Baker Publishing Group - Quiet Reflections of Peace

120 Devotions to End Your Day

quiet reflections of peace

2009 by The Livingstone Corporation

Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

E-book edition created 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-3505-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Scripture is taken from Gods Word . Copyright 1995 by Gods Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Produced with the assistance of The Livingstone Corporation (www.LivingstoneCorp.com). Project staff include Betsy Schmitt, Linda Taylor, Linda Washington, Dana Niesluchowski. Cover and interior designs by Larry Taylor and Lindsay Galvin. Production by Larry Taylor and Lindsay Galvin.

Welcome

W hats the perfect way to end your day? Receiving a hug and a toothpaste-scented kiss from your child? Brewing a cup of decaf tea and putting your feet up? Being able to read your favorite novel quietly without constant interruption? A warm bubble bath? The perfect way to end a day is to spend time with Godto tell Him how you spent your day and to relax in His presence as day turns to dusk. God offers encouragement and strength through His Word as you surrender your fears or frustrations.

To facilitate your time with God, we offer 120 meditations for the evening. Each meditation includes a Scripture passage, an inspirational thought, an ending prayer, and a beautiful color photo based on the themes discussed. Consider the prayer a jumping-off point to your own conversation with God.

Youre invited to follow in the footsteps of Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night with his questions (John 3:2) and received insights he had never even considered! As you prepare to sink into sleep, take a few moments with your Savior. He wants to give you quiet reflections of peace to end your day.

The Editors

Contributors

Judith Costello

Elizabeth C. Hubbard

Pat Stockett Johnston

Kathy Lay

Diane Markins

Heather M. Pleier

Alene Snodgrass

Ann Swindell

Linda Washington

As Numerous as Stars

He took Abram outside and said, Now look up at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them. He also said to him, Thats how many descendants you will have!
Genesis 15:5

S tretched out on a blanket in the cool crisp grass late in the summer evening, you gaze into the night sky. In the country, away from the glare of city or suburbia, the stars stand out, vivid and bright. As stars blend into galaxies upon galaxies, it is impossible to count them.

Imagine Abram staring into that same night sky thousands of years ago. He, too, had a wish. For a child, a descendant to carry on the family name and tradition. Yet, when God promised him that he and Sarai would have as many descendants as the stars in the night sky, well, that was too much to hope for. They were too old. Their time was running out. Impossible, they thought.

Has God spoken something into the still of your soul and you are just wishing it will come to pass? Or like Abram and Sarai, you think time has run out for you. You cant imagine how such a thing will ever come true for you. You are left wishing for a shooting star.

Tonight, put your faith in God alone and rest. The writer of Hebrews reminds you, Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1).

As you gaze into the beauty and mystery of the night sky, raise your hopes and dreams to God. Wait on Him to bestow blessings on you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Lord,

help me rest this evening as I give You my hopes and dreams. Forgive me when I doubt You. O Lord, increase my faith. Thank You for the vastness of Your universe. Remind me that Your blessings are as numerous as the stars.

One Smooth Stone

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, the strength of my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior who saved me from violence. The LORD should be praised.
2 Samuel 22:24

F ive smooth stones were used. But only one was needed.

For forty days, Goliath, a nine-foot-tall Philistine giant, mocked the Israelites and their God. Brave warriors were terrified of what Goliath could do.

Young David arrived on the scene and was instantly outraged by Goliaths remarks. While his brother tried to discourage him from getting involved, David was stirred by his confidence in God. With five smooth stones and his sling in hand, David set out to conquer his enemy in the name of the Lord God Almighty. Knowing that the Lord would deliver him from his enemy, David triumphed with just one small stone.

Years later, after facing many enemies, David used the rock image in a psalm describing his confidence in God. God was his rockthe only one needed to defeat any enemy (Psalm 18). God delivered David from all of his enemies and made him king over Israel. Therefore, David could rest the full weight of his trust in God.

What enemies are taunting you tonight? Maybe your giant is your health, finances, addictions, a hectic schedule, or rebellious children. Such enemies taunt us and rob us of sleep. When trouble beckons, call on the Lord God Almighty. As your rock, fortress, and shield, He is a source of strength. Run to Him for shelter.

The battle is the Lords. With faith in God, you will triumph.

Lord God,

I lay my worries at Your feet. Thank You, Lord, for the mighty ways You deliver me. You are my rock and shield.

Fearless

God didnt give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment.
2 Timothy 1:7

F ear. According to psychologists, it is one of the most powerful emotions we can experience. It can cause us to take drastic action or paralyze us into inaction. It can make us lose sleep, lose weight, and lose reason. In short; it can control us.

Life seems to be filled with perilsreal or only anticipated. A conflict with your husband. A scheduled meeting with your childs principal. An overdue bill in the mail. We often fear what we dont know or even what we think might happen.

Are you plagued by fear tonight about what will happen tomorrow? As you lay in the cold grip of fear, remember that spirit of fear didnt come from God. So where did it come from? We have a powerful enemy who whispers into our thoughts and fuels emotions of dread, worry, helplessness, and fear.

Take back control! As the apostle Paul explained to his spiritual son, Timothy, God has given you a spirit of power, love and good judgment. That means you can handle any situation with His help. Be confident in His promise and cover yourself in a blanket of Gods love as soon as your head touches the pillow tonight. Rest in Gods ability to conquer the spirit of fear.

Father,