fed 5,000 men plus many women and children that were with them (see Mark 6:34-44), and His disciples helped distribute and clean up. After this “job,” Jesus again instructed His disciples to take a break: He sent them ahead by boat so they could rest while He dismissed the crowds. (see Mark 6:45)

If anyone taught proper work-life balance, it was Jesus!

Jesus then saw His disciples struggling on the stormy sea, fighting the headwind, and could’ve thought to Himself, “I wanted them to do nothing for once. Why are they fighting My battles?” But in His love, He chose to walk to them—on the water—and climbed into their boat. The storm immediately subsided. (see Mark 6:48-51)

Jesus knew a storm was coming. He had also told them He would follow! Near the end of this chapter, His Word tells us that “Their minds were closed, and they could not understand the true meaning of the loaves of bread.” (Mark 6:52, CEV)

God tells us to rest so that we can be refreshed. So when you lie in bed at night, you don’t have to worry about tomorrow…He already knows about your storms.

Remember, God can arrange everything without you worrying about anything.

Trust Him. 🙂 Let’s pray together…“I let go, Jesus. I choose to rest and let You fight this battle for me. Thank You for Your help. In Your powerful name, amen.”

You are a miracle!

We would like to thank Jesus.net for providing this plan.

May 6 – Mark 6; Psalm 46

Mark 6:7

7Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

Mark 6:31

31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Psalm 46:10

10He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

The power of rest

What is your mission in life? Many people get scared when asked that question, unsure what their mission is or even if they need one.

Don’t worry…even Jesus’ disciples had thoughts like that! But they had the advantage of Jesus clearly telling them what to do: “Calling the Twelve to Him, He began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.” (Mark 6:7, NIV)

When the disciples came back a little later, excited about all they had experienced, the first thing Jesus said was “…’Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'” (Mark 6:31, NIV)

Couldn’t Jesus have just prayed, “Father in heaven, we still have so much to do—there are so many people who need our help. Please give us an extra dose of strength and take away our need to sleep…”? Yes, He absolutely could’ve prayed that! It would’ve been one way. But He chose a different way…

Maybe right now you’re in school, or perhaps you have a high-stress position that demands a lot of you. Maybe you’re taking care of small children at home who need you all the time, or perhaps you’re currently unemployed. I’m not sure what your job situation looks like right now, but whatever it may be, you need breaks!

As you rest, your all-powerful God can give you what others are striving hard to take by force and through their own strength.

Just as Jesus gave His disciples rest, He wants to give you rest, too. And in this quiet place, you may recognize His mission for your life.

“…’Be still and know that I am God…'” (Psalm 46:10, NIV). Take time to reflect on the fact that you are simply allowed to be.

You are a miracle!

We would like to thank Jesus.net for providing this plan.

May 5 – Matthew 22

Matthew 22:39

39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Do you take time for yourself?

It was a typical morning, and to be honest, I had a thousand new ideas for you on my heart and mind. I wanted to write new texts for A Miracle Every Day, but all my “to-dos” and the expectations of others weighing on me just wouldn’t let me rest.

I get constant requests to post something about a new book, song, or project or to quickly answer that urgent email. I understand…I’m also happy when others post about my new work or quickly respond to my emails!

BUT, everything we do for others shouldn’t mean we don’t pay attention to ourselves.

I can already hear the questions you may be having: “What does she mean? Surely I’m supposed to be selfless and love my neighbor, right?” (see Matthew 22:39) Yes, absolutely! But how much are you trying to do for others right now? Perhaps what you desperately need is some time doing some of those things for yourself.

Sometimes I may decide to quickly post something, even though I have a thousand other things to do. Or I may answer an email, even though it’s already 11 p.m. and I’m urgently needing sleep. We often do things like this so we won’t disappoint others. Can you relate?

Interestingly enough, sometimes we give our “neighbors” exactly what we won’t give ourselves: time, rest, and refreshment. Jesus’ commandment is to “…’Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:39, NIV, bold added) But are we reversing the order to say, “Love yourself as your neighbor“?

God doesn’t make mistakes! I believe this verse appears in the Bible exactly as it is for a reason. God knows how quickly we can burn out, and that’s why He wants us to take self-love (self agape love) seriously.

Do you love yourself so that you can thenlove your neighbor? Maybe you need to say “no” to some commitments and “yes” to you today.

You are a miracle!

Déborah

We would like to thank Jesus.net for providing this plan.