Renee Swope - Encouragement for Today: Devotions for Everyday Living

To the women who begin each day with us in Gods Word through our daily email devotions and to the women on our team who write them.

Lysa TerKeurst

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

(JAMES 3:13)

What seems small in your world? By small, I mean that place where your vision is grand but your reality isnt. Is it your influence? Your opportunity? Your business? Your ability to give? Your ministry?

Look at that small place. What do you see?

If what you see is less than encouraging, might you take the bold step of looking at it again? Because hidden within that smallness is a giftone that will yield wisdom you cant get any other way. If you look closely enough at what seems small in your world, youll begin to see how deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom will create something new in you.

This small place in your world is where humility is birthed. Humility is that glorious and rare quality that doesnt take too much credit. Humility knows real success is laced with heavenward glances, bent knees, and whispered praises to the One. The only One.

He who gives.

And He who withholds. Not out of spite, not out of ignorance, not out of deafness, and certainly not out of comparisons in which others are found to be more deserving. No. He withholds out of protection. With loving restraint, He withholds the big to protect the hidden workings of the small. The small we should not despise. It is in these humble places where we experience the quiet nurture, the holy unfolding, the deep stirrings that draw us closer to the heart of God.

Soon, the soul must choose: haughtiness or humility.

If that soul has never tasted small, it will never develop a humble palate. It will crave only big, until it is so full of big that being big inflates and distorts and never satisfies.

But for the soul that has dined on what is small, humility becomes the richest fare. The taste that satisfies. The thing most desired to be consumed. All things humble will eventually be made great.

Oh, the beautiful gift of small!

There is great delight in knowing the truth about what small really is. Small isnt a belittling of ones calling or a diminishment of ones future. Its simply a placea grand but unnoticed place. A place we need to protect and remember because it keeps all things big in proper perspective.

Small isnt what keeps us from our grand vision. Small is what keeps us for our grand vision.

Dear Lord, help me to embrace the small. I want to see with Your eyes what You have planned for me. In Jesus name, Amen.

REMEMBER

This small place in your world is where humility is birthed. Small isnt what keeps us from our grand vision. Small is what keeps us for our grand vision.

REFLECT

When in the past have you dined on what is small? How did it feel in the moment? How do you feel about that experience now? What have you learned? How have you grown?

RESPOND

Choose one thing today that you will do small. Fold and put away your husbands laundry. Bring your boss coffee. Pull your neighbors trash to the curb. Whatever you choose, ask the Lord to increase your taste for the small while youre performing it.

POWER VERSES

Proverbs 22:4; Psalm 37:11

Renee Swope

Those who know your name trust you, O L ORD , because you have never deserted those who seek your help.

(PSALM 9:10 GW)

I had heard great things about LeAnn, but I didnt really know her until we worked together. And the more I was with her, the more I discovered traits I admired and enjoyedespecially her dry sense of humor and unique way of making people feel noticed and loved. As our friendship deepened, I also learned LeAnn was dependablesomething I discovered only when I needed her help and she came through for me.

Ive found my relationship with God grows in a similar way. Whatever I may know about God, I wont really know God personally until I spend time with Him and depend on Him. I learn to trust His heart by interacting with Him and experiencing His character in personal ways.

The book of Judges features a fascinating story that illustrates how this same dynamic happened in the life of a man named Gideon. No one expected much of Gideon, including Gideon himself. He belonged to a weak tribe and described himself as the least important member in his family (Judges 6:15). So it was not surprising that he was somewhat skeptical when the angel of the Lord appeared to him, called him a mighty warrior, and announced he would defeat a powerful enemy army. At this point, Gideon only knew about God. He had heard of Gods faithfulness in other peoples lives, but he didnt know God personally.

Asking for a sign that it really was the Lord talking, Gideon obediently set out a meal of bread and meat. When the angel touched them with the tip of his staff, fire flared from the rock on which the meal sat, consuming the food. Instantly, Gideon realized this individual was indeed the angel of the Lord. Alas, Sovereign L ORD ! he exclaimed, I have seen the angel of the L ORD face to face! (Judges 6:22).

Gideon was terrified. Immediately, the Lord said to him, Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die (Judges 6:23). Then Gideon built an altar to the L ORD there and called it The L ORD I S Peace (Judges 6:24). God revealed His character by demonstrating His power and by giving Gideon peace. Now Gideon not only knew about God, he knew God personally.

Just like my relationship with LeAnn has deepened as Ive gotten to know her better, my relationship with Jesus has grown over time. Ive come to love Him more as Ive experienced His unfailing love for me. Ive learned to trust Him as Ive gotten to know His heart and His character. And its much easier to trust someone I know.

One way to know God better is to focus on one of the Bibles names for God. For example, if we want to know God as our healer, we pray to Jehovah Rapha and ask for the healing we needspiritually, emotionally, mentally, or physically. If we want to know God as our provider, we pray to Jehovah Jireh, ask Him to meet our needs each day, and then look for His provisions.

We will grow in our relationship with Jesus and our confidence in Him will deepen as we live in this promise: Those who know your name trust you, O L ORD , because you have never deserted those who seek your help (Psalm 9:10 GW).

Dear Lord, I want to know You by name and experience the fullness of all that You are. Help me trust and follow You more and more each day. In Jesus name, Amen.

REMEMBER

We learn to trust Gods heart by interacting with Him and experiencing His character in personal ways.

REFLECT

What captivates you about Gods names?

RESPOND

Keep a list of Gods names with you to remind you of who He is.

POWER VERSES

Proverbs 18:10; Genesis 22:1314; Judges 6:24

See Appendix A for a helpful list of the names of God.